The Universal Cynic

This was my take on the issue of Todd Bertuzzi last July, which at the time, was deemed highly unacceptable by the readers:

Todd Bertuzzi vs. Steve Moore. Todd Bertuzzi vs. The Media. Todd Bertuzzi vs. Anyone.

When does it end? For the majority of the hockey world, it already has.

A total of 531 days have passed since Bertuzzi brutally attacked Moore from behind and drove him face-first into the ice, breaking Moore's neck and putting his NHL future on hold. In reality, a 17-month suspension of Bertuzzi totaled a scant 20 games courtesy of a league lockout and his reinstatement by Gary Bettman on Aug. 8.

And as the media once again shines the spotlight on this psychological petri dish, complete with the vilification of Bertuzzi, the lament of Moore's condition and the questionable judgment of the NHL, those in the hockey world have not only turned the page -- they've closed the book.

The message is clear: We're letting it go. Now it's time for you to do the same.

How else do you explain the camaraderie at the Olympic orientation camp this week between the thuggish Bertuzzi and Joe Sakic or Adam Foote -- both former teammates of Steve Moore?

Sakic told the Canadian Press on Monday, "Todd has served his suspension and it was a lengthy suspension ... he served that and you have to move on."

Foote commented to Vancouver's The Province: "For me, it's something that's over ... I hope Moore comes out of it okay and I hope Todd comes out of it okay."

How can we justify the continuing discussion of punishment when hockey's own deity has pushed the matter aside, seemingly doing so even before the reinstatement of Bertuzzi? Team Canada executive director Wayne Gretzky admitted that he had no qualms about inviting Bertuzzi to the orientation camp once he was reinstated.

It's tempting to speculate at what point Gretzky privately felt that Bertuzzi had served his time, especially considering how open he was on welcoming the Canucks star back into the Olympic fold.

LEFT BY WAYSIDE

Yet again Moore is being left by the wayside, this time by his own peers. And while some are still demanding eye-for-an-eye justice, insisting that Bertuzzi not play until Moore does, who is to say that Moore would survive in the new NHL?

Moore earned $425,000 US in 2003-04. His return to Denver seems highly doubtful. Can space be found for Moore when the Avalanche are feeling ironic and adding elements like Brad May?

Healthy or injured, it doesn't matter. A guarantee of employment in pro sport doesn't exist. It is a harsh reality, but logistically it would be far more lucrative for Moore to financially hemorrhage Bertuzzi (and all others named) in a civil suit.

Mistakes were made by virtually everyone involved in this saga. But if those that play -- those that participated in the game in question -- have been requesting that the matter be put to rest, it would seem to be an appropriate decision to make. Not right, but appropriate.

And that's probably the best we can do in handling a matter that's been completely inappropriate.


And here is defenceman Eric Weinrich, writing for the Morning Sentinel, with his recent comments on Todd Bertuzzi:

Todd has served his suspension, but his sentence will never end. No matter where he plays, people call him a criminal. I witnessed it every game, and I feel it is time to let it go. I have expressed my feeling about the issue and I don't agree with his actions, but the same sort of thing has happened many times before. The game was just fortunate that no one was injured any worse.

Has an appropriate amount of time passed? Can the media and NHL players suggest that the page needs to be turned, without being crucified in the process? When will this opinion ever be acceptable?

[Credit to James Mirtle for unearthing the Eric Weinrich column.]