[News] Bettman upholds 20 game Wideman suspension. NHLPA files appeal to neutral arbitrator

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Let's take Henderson's injuries at first value. Concussions affect people differently, suggesting that he's faking an injury due to politics is classless.

I actually agree with the rest of your post, but you've been accusing Wideman of faking his injury ad nauseam...

it would seem very much that you are also like school on Saturday...

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by dino7c

Francis basically accused Wideman of faking it when he was back at practice...yet a fan suggesting it of an official is way off base.

Had he tripped over his own feet do you guys really think he would still be out?

Francis is the stupid media who is blowing it out of proportion. Any chance Widemans name comes up Francis takes a run at him. If I was Wideman I would be pretty pissed off at that guy and hopefully the rest of the team shuts him out.

[flamesfan1297]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Francis is the stupid media who is blowing it out of proportion. Any chance Widemans name comes up Francis takes a run at him. If I was Wideman I would be pretty pissed off at that guy and hopefully the rest of the team shuts him out.

I've lost a ton of respect for Francis since the Wideman incident. I actually unfollowed him on twitter. I was sick of seeing him take runs at Wideman. I agree that I hope the team shuts him out. It a Shame that good reporter's lost their job, and Francis still has is. Garbage

[Patek23]

I don't get how people can still defend Wideman as much as they do. If I'm driving my car and someone runs me off the road and I hit the median damaging my car and my mental state. If I keep driving afterwards and rear end someone I'm still at fault. Do I think Wideman looked up, saw the linesman and purposely went to lay him out? Not a chance. But considering how slow that progressed there was ample time for that to of been handled differently.

No one can put themselves in Widemans head but at that speed for him to have the reaction he did is very likely a quick reaction to try and avoid but also push the linesman out of his way to avoid the contact. Which has now resulted in a injury that has kept the linesman out of working since, and who knows how much longer. All those are huge factors. Wideman was at the least negligent and possibly in a brief second of anger also intentional. People need to move on and see things for what they are here. I've also seen a lot of people say "he must not of meant it because there's no motive" which is ridiculous. Go to the courts in a day and you will see multiple people guilty of crimes with no motive. Wideman has possibly ended a officials career, I'm sure the NHL has been privy to the severity of Hendersons injuries and I'm sure that played into the 20 games suspension. The text being addressed again also is not being used by Bettman to prove guilt. It's released to show that afterwards Wideman wasn't apologetic towards the incident. Wether he really needed to release it is questionable. However it was a big factor to him in upholding the suspension due to no remorse. I'm sure if there was any other texts in there that had shown any remorse than the one we saw wouldn't be brought up. Lots of borderline conspiracy theorists in here one this. It seems pretty cut and dry to me.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

I don't get how people can still defend Wideman as much as they do. If I'm driving my car and someone runs me off the road and I hit the median damaging my car and my mental state. If I keep driving afterwards and rear end someone I'm still at fault. Do I think Wideman looked up, saw the linesman and purposely went to lay him out? Not a chance. But considering how slow that progressed there was ample time for that to of been handled differently.

No one can put themselves in Widemans head but at that speed for him to have the reaction he did is very likely a quick reaction to try and avoid but also push the linesman out of his way to avoid the contact. Which has now resulted in a injury that has kept the linesman out of working since, and who knows how much longer. All those are huge factors. Wideman was at the least negligent and possibly in a brief second of anger also intentional. People need to move on and see things for what they are here. I've also seen a lot of people say "he must not of meant it because there's no motive" which is ridiculous. Go to the courts in a day and you will see multiple people guilty of crimes with no motive. Wideman has possibly ended a officials career, I'm sure the NHL has been privy to the severity of Hendersons injuries and I'm sure that played into the 20 games suspension. The text being addressed again also is not being used by Bettman to prove guilt. It's released to show that afterwards Wideman wasn't apologetic towards the incident. Wether he really needed to release it is questionable. However it was a big factor to him in upholding the suspension due to no remorse. I'm sure if there was any other texts in there that had shown any remorse than the one we saw wouldn't be brought up. Lots of borderline conspiracy theorists in here one this. It seems pretty cut and dry to me.

he was working 2 mins after the collision

[northcrunk]

The refs have been really bad this year and even worse since the Wideman incident and not only to the Flames. Look at the circus that happened in the Winnipeg game. Maurice is right to be so angry. The ref missed two dangerous hits by Strahlman and Wheeler fought him after a headshot to little and the jets end up with 4:00 in penalties and 2:00 for Tampa. What a disgrace. In the 3rd period the ref stares down Maurice to goat him and of course Maurice tells him #### you and the ref ejects him. Then the ref proceeds to laugh as if he is the funniest guy on the ice. Pieces of ####.

