Tootoo's sucker punch

[#96 0]

I'm sorry, maybe I'm a little old school but I don't see that much wrong with the punch. Robidas went into it knowing some sort of physical play was going to happen, and that's exactly what happened. Tootoo didn't have enough time to plan the punch, it was purely reactionary (unlike the Simon swing where it was clear he was aiming). Tootoo shouldn't be blamed for 1) defending himself 2) knowing how to punch. If he hadn't hit him in the face, this wouldn't be so bad, but he's a tough-guy by trade, so he knows where and how to do the most damage.

This also proves my theory about the pussification of the league. They are trying to sell the skill and finesse, and coming away from the toughness that set this game apart from others. Things are just getting way too liberal for me. I hate to say it, but people are still not watching "The New NHL" and people still look to hockey for the toughness. Sure the goals and skating are great, but take any neophyte to a game and I gaurantee the most memorable thing about the game will be a fight or a big hit.

And don't even get me started about all these goalie interferences that are getting called. Weak...

[Eazy_b97 1]

The same 2 arguments can be made about Simon.

1) He was defending a cheap hit

2) He knew how to use his stick

[DarkStar50 679]

Simon took a two-handed swing at Hollweg. That is extremely different than Tootoo punching Robi. How is it different? Fighting is an accepted part of the game. It is still a penalty but fighting is understood as part of the game. Two-handed stick swings have never, ever been an accepted part of the game. Part of the unwritten code of no-no's: don't take a two-handed swing with your stick like a baseball bat at another player. OK, now that's out of the way.

I'm with DamnLocust on this one. On the one hand fighting is acceptable with penalties in hockey but knocking the other guy out is not? That's crazy. What is the purpose of fighting then? Just to hurt the other guy a little? Tootoo knew Robi was coming so he threw the first punch. Robi's problem was getting to the fight a second too late. Robi knew who he was going after so frankly, he should have been better prepared. Dirty punch? I'm not interested in if it is or isn't. There was going to be a fight! Robi should have been ready, he wasn't, hello Tweedy-Bird! Its ok to fight in the NHL, just don't knock the other guy out. That's ridiculous.

[wallin2199 0]

I agree, throwing a punch is alot different than trying to two hand a guy in the face. Tootoo reacted to having a guy take a run at him while Simon went out to try and blatantly injure another player. The only reason Tootoo got suspended is because Robidas got knocked out. As Colin Campbell says "The fact that Mr. Tootoo's actions resulted in an injury to his opponent also was a factor in this decision." Actually it was the only factor, because Modano swung his stick at Tootoo and got nothing because he's the new American hero.

[Eazy_b97 1]

What are the winning lottery tickets tonight, Eazy? Never realized you could read minds. Jeez, I honestly wouldn't think you have ever played a game w/ some of the things you come up with. Sorry bro, but in the heat of the fire when you see someone going at you at a good rate through the corner of your eye, you do what you have to do.

LOL, Tootoo decided to be the aggressor...And that is why he was standing pretty stagnant after the hit. What was Robidas looking for coming flying at Tootoo. :lol:

Eazy- Get over the Simon thing...Most people accept that the Hollweg hit was not cheap, from reporters to the refs to the annoucers. I find it too bad that you stoop so low in that you compare Tootoo to what Simon did. Because it doesn't come close.

Watch him. That's all you have to do. He gets up cocking his first. He doesn't need to go at him, he's throwing a punch. He sets himself. So there goes your second point.

Your first point about "doing what you have to do" there's a ton of options, stay down, duck, bring your hands up to protect your face, bring your hands up to get into his face. What Robidas did is a common play, watch some playoff tapes and see how often that happens infront of the net after a scrum.

So low? Welcome to the wonderful world of homer bias Theo. I said NOTHING about comparing the incident. Just about comparing the motivation behind the hits. Neither was carried out within the rules. Hollweg's hit was from behind, the NHL looks the other way on hits from behind though. Robidas hit was going to be high, thats the main argument, high hits are generally accepted by referees. Notice how I said cheap and not dirty?

How is it different? Fighting is an accepted part of the game. It is still a penalty but fighting is understood as part of the game.

This logic essentially takes Matt Johnson and Tie Domi off the hook. Punching is not fighting.

[DarkStar50 679]

Could you explain punching is not fighting? Last time I checked throwing knees and elbows is not fighting. Fighting is all about punching, whether its one punch or 21 punches.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Bertuzzi punched Moore, but it wasn't a fight. Matt Johnson knocked out Beukeboom, but it wasn't a fight. Domi one-punched Samuelson, but it wasn't a fight.

In a fight, two people know they are squaring off. Tootoo attacked Robidas.

Even the kicking and elbowing part doesn't make sense considering people around the world, like UFC fighters, consider that a part of fighting.

[DarkStar50 679]

Just clarify for me but in your three examples, didn't the punch come from behind, not in front? Robi got punched in the front of his head, not the back.

