Cormier's punishment fit crime, why pile on?

Hockey Betting Lines

05/12/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Physicality and borderline dirty plays have always been parts of hockey - and probably always will be.

Some argue that's what makes the game great.

Others contend the game is about speed and skill, and the 'goonish' element needs to go.

No matter what side of the fence you're on, the scene at a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League game early this year that saw an 18-year-old convulsing on the ice after taking a blatant elbow to the face from an opponent was enough to make you sick.

The scene in question occurred in January when forward Patrice Cormier elbowed defenseman Mikael Tam, who was hospitalized with brain trauma and damage to several teeth after the hit. Tam eventually returned to junior hockey this season, but Cormier did not after being suspended for the remainder of the season and playoffs.

Cormier did return to ice hockey in the American League after his junior team's season ended, playing nine games for the Chicago Wolves, who were eliminated from the Calder Cup playoffs on Tuesday night by the Texas Stars.

But the story doesn't end there.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder, currently an NHL prospect in the Atlanta Thrashers organization, faces an assault charge in Canadian Court stemming from the on-ice incident, a charge that was made official just hours before the game-seven matchup with the Stars. The 19-year-old now faces up to 18 months in jail if convicted.

There is precedent for this type of criminal charge in Canada.

Todd Bertuzzi, then with the Vancouver Canucks, was suspended for 17 months by the NHL after a blindside sucker punch to the head of former Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore in 2004. Moore suffered three broken vertebra in his neck and a high grade concussion, ending his hockey career.

Bertuzzi was charged in Vancouver, resulting in a guilty plea, one year of probation, and 80 hours of community service.

The difference in Cormier's case is the age of the combatants and the severity of the injuries. The Bertuzzi/Moore incident was between two professionals in their 20s, one of whom could not return to the ice. The Cormier/Tam incident was between two amateurs in their teens, and Tam was able to return to action this season, actually serving his own suspension for an illegal hit.

"The incident itself, I really don't talk about it a lot," Cormier told The Sportsbook Betting Lines last week. "It's in the past. It happened, it was a mistake. Anyone who knows me knows that I never meant for it to happen. I was going to finish my hit and I maybe went a little too far. That's just the way I play. I'm not dirty, but I finish my hits, and if I want to be successful in hockey, that's one thing I need to keep doing."

While some argue he shouldn't have been allowed to play in the AHL this season, others contend he served his suspension and paid a steep price for his "crime" already.

"I don't think anybody [in the AHL] has any real negative feelings about him," Chicago Wolves GM Wendell Young told The Sportsbook Betting Lines last week. "He paid the price. He was suspended and missed a lot of hockey this past year because of the incident."

Cormier doesn't seem to have a black mark in NHL front offices either, as the Thrashers made him part of the bounty they acquired from the New Jersey Devils in the blockbuster Ilya Kovalchuk deal on Feb. 4. Further dispelling any character issues is the fact that Cormier was the captain of Canada's silver medal winning World Junior team in 2010.

Now, the debate: should Cormier have to face a criminal charge for an on-ice incident?

Those who know hockey acknowledge that these incidents happen; sometimes players go too far. Is charging players involved in these type of incidents with crimes the answer, or is a lengthy suspension from the sport they love enough? Judging from Cormier's recent comments to The Sportsbook Betting Lines, the latter holds true in this case.

"I have learned that you have to be careful out there," he said. "You have seen many times this year that guys have been taking hits to the head and it's pretty dangerous. When it happens to you, when you hit a guy, you learn to be a little more careful, for sure."

"The one good thing for me was seeing Michael Tam returning to hockey this year," Cormier said. "When he was all right and played, everything was done for me. The main thing for me was him returning healthy and 100 percent.

"Now I'm back playing hockey and it's all behind me. A lot of people learned from this, but now it's behind us and we're stronger and we're going to move forward."

Seems like the lesson was learned, but that's up to the bureaucrats to decide when Cormier is due in court on July 12.

Wwwwin365games Hockey Betting News

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FOOTBALL BETTING : Cassel Signs Contract

Kansas City, MO - Kansas City has not officially named Matt Cassel its starting quarterback, but there can be no doubt now.

NFL Betting
After praising his leadership and work ethic through spring workouts, the Chiefs announced Tuesday they had signed the 27-year-old Cassel to a multiyear contract. Terms were not