TSN's McKenzie clueless on Kaleta/Ruutu
Here's how the TSN broadcast crew talked about the Ruutu/Kaleta hit during last night's second intermission in Ottawa.
Very disappointing that TSN veteran and Hockey News maven Bob McKenzie, one of the most widely known media figures in the sport, could be so off base here on a broadcast that goes nationwide through Canada and all through the United States on Center Ice. McKenzie first says it should be a suspension, then his train of thought gets completely off track. Here are his three key points with my responses.
"The fact that it's Patrick Kaleta probably doesn't help the cause very much." -- While probably true, shame on the NHL for letting that come into play. We've already seen that though with Alexander Ovechkin and the TSN crew than goes on to say the book should be thrown at Colorado's David Koci because his hit from behind was against Washington star Mike Green. Boo.
"And you never know whether he's hurt, he's really hurt." Say what? Kaleta missed how many games last year because of head and neck trouble? Shame on you for that accusation. That one should never be played.
"The fact that Kaleta came back and played [might mitigate a suspension]." End of argument, dude. Plain wrong. He wasn't seen or heard from again. Wasn't at practice today. No excuse to have that fact wrong, especially when it's a basis of your argument. Guess he really was hurt, huh?
Terrible job by McKenzie.
Thanks to Kevin at BfloBlog for the link.
---Mike Harrington