Lets do what if: after Tootoo's first punch, Robi is still standing, gloves comes flying off and they fight, no knockout punch. Is Tootoo suspended for throwing a punch with his glove on?

[Louie 28]

First time I saw this incident, until just now, but I don't neccesarily think that the hit made by Tootoo initially was a dirty hit. I assume he knew someone was going to come after him, what Tootoo did was wrong, but you can look at it as Robidas skating up from behind also as questionable, as was Modano's stick swinigng. It didn't appear to be malicious on Modano's part but still, not the best thing to see.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Just clarify for me but in your three examples, didn't the punch come from behind, not in front? Robi got punched in the front of his head, not the back.

Lets do what if: after Tootoo's first punch, Robi is still standing, gloves comes flying off and they fight, no knockout punch. Is Tootoo suspended for throwing a punch with his glove on?

Domi hit Samuelson in the face. Tootoo likely wouldn't have been suspended without an injury, but he gets the instigator. Injuries play a huge part in suspensions. If Robidas hits Tootoo and knocks him out, odds are Robidas would be suspended. The issue becomes that we never got to see what Robidas would have done and from past history, it likely would have been nothing. The league is clearly looking at punches like Tootoo's and after the review of Brashier's last week you can see the difference.

[trevor13478 1]

where do people get off saying that mike modano is a pussy for not going after tootoo, Modano just got rocked, he has to regain his bearings. he does get up and defend robidas, he hits tootoo with his stick and then goes and shoves him. Modano was smart, he didn't get the 5 for fighting that would hurt his team, he is a star player who belongs on the ice, not in the box for going after a worthless goon like tootoo.

[DamnLocust 0]

where do people get off saying that mike modano is a pussy for not going after tootoo, Modano just got rocked, he has to regain his bearings. he does get up and defend robidas, he hits tootoo with his stick and then goes and shoves him. Modano was smart, he didn't get the 5 for fighting that would hurt his team, he is a star player who belongs on the ice, not in the box for going after a worthless goon like tootoo.

Modano isnt a pussy for not going after Tootoo.

Modano's a pussy for using his stick as a weapon.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Homer bias Theo...Pot calling the kettle black, eh? BTW- I have no preference for either side here, but it is apparent Tootoo must have kicked some ML behind during a prior game or something

I've followed Tootoo's career for a fair while now and he's just gotten dirtier over the years. I'm not even sure he's played against Toronto in his career, but nice attempt.

If this was a Ranger laying on the ground you'd be demanding the book be thrown at him.

[djinferno 2]

This is again a result of a players stupid rule to defend the stars from clean hits, If your star player can't take a clean hit, thats not your problem, I'm happy Robidas got caught doing what he was trying to do and i hpe more guys get messed up as a result of this behavior since it's the only deterrent to these guys, fear of injury...

[Eazy_b97 1]

What rule is that?

[barrett 0]

I seen the hit, it was clean. As on ost temas when the star player gets hit that bad someone comes to his rescue. When doing one would think he would drop the gloves immediately , if he was not looking to fight why would he even waste his time to go over. What i am trying to say is that a guy was coming after him and Tooto was obviously unsure of what was going to happen so he swang. The guys was just coming towards him as if just skating over to him . I am not saying it was the right move for Tooto but there is NO WAY it deserved five games. That is just ridiculous and unjust to the player being penalized. I think the board is just trying to show they are not afraid to throw out suspensions .

P.s. was there an instigating penalty on the play i am very interested in seeing who got it if so.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Robidas was given 2 for charging and Tootoo got a double rough.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I don't believe I am even in the minority here, just the minority of those that have posted.

Keep in mind Tootoo is a fan favourite for many Canadians here.

[Wayne 0]

Eazy,

You're correct in the fact that you're not in the minority. I've been browsing this thread once and a while but have not wasted my time to read even close to the entire thing because I can't believe people can justify what Tootoo did.

Plain and simple. When players on the ice fight, they drop the gloves- essentially letting the other know that they will be receiving fists to the face and opening themselves up to being injured by the other player. But when Robidas goes to confront Tootoo for what he thought was a bad hit on Modano and gets suckered in the face not even expecting it. Thats one of te reasons Robidas was knocked unconscious- he wasn't bracing for a hit- he wasn't expecting to get blasted in the face. What if he was going over to get in the face of Tootoo but not make contact? Why were his hands up? Wouldn't you react that way if a fist was coming full bore into your grill?

I just don't see anything different between this incident and the other sucker punches we've seen over the years.

[rinkrat94 1]

You are not in the minority. The only people that I have heard condone it are the people on this site. Anyone else that I talked with or seen on television or radio has said it was a dirty play by Tootoo and he should be suspended.

[Megamandan 0]

When you go to bumrush and bulldoze a guy, you have to expect something. THAT WAS ROBIDAS BIG MISTAKE. He was an idiot for not expecting anything while he was to take a liberty at a guy. Meanwhile you say they should have dropped the gloves!!

