What James Neal did was wrong, there is no denying that. I, nor none of my fellow fans and writers back in Pittsburgh, will attest to anything otherwise. I feel the 5 game suspension laid down yesterday by Player Safety VP Brendan Shanahan was a perfect punishment for the crime.
What has been beyond comprehension to me for the past couple days though is how strongly Boston fans are standing behind what Bruins F Shawn Thornton did. Or, more specifically, they are letting what James Neal did be a scapegoat for Shawn Thornton. I can't tell you how many times I've heard from Boston fans since the incident:
Me: "How can you even suggest that what Shawn Thornton did was right? In any way?"
Boston Fan: "He was just sticking up for his teammates!"
Me: "So sticking up for you're teammates now includes assaulting other players and sending them to the hospital?"
Boston Fan: "Well........ahh......WHAT JAMES NEAL DID WAS JUST AS BAD!"
Me: "Those incidents were not.....
Boston Fan: "THORNTON WAS JUST STICKING UP FOR HIS TEAMMATES! NEAL IS THE REAL GOON HERE. THORNTON DID NOTHING WRONG. NEAL IS THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE SUSPENDED NOT THORNTON!"
Something like that. It varies in words used but the general gist is always the same.
Listen Boston fans, and listen good. The incidents concerning James Neal and Shawn Thornton were completely SEPARATE incidents. There should be no comparing them and certainly no hiding behind them so you can justify what Shawn Thornton did.
Don't believe me?
Here is the two incidents, broken down:
James Neal
1. Brad Marchand is one of the dirtiest players in the league
2. Sidney Crosby did NOT, contrary to popular Boston belief, slew foot or trip Brad Marchand.
3. James Neal kneed Marchand in the head while he was on the ground. For what reason? See #1.
Shawn Thornton
1. In the previous game for Boston - The Bruins got out
hustled badly by the Canadians and were criticized for not sticking up for
teammate Johnny Boychuk when he was injured from a hit by Max Pacioretty.
Pacioretty's hit was called for boarding (2 minute penalty) - but apart from
that there was no reason for any type of reprimanding - either from the Bruins
or from the league. But being a Canadians/ Bruins game, of course people called
for more action than actually needed.
2. Brooks Orpik delivered a crushing hit to Bruins F Loui Eriksson - the hit was open ice and was clean. Orpik does often does these open ice hits so this was nothing new. Eriksson suffered a concussion on the play. Orpik did NOT receive a penalty - nor should he have.
3. Shawn Thornton skated the length of the ice and assaulted an unsuspecting Brooks Orpik who, after the hit on Eriksson, refused to fight Thornton who is an experienced fighter. Orpik did not want to fight, as is his right. Orpik would need to be taken out on a stretcher (as he was unconscious) after receiving taking multiple blows to the head once down on the ice. He was taken to a hospital for further testing.
2. Brooks Orpik delivered a crushing hit to Bruins F Loui Eriksson - the hit was open ice and was clean. Orpik does often does these open ice hits so this was nothing new. Eriksson suffered a concussion on the play. Orpik did NOT receive a penalty - nor should he have.
3. Shawn Thornton skated the length of the ice and assaulted an unsuspecting Brooks Orpik who, after the hit on Eriksson, refused to fight Thornton who is an experienced fighter. Orpik did not want to fight, as is his right. Orpik would need to be taken out on a stretcher (as he was unconscious) after receiving taking multiple blows to the head once down on the ice. He was taken to a hospital for further testing.
I see no possible way those two incidents are in any way related.
Boston fans, what Shawn Thornton did was despicable and a disgrace to hockey.
Penguins fans, what James Neal did, although slightly less despicable, was also a disgrace to hockey.
The difference, Penguins fans are owning up to that fact. They know what James Neal did was wrong.
Boston fans on the other hand continually stand to back what Shawn Thornton did, knowing full well he was wrong in his actions. Boston fans, get you're collective heads out of you're asses. Stop playing innocent. Own up to what you did, shut up and go on living. You all, despite what you all seem to think, are not in any way the victim here. Brooks Orpik was.
Your not being Boston Strong in this case.
Your just plain Boston Wrong.
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