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SI's Kostya Kennedy Players Association should take action against McSorley
Posted: Tuesday February 22, 2000 04:24 PM
CNNSI.com spoke with Sports Illustrated hockey writer Kostya Kennedy about the implications of Marty McSorley's hit on Vancouver's Donald Brashear. CNNSI.com: What are your impressions of the high-stick that Marty McSorley delivered to Donald Brashear, knocking him unconscious? Kostya Kennedy: McSorley has been pretty clean throughout his career, even though he's known as a fighter. He's been a decent guy, so it's surprising that he did what he did. But he has to be suspended by the league. I say you suspend him 15 games. Fifteen games has been a precedent in the past, and this would no doubt get his, and other players', attention. If McSorely has admitted guilt and owned up to it, he has to be suspended. I hope Donald Brashear is O.K. CNNSI.com: Are his days in Boston numbered, especially since teammates such as Ray Bourque were disturbed by it? Kennedy: I'd be surprised by that. He's not a second- or third-year player who hasn't totally proven himself. McSorley protected Wayne Gretzky in Edmonton and made his way through the league on that reputation as an enforcer. McSorely's nearing the end of his career, but he has always been a good guy. He's a stand-up guy who usually owns up to things. I don't think he'll be a marked man around the league for it. Maybe in Vancouver, but they don't play again this season. It sounds as though he realizes what he did. He was full of attrition afterward, so he realizes this isn't good. He'll have to take it up with his teammates, if he already hasn't done so, and apologize to them. If Ray Bourque is speaking up about it, then you know it's a serious issue. Ray Bourque is the most respected player in hockey. Other players listen to him. McSorley will have to go in front of his teammates to make amends if that's what it takes. Overall, it can't be a good feeling that he has right now. But I don't think his days in Boston are numbered. CNNSI.com: What kind of message does this send about the NHL? Kennedy: There's nothing they can do. It's one of the dangers of the culture of hockey. Until the league takes this type of culture out of hockey -- and it can't -- there is nothing it can do but suspend players who use a high-stick on others. It [violence in the sport] has been around a long time. Players have to be responsible for their actions. The Players Association should step forward and take action, although the association would never suspend one of its own players. But it could send a message with this. The association has the power to educate players about the dangers of actions such as high-sticking. It could conduct seminars for the players, during which they are shown terrible incidents of high-sticking, and use the example of a player knocked cold to get the message across. It's one of the only ways to drive home the point, and the players are usually receptive to these things. The association has supported a number of programs in the past, such as diversity training, so it wouldn't be that difficult to do. CNNSI.com: Most players are well aware of the damage a high-stick can cause. Would they go for something that involves mandatory seminars? Kennedy: I think so. The players want to do anything that promotes the game in a positive way. In the past they've been willing to do what it takes to make the game better. If this will make the game of hockey better, then they'd be all for it. CNNSI.com: What overall message does this incident send about the sport? Kennedy: I think we have to look at the media and the role it plays in such incidents. I don't think we should be replaying such graphic images if we aren't prepared to accept the consequences they bring. As long as society accepts the violence of sport, the message it sends isn't really important. It would be good for Marty to apologize to all of his
teammates.
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