Exactly

[badsk8ter 0]

When you go to bumrush and bulldoze a guy, you have to expect something. THAT WAS ROBIDAS BIG MISTAKE. He was an idiot for not expecting anything while he was to take a liberty at a guy. Meanwhile you say they should have dropped the gloves!!

Exactly

I also agree. While watching a west coast game on center ice, the talking heads were discussing it during intermission. They kept referring to the "sucker punch" by Tootoo. They then showed the clip. I had to watch it 3 times to see where the hit came because I was looking for a "true" sucker punch, i.e. one from behind or the side where the guy that gets hit doesn't see it coming (not from the front). We could "if" and "but" this all day but if the puck goes the other way and Tootoo turns right instead of left, then Robidas would have blasted him from the rear and crosschecked him across the head/neck/shoulders and Tootoo could have been the guy knocked out. That would have been a cheap shot, not what Tootoo did. Like it's been said, if Robidas isn't knocked out, this is a no issue. So just because Tootoo has a good right cross, he gets 5 games! That's ridiculous.

[CHIEF22 0]

What rule is that?

Maybe he meant to say "the code". Why is it that hockey is the only sport where when the star gets a big hit laid on him the world comes to and end and 4 guys jump the guy who did it?? If the star cant take being hit he should trade his hockey skates for figure skates. Im not talking about this incident in particular or hits that are illegal in nature, but just big hits in general. You dont see 11 guys throwing down when some wide reciever gets his helmet blown off on a hit while crossing the middle..

[Eazy_b97 1]

Not even expecting it? What was he expecting? A pat on the ass?

When you go to bumrush and bulldoze a guy, you have to expect something. THAT WAS ROBIDAS BIG MISTAKE. He was an idiot for not expecting anything while he was to take a liberty at a guy. Meanwhile you say they should have dropped the gloves!!

Well, blame your man Robidas because he was going to check Tootoo in the upper part of his body, gloves on and everything. If he wanted a fight...He could have dropped them 5 ft away and proceded from there. Robida's actions showed he wanted anything but a fight.

Robidas deserved it. And technically that was not a sucker punch

If this was expected like you claim, why doesn't it happen on a nightly basis. People charge in like Robidas all the time. Everytime there is a scrum around the net, or a big hit is laid on a star. Why doesn't everyone throw a punch to the face like they are popeye ala Tootoo?

Also the definition I have for a Suck punch "To hit someone with an unexpected blow" (Dictionary.com)

This was an unexpected blow. Robidas clearly wasn't expecting it. You can say Robidas shouldn't have gone in, but his behavior did not warrant a sucker punch that knocked him out.

What rule is that?

Maybe he meant to say "the code". Why is it that hockey is the only sport where when the star gets a big hit laid on him the world comes to and end and 4 guys jump the guy who did it?? If the star cant take being hit he should trade his hockey skates for figure skates. Im not talking about this incident in particular or hits that are illegal in nature, but just big hits in general. You dont see 11 guys throwing down when some wide reciever gets his helmet blown off on a hit while crossing the middle..

In Baseball, if you hit a batter intentionally, you are usually thrown at in the next inning. Football is very difficult to control, alot more factors come into play. Basketball rarely has physical contact like in Hockey.

[CHIEF22 0]

Not even expecting it? What was he expecting? A pat on the ass?

When you go to bumrush and bulldoze a guy, you have to expect something. THAT WAS ROBIDAS BIG MISTAKE. He was an idiot for not expecting anything while he was to take a liberty at a guy. Meanwhile you say they should have dropped the gloves!!

Well, blame your man Robidas because he was going to check Tootoo in the upper part of his body, gloves on and everything. If he wanted a fight...He could have dropped them 5 ft away and proceded from there. Robida's actions showed he wanted anything but a fight.

Robidas deserved it. And technically that was not a sucker punch

If this was expected like you claim, why doesn't it happen on a nightly basis. People charge in like Robidas all the time. Everytime there is a scrum around the net, or a big hit is laid on a star. Why doesn't everyone throw a punch to the face like they are popeye ala Tootoo?

Also the definition I have for a Suck punch "To hit someone with an unexpected blow" (Dictionary.com)

This was an unexpected blow. Robidas clearly wasn't expecting it. You can say Robidas shouldn't have gone in, but his behavior did not warrant a sucker punch that knocked him out.

What rule is that?

Maybe he meant to say "the code". Why is it that hockey is the only sport where when the star gets a big hit laid on him the world comes to and end and 4 guys jump the guy who did it?? If the star cant take being hit he should trade his hockey skates for figure skates. Im not talking about this incident in particular or hits that are illegal in nature, but just big hits in general. You dont see 11 guys throwing down when some wide reciever gets his helmet blown off on a hit while crossing the middle..

In Baseball, if you hit a batter intentionally, you are usually thrown at in the next inning. Football is very difficult to control, alot more factors come into play. Basketball rarely has physical contact like in Hockey.

Intentionally.... Like an illegal hit??? That I have no problems with, it is the legal big hits that I have issue with. Like I said, figure skates..