[northcrunk]

The ref from the Jets game.

[dino7c]

officials have zero accountability...player has cameras in his face asking a million questions

officials? "some guy said he is still hurt bad, might not be back soon if ever"


The incident with the Jets is just another example, Paul Blart would be proud

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

The ref from the Jets game.

Must be brothers.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I actually agree with the rest of your post, but you've been accusing Wideman of faking his injury ad nauseam...

it would seem very much that you are also like school on Saturday...

I have been pretty careful to suggest he exaggerated his symptoms while talking to the expert witnesses based on the testimony of the doctors and Wideman himself (as dictated in Bettman's order). Something that the order itself alluded to on several occasions. In essence, I agreed with Bettman's decision based on the facts that he presented.

I have not suggested Wideman was concussion free, if anything I have repeatedly suggested that he was concussed. My argument was he told the doctors what they wanted to hear so he got that diagnosis (in fact I referred to it as the 'correct diagnosis' a couple times).

That's a lot different then suggesting that Henderson is faking injuries due to politics. One is purely speculation based and blaming an innocent person, the other is supported by the decision (albeit a potentially biased decision) that included facts, findings and testimonies that concluded that Wideman was at fault for the incident.

[CliffFletcher]

I have a heck of a lot more empathy for refs than I do for players. These guys do an incredibly hard job. They don't get paid a heck of lot considering the pressure and the money other people in NHL get. It's such a thankless and tough job that they're always desperate to find anyone who will to do it in junior and lower leagues.

The tougher we make it on those guys, the fewer people will want to do it, and the worse the quality of reffing will get. You want to see better refs? Then treat the ones we have with more respect.

[northcrunk]

Refs make around $110,000 to start and work around 50 games a year. Senior refs make about $220,000. I'm sure we could find lots of good people to make that kind of money. They are not some underpaid scrubs and they don't have to answer to any media. Pretty sweet gig if you ask me.

[sureLoss]

Francis' latest article says there are rumors that the NHLOA was pressuring Henderson to retire before the Wideman hit.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by northcrunk

Refs make around $110,000 to start and work around 50 games a year. Senior refs make about $220,000. I'm sure we could find lots of good people to make that kind of money. They are not some underpaid scrubs and they don't have to answer to any media. Pretty sweet gig if you ask me.

You think people can just walk off the street and become NHL refs? And you realize that there's a desperate shortage of refs at pretty much every level of hockey because very few people want to deal with the crap they face every day, right?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You think people can just walk off the street and become NHL refs? And you realize that there's a desperate shortage of refs at pretty much every level of hockey because very few people want to deal with the crap they face every day, right?

Challenge accepted!

And I cant even skate. Never played Ice Hockey a day in my life.

[northcrunk]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You think people can just walk off the street and become NHL refs? And you realize that there's a desperate shortage of refs at pretty much every level of hockey because very few people want to deal with the crap they face every day, right?

I am a ref and have been since I was 14. I think the 'crap' they deal with every day is overblown. The absolute morons that should not be on the ice have problems all the time because they are morons and piss people off. The job of the ref is to ref the game. Not try and influence the outcome. You know how many guys who don't make the NHL do? They become refs. The reason people don't want to do it at lower levels is the pay and lack of work. If people could make a full time living doing it you would see more. Usually guys are given 2-3 games per week if they are lucky.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by dino7c

he was working 2 mins after the collision

Well to keep with the car accident comparisons. I know people who drove away from accidents and the next day can't get out of bed. Injuries can take time to settle in after the adrenaline. Your point doesn't really make sense. Yes he finished the game but he hasn't worked since.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Flaming Homer

Well to keep with the car accident comparisons. I know people who drove away from accidents and the next day can't get out of bed. Injuries can take time to settle in after the adrenaline. Your point doesn't really make sense. Yes he finished the game but he hasn't worked since.

neither of us know the extent of his injuries...he might be hurt still. I highly doubt he would still be out if he had tripped on his own feet like I said earlier that is my opinion. The only thing we have heard from him is "I'm fine" after the game and nothing else. Now we hear some guy say "he is still hurt and might not come back" and that the officials were pressuring him to retire before the incident.

He really didn't go down that hard, I can give you millions of examples of refs taking harder blows that didn't end their careers. Do I know 100% how he is feeling? no but its seems fishy to me.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Francis' latest article says there are rumors that the NHLOA was pressuring Henderson to retire before the Wideman hit.

Any reason why? Past injuries, or other issues?

[Weitz]

He's old? lol