I'm in it for total world domination. Or free coffee.
You want to know why New York Rangers fans have a chip on their shoulder? Why we have an attitude that is, at best, exclusionary (and, okay, obnoxious)? This is why.
Today, I watched Donald Brashear, a man with 121 PIM and 11 fights in the regular season, level Blair Betts (16 PIM, no fights) with a late elbow. I saw this, and while waiting to find out if he was okay, I waited for the outrage from NHL fans to begin.
I waited for the same people who condemned Sean Avery for his late hits in Game 4 and his words a few months back. The people who were incensed about Sidney Crosby’s cheap shots in a scrum earlier in this season. The people who demanded punishment for Steve Ott.
I waited for these people to say something about the late hit. About intent to injure. About the difference between enforcement and thuggery.
And I was greeted with silence.
Later, when it came out that Brandon Dubinsky had been bitten by Shaone Morrisonn, the only response it elicited outside of the Rangers fans was laughter.
Blair Betts is potentially out for the rest of whatever’s left of the season with a head injury, and Brandon Dubinksy needed a tetanus shot.
Where is the outrage? Where are the voices calling for action?
Oh, right, I forgot: it doesn’t count when it happens to the Rangers.
