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Thursday, February 24, 2000
Suspended: Fergie says coaches at fault
TAMPA -- One of the NHL's toughest players ever says Marty McSorley isn't all to blame for an ugly whack delivered to the head of Donald Brashear.
John Ferguson told the Sun last night Boston coach Pat Burns and Vancouver's Marc Crawford are also to blame.
"Somebody has to point out the fact that the coaches are at fault -- to an extent -- for what happened on the ice that night in Vancouver," said Ferguson, a senior pro scout with the San Jose Sharks, from his Windsor home.
"What were those guys doing on the ice in the final minute of that game? The game was over and the two coaches had those guys on the ice. After what had transpired, they shouldn't have even been out there."
McSorley won't put on the uniform again this season after getting what could be a lifetime ban from NHL VP Colin Campbell following a disciplinary hearing yesterday. Banned for the final 23 games -- and the playoffs if the Bruins make it that far -- McSorley must meet with commissioner Gary Bettman, legal counsel Bill Daly and Campbell this summer if he wants to play again.
"I'm not defending what Marty did because I don't think it was right," said Ferguson. "But I don't think Marty was trying to hit the guy in the head. I can't believe that he'd ever intend to do that -- not the Marty McSorley I know.
BEING TAUNTED
"I would hope he was just trying to tap the guy in the shoulder. A lot of things had happened. Brashear was over at the bench taunting the Bruins before all this took place. Then, they're on the ice together.
"I know when I played, we took care of everything with our fists, but when a guy taunted you at your bench, you went out there and did something about it. What Marty did was horrible and shouldn't be allowed, but Brashear had taunted him."
While it should be noted Ferguson played a big role in getting McSorley to sign with the Sharks, McSorley is known in many circles as a classy player who is considered a strong character in the dressing room because of his leadership abilities.
But when McSorley decided to carelessly swing his stick at the head of Brashear late Monday night in Vancouver, he perhaps wrote his own ticket out of the NHL.
McSorley, for his part, says he doesn't remember exactly what happened, why he decided to become Abdullah the Butcher for a brief moment.
NOT MENTALLY TOUGH
There's no question McSorley is tough enough, physically, to play in the NHL.
But mentally? Probably not.
Many thought he was lucky to get only a 23-game vacation.
"I thought he was going to get life," said Senators defenceman Grant Ledyard. "But this punishment may be the death sentence for his career. I just thought it was a vicious attack."
McSorley had a hard time finding a job this season. He talked with the Senators, Oilers, Flames, Coyotes and Bruins -- among others -- before Boston GM Harry Sinden decided to take a chance by signing him.
After accepting a one-year, $600,000 US contract, McSorley worked hard to prove to Burns that he was an effective player.
"I just wish he hadn't done it," said Ferguson. "I know Marty is a good person and I know for one moment in his life he just snapped. He took things way too far."
McSorley found out the hard way that if you live by the sword, your career can die by the sword.
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