Iced Tea
4-13-05, 3:24 PM
Moore won't stand against Bertuzzi's bid
Reinstatement up to NHL, lawyer says
Gut-wrenching decision for Bettman
DAMIEN COX
Steve Moore won't stand in Todd Bertuzzi's way.
Moore's lawyer, Tim Danson, said yesterday that the NHL contacted the former Colorado Avalanche forward late last week to ask if he would be willing to give testimony at a reinstatement hearing for Bertuzzi, possibly as early as this week.
"One of the facts the NHL wants to take into account is Steve Moore's recovery," Danson said. "In that respect, we are prepared to answer any questions the NHL has of us.
"But Steve Moore will not take a position on whether Todd Bertuzzi should be reinstated. He accepts the fact that decision is the exclusive domain of the NHL and he doesn't want to influence the decision in any way."
Reasonably magnanimous, it's fair to say, for an athlete who had his career ruined by Bertuzzi and then wasn't allowed to give a victim impact statement in court at Bertuzzi's assault trial.
Bertuzzi is anxiously hoping that a reinstatement hearing could be held within a matter of days so that, if cleared by commissioner Gary Bettman, he might be asked to join Team Canada for the world hockey championship in Austria.
Canadian GM Steve Tambellini has left a forward position unfilled on his 23-man roster and the thinking is that it is there for Bertuzzi if he becomes eligible.
Moore has previously said he never wants to again play hockey on the same rink as Bertuzzi, so his reluctance to take a strong stand against Bertuzzi's reinstatement could be interpreted as a softening of his position.
The NHL has maintained from the day Bertuzzi was banned on March 11, 2004, that Moore's health would be considered if and when Bertuzzi asked to have the suspension lifted.
In announcing the ban, the league said Bertuzzi's reinstatement would be considered "in light of all the available facts at that time, including Mr. Moore's physical status and the progression of his recovery."
According to Danson, Moore has progressed little since telling a press conference last December that he was suffering from post-concussion syndrome, headaches and dizziness and could not participate in "any activity even resembling a workout."
Thirteen months after the unprovoked assault at GM Place in Vancouver, Moore still can't exercise, Danson said.
"All I can really say is that Steve's condition has not really changed," said Danson, who is working with a Denver attorney on a civil suit filed by Moore in February against Bertuzzi and the Vancouver Canucks. "Steve has indicated to me his progress has been slower than he would have liked. But he is very positive and optimistic and has every intention of getting better and resuming his NHL career."
So while Moore won't protest Bertuzzi's being allowed back into the NHL family, his health might speak much more loudly. With the NHL inactive and Moore still injured, there might be no clear reason to lift the suspension.
Clearly, this is going to be a gut-wrenching decision for Bettman, who has had a petition for reinstatement from Bertuzzi on his desk for more than six months.
Making it worse, however, is the NHL's curious behaviour in this matter, doubly odd given the strong and immediate manner in which the suspension was handed down three days after the incident. In recent weeks, however, the league hasn't committed to holding a hearing, but also hasn't said it won't and really hasn't made any concrete statement at all on Bertuzzi.
Yes, this lockout business has clouded all NHL business for a while. But by leaving Bertuzzi, Moore and now Team Canada hanging uncertain as to the direction in which this entire process is headed, the NHL has created an unnecessary degree of intrigue to one of the ugliest incidents in league history.
Already, that has caused rumour and speculation. There have been insinuations, for example, that Moore is dragging his feet and making himself unavailable for a hearing to block Bertuzzi's participation in the world championship, suggestions Danson shot down. "I mean, they just asked us last week," he said.
Danson said the NHL didn't indicate to him when such a hearing might take place "other than quickly."
It's time for the NHL to get upfront and transparent here. Call a hearing, let Moore make his representation, let Bertuzzi ask for clemency and then have Bettman make a decision.
Whether he reinstates Bertuzzi or not, he'll get hit with criticism. But simply putting it off and playing back-channel political games won't make this nightmare go away or make a fair resolution any clearer.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. I like Bertuzzi as a player but what he did was vicious. Bettman has a tough job ahead of him but I'm glad that Moore finally gets to say his piece to the NHL. Too bad Moore doesn't get to tell the NHLPA a thing or two as well.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1113342619206&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes
Reinstatement up to NHL, lawyer says
Gut-wrenching decision for Bettman
DAMIEN COX
Steve Moore won't stand in Todd Bertuzzi's way.
Moore's lawyer, Tim Danson, said yesterday that the NHL contacted the former Colorado Avalanche forward late last week to ask if he would be willing to give testimony at a reinstatement hearing for Bertuzzi, possibly as early as this week.
"One of the facts the NHL wants to take into account is Steve Moore's recovery," Danson said. "In that respect, we are prepared to answer any questions the NHL has of us.
"But Steve Moore will not take a position on whether Todd Bertuzzi should be reinstated. He accepts the fact that decision is the exclusive domain of the NHL and he doesn't want to influence the decision in any way."
Reasonably magnanimous, it's fair to say, for an athlete who had his career ruined by Bertuzzi and then wasn't allowed to give a victim impact statement in court at Bertuzzi's assault trial.
Bertuzzi is anxiously hoping that a reinstatement hearing could be held within a matter of days so that, if cleared by commissioner Gary Bettman, he might be asked to join Team Canada for the world hockey championship in Austria.
Canadian GM Steve Tambellini has left a forward position unfilled on his 23-man roster and the thinking is that it is there for Bertuzzi if he becomes eligible.
Moore has previously said he never wants to again play hockey on the same rink as Bertuzzi, so his reluctance to take a strong stand against Bertuzzi's reinstatement could be interpreted as a softening of his position.
The NHL has maintained from the day Bertuzzi was banned on March 11, 2004, that Moore's health would be considered if and when Bertuzzi asked to have the suspension lifted.
In announcing the ban, the league said Bertuzzi's reinstatement would be considered "in light of all the available facts at that time, including Mr. Moore's physical status and the progression of his recovery."
According to Danson, Moore has progressed little since telling a press conference last December that he was suffering from post-concussion syndrome, headaches and dizziness and could not participate in "any activity even resembling a workout."
Thirteen months after the unprovoked assault at GM Place in Vancouver, Moore still can't exercise, Danson said.
"All I can really say is that Steve's condition has not really changed," said Danson, who is working with a Denver attorney on a civil suit filed by Moore in February against Bertuzzi and the Vancouver Canucks. "Steve has indicated to me his progress has been slower than he would have liked. But he is very positive and optimistic and has every intention of getting better and resuming his NHL career."
So while Moore won't protest Bertuzzi's being allowed back into the NHL family, his health might speak much more loudly. With the NHL inactive and Moore still injured, there might be no clear reason to lift the suspension.
Clearly, this is going to be a gut-wrenching decision for Bettman, who has had a petition for reinstatement from Bertuzzi on his desk for more than six months.
Making it worse, however, is the NHL's curious behaviour in this matter, doubly odd given the strong and immediate manner in which the suspension was handed down three days after the incident. In recent weeks, however, the league hasn't committed to holding a hearing, but also hasn't said it won't and really hasn't made any concrete statement at all on Bertuzzi.
Yes, this lockout business has clouded all NHL business for a while. But by leaving Bertuzzi, Moore and now Team Canada hanging uncertain as to the direction in which this entire process is headed, the NHL has created an unnecessary degree of intrigue to one of the ugliest incidents in league history.
Already, that has caused rumour and speculation. There have been insinuations, for example, that Moore is dragging his feet and making himself unavailable for a hearing to block Bertuzzi's participation in the world championship, suggestions Danson shot down. "I mean, they just asked us last week," he said.
Danson said the NHL didn't indicate to him when such a hearing might take place "other than quickly."
It's time for the NHL to get upfront and transparent here. Call a hearing, let Moore make his representation, let Bertuzzi ask for clemency and then have Bettman make a decision.
Whether he reinstates Bertuzzi or not, he'll get hit with criticism. But simply putting it off and playing back-channel political games won't make this nightmare go away or make a fair resolution any clearer.
I'm not sure how I feel about this. I like Bertuzzi as a player but what he did was vicious. Bettman has a tough job ahead of him but I'm glad that Moore finally gets to say his piece to the NHL. Too bad Moore doesn't get to tell the NHLPA a thing or two as well.
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1113342619206&call_pageid=968867503640&col=970081593064&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes