Isles, Press and Fans Surprised by Two Game Suspension? Don’t Be
BDGallof | Oct 13, 2010 | Comments 10
I have to tell you, I might be the only Isles fan not up in arms over Wisniewski being bounced for two games for making his head bounce simulating fellatio at a Columbus Day matinee full of ladies, gents, kids…and Gary Bettman.
You really expected one game?
The NHL under Bettman’s rule has made every effort to be a more family friendly game. Just Avery’s allusion to Phaneuf’s sloppy seconds to his former flame Elisha Cuthbert, caused them to make Mr. Hand into Mr. Fist. If there is one area they have been consistently over-diligent it is over the illusion that the sport of hockey is family friendly and G-rated.
The entire point of punishment is to make sure it doesn’t happen again so if Bettman was actually sitting in a seat with the regular people instead of up in a luxury box, he wouldn’t have the kid next to him ask….
“Mommy, why is that hockey player simulating a blow job?”
Like they don’t know what he did, unless someone mistakenly thought he was simulating swallowing a polish kielbasa.
Compared to what is said in the stands for the Islanders/Rangers tilts, it is downright wholesome. But, that reality is lost on the new NHL who has come in to defang the game to be palatable to the masses who in their view…. doesn’t have sex evidently due to their overwrought reactions over sexual innuendo and simulation.
In a lot of ways, the papacy and the NHL have a lot in common. Especially when hockey players sexual exploits could fill the National Enquirer pages, had supermarket moms cared about hockey. In other words, they’d like the sex stuff hidden away and not on display during game time.
Thus the hammer comes down, where Colin Campbell looks for any excuse to make it more than one game. Wisniweski being a repeat offender for the NHL’s constantly inconsistent if not baffling discipline policy makes it a no brainer. I am sure they tried to even stretch to three if they could have. Sex makes them that uncomfortable, no matter the hypocrisy to the fans in stands, language, violence or that hockey’s soul has always been PG-13 at best.
But therein lies a lot of denial.
Meanwhile, it actually besides overshadowing a scrappy Isles win, it also washed away an embarrassment of only about 11,000 fans to the day game. So far, fans are not coming back this season, and I will have an unblinking look to the whys later this week.
I got to tell you, as I read the Islanders reactions to the two game ban, who then try to pin it on Avery and escalation during the game, it is just plain silly. After all, it’s been clear that players can say whatever they wish with no reprisal for years. You think they were comparing men’s shopping tips before Wisniewski began faux fellating?
Fact is, once it became outside just verbal ripostes and was viewable to anyone but lip readers is a clear line in the sand of uncomfortability and concern by the NHL. Nobody should care that the Isles have a full injury ward. That’s really not their problem.
This is the NHL who repeats them self each time the Lighthouse Project is brought up but hasn’t taken any active role in trying to solve the major impasse between the Isles, the County pushing them onto a casino plan, and the ToH who is now trying to push off the Isles attempt to have some meetings.
If only the NHL was as diligent to protecting Islander fans from politics than being the sexual simulation police.
Wisniewski should have cited that it was ice cream day at the Coliseum
Filed Under: Featured • New York Islanders • NHL
Its crazy how this country is more worried about sex than violence…Guys can punch each other in the face and curse each other out and you can read lips and many times we can HEAR the words said on th ice through the microphones but they are more concerned about a sexual gesture than violence…WTF is wrong with this world???
My problem isn’t with the suspension itself. I think 1 game would have been fair. 2 games would have been fair if it were not for the 1 game that Cammalleri got for swinging a stick at Nino’s head and then whacking the back of his leg. Does the NHL really think “Faux Fellatio” (nice term BD) is just as bad as Hjalmarsson’s hit from behind on Pomminville? Was it worse than a throat slash gesture? The NHL really needs to be consistent with their messages. Since they are so worried about the children, they should be sending the message that the violent attacks are worse and have no place in the game before worrying about hand gestures.
Howard Stern would have a field day with this one…On how people are so afraid of sex but violence is ok..Its preposterous
Nice article BD. Consistency and NHL don’t go in the same sentence BTW!
I dont think we’re upset over the actual suspension. its more the fact that he gets 2 for this, but why guys take blind-sided hits they get 1 game. Question is if Avery did it, would he get anything.
The problem with it being more than one game is…there is a PRECEDENT. Boyton got one game for his “inappropriate gesture” (aka throat slash). **Coincidentally it was while he was screaming “you’re f**king dead” …a threat…not a silly BJ insult.
So, where is the justification for the extra game for Wiz? Because it was “sexual” in nature? Because it was more “embarrassing” to the league? Once again, there is absolutely no consistency from Campbell…particularly in a ruling against the Islanders.
Hell, I don’t see how any misconduct directed at Avery can be considered inappropriate or suspend-able. He’s the biggest embarrassment the league has ever seen !!!!
The other issue here is the (mind numbing) hysterics of Islanders fans. IPB is tough to read for that reason. Other than this site (usually) and Lighthouse Hockey, it seems impossible to have a discussion of any Islander issue without negative hostile histrionics that inevitably attack CW, GS, the league, the County, the town, or someone else inevitably to blame for all things. Thank you for having a site that is thoughtful and entertaining.
I have no problem with the 2 game suspension Wisniweski should have known better I don’t think I have ever seen that done by a player during a game but I have to admit it was amusing. Avery got I think a 5 game suspension for a comment he made about “sloppy seconds” so to think he wouldn’t have gotten suspended for doing what Wisniweski did is not right the NHL does not like Avery. Can’t wait for your take on the attendance problem with the Isles Gallof but my take on the 11k for the Rangers is that (for starters) you don’t play that game in the afternoon. I understand they did it to get kids to go to the game, but really, is a Isles-Ranger crowd kid friendly?
gary bettman is to concerned with the phoenix coyotes and their 20 fans to save a team with 4 stanley cups, hall of famers, and a proud history (except the last 15 years). Bettman and Campbell are a cancer to the NHL.
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