One of the Dirtiest Hockey Hits You Will Ever See

The argument to ban hits to the head in hockey just got a lot stronger, after Mike Richards of the Flyers dropped the boom on David Booth of the Panthers.  Booth was taken off the ice on a stretcher, which is fortunate, because after seeing the hit you’ll be surprised he wasn’t taken off in a body bag.

Of course there’s always going to be differing opinions on vicious hits like this one.  Dude should’ve had his head up, other dude went for his head, dude left his feet, hitting is a part of hockey, blah, blah, friggin’ blah.

Here’s my two cents–the hit was dirty.  Period.  Mike Richards blatantly went for Booth’s head, going so far as to leave his feet.  Booth’s brain is mush now.  Guys should be able to play the game of hockey without worrying about being decapitated while carrying the puck.  Seriously, it’s only a matter of time before an NHL’er dies on the ice after one of these “big” hits.

But don’t let my persuasive and charming arguments sway you, judge for your damn self…then agree with me.

And finally a few quotes from some of the people involved…

Mike Richards on his hit…

“I’m never out there to hurt anyone,” Richards said. “I have respect for the game and respect for the players. My concern is with him. Hopefully, he’s fine and gets better. I just wanted to separate him from the puck. He dished it off and everything happened so quickly. I don’t have a history of head shots and I don’t even know if it was a head shot.”

*cough* bullshit *cough*

Booth’s teammate Keith Ballard…

“Richards knows (Booth) is in vulnerable position and goes after him,” Ballard said. “He’s done it before. That’s the same stuff they’ve been trying to cut out. The thing with Mike Richards is he’s a good, honest player. I love a lot about him game. He does a lot of things well, but then he does that stuff.”

And finally, Flyers GM Paul Holmgren, who thought the hit was clean…of course.

“I don’t see how they can view it like that,” Holmgren said. “Mike was doing his job. His feet never left the ice. It was a shoulder hit. David Booth turned his head. It looks like he saw him at the last second, but turned his head and his head took the blow. It would have been shoulder on shoulder if not. It’s a physical game and sometimes these things happen. I feel bad for David Booth. He’s a good young player. Hopefully everything is going to be all right.”

Goddamn I get sick of this shit.  I guarantee that if Richards had pulled a knife on booth and stabbed him in the neck, you’d get some douchebag like Holmgren saying that the shanking was clean, and that Richards was just “doing his job.”  For once I’d love to see a coach, GM or other call a spade a spade and admit that their player is dirty, or performed a dirty act.

Yeah, I know–keep on dreaming.