Toronto Media Overlooks Code, Pardons Kubina
April 5, 2009, by Homme De Sept-Iles
Three articles and three convenient pardons from the Toronto media. (Last night’s game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens saw a fight between Montreal’s Georges Laraque and Toronto’s Jay Harrison. Pavel Kubina got involved as the third man in but today’s news might have you believe it didn’t happen or that it wasn’t a big deal. The fact is, the NHL, fight apologists and league pugilists themselves have been consistent in decrying third-man-in situations and often make reference to the third man in as being one of the key compoents of “the code” that exists to serve, justify and explain fighting in hockey.)
First Pardon
Harrison and Laraque traded punches, but they were assessed minor penalties for roughing. During the melee, Pavel Kubina came to the aid of his Leafs teammate by grabbing Laraque’s arm.
Harrison was happy for a little help from his fellow defenseman.
“There’s always safety in numbers,” Harrison said. “It’s team toughness and for him to come in there, that’s really great of him and I’d do the same for him for sure. – Original Article
How interesting that Harrison thinks it’s a great idea for Kubina to come and help him out. Perhaps these guys don’t believe in the code. No additional commentary from the writer to indicate that both the NHL and fight apologists are typically scathing in their indictments of a third man jumping into a fight. Seems the code is optional for some.
If the code is optional, maybe we should just accept that fighting as a way for the game to police itself has lost its integrity. It’s followers can’t even observe their own rules. Perhaps it’s time for this ageing and addled institution to retire.
Harrison also cites “safety in numbers” as a good thing. So is he saying might makes right? We’ll keep it in mind. Maybe a Montreal team can take advantage of that in the playoffs. Or sooner. I imagine, however, that the option to exercise “might makes right” is the right of only a chosen few. The Toronto Maple Leafs, exonerated Ontarian thugs, and other select, exempt Canadians, perhaps? What would the list look like, I wonder.
As for the journalistic by-play on the issue, there was none. What would have been appropriate and expected, would have been a description of the penalty normally incurred for such an action (third man in) and perhaps an objective comment on last night’s occurrence. There is none.
Second Pardon
They were given even more reason to cheer late in the period as Georges Laraques ran over defenceman Jay Harrison before getting in a good punch or two when the pair squared off. Give Harrison credit for standing in with one of the toughest players in the league. – Original Article
The piece, written by the Toronto Star’s Chris Johnston mentions the fight in one sentence and fully ignores the third man in. I wonder if Johnston would have done so had the situation been reversed and say, Montreal’s Maxim Lapierre had jumped onto Harrison as the third man in.
Third Pardon
It was Harrison’s first point for the Leafs in his fourth game. He also got pummelled by Montreal enforcer Georges Laraque in the first period. – Original Article
This article, written by the Globe and Mail’s Tim Wharnsby, also doesn’t mention the third man in.
There were no articles in this morning’s media that criticized Kubina’s decision.
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