Shut up, Bobby Clarke

BOULDER, Colorado -- I guess I'm a little keyed up after the Bruins' overtime victory over the Flyers on Saturday, so I thought I'd mention something that Flyers Senior Vice President Bobby Clarke said about a week ago.

I've made my opinions clear about this year's installment of the Philadelphia Flyers. I think they are a bunch of gutless thugs who are collectively a discredit to the game of hockey. Two Bruins players have been victims of their reckless play, and both, Patrice Bergeron and Andrew Alberts, remain out of the lineup with concussions months later. This disgusting display by Clarke illustrates how low the Flyers have sunk, and proves my claim that this dangerous style of play is encouraged by the organization from top to bottom.

While being interviewed on Canada's TSN, Clarke defended a shameless play by Steve Downie - the same Steve Downie who leveled Dean McAmmond with a vicious headshot during the preseason - in which he sucker punched Toronto's Jason Blake.

After the McAmmond hit, which garnered a 20 game suspension from the league, Blake suggested that Downie should have received a stiffer penalty, perhaps even a lifetime ban. Apparently for Clarke, this is justification for sucker punching a guy several months later. But Clarke wasn't finished there - he also went on to defend Downie's hit on McAmmond.

"The hit that Downie threw on McAmmond was not a whole lot different than the hits we all, including myself, admired that Scott Stevens used to throw in open ice," Clarke said.

One astute reader of The Hockey News had this to say about Clarke's argument:

"Apparently Bob hasn't looked at the rulebook lately! According to the NHL's own rules, Steve Downie was guilty of four separate offences in his hit.

1 - Downie left his feet; charging.
2 - Downie took more than three strides with the intention of hitting a player; also charging.
3 - Downie used his elbow as the lead part of his body making contact with McAmmond; elbowing.
And finally, 4 - Downie maliciously and without regard for the well-being of McAmmond, went after his head; intent to injure.

I've seen clips of Stevens' most devastating hits in his career. I'll concede that Stevens did jump on some of the hits. He did not, however, do any of the other three offences to another player that Downie is clearly guilty of."

Here's a clip of Clarke's comments, which includes footage of the Blake punch and the hit on McAmmond.


Neither play is even remotely defensible, and Clarke should be ashamed. But we shouldn't expect very much from him, as he showed very little shame for various despicable acts throughout his career as a player and a GM. Thanks again for showing the world what an idiot you are, Bobby.

And by the way, Downie did not receive a suspension from the league for his punch, which garnered only a double minor in the game.

I guess after these last few posts you can start calling me "Captain Video." Now if only there was a way to reliably get video highlights of the Russian Bandy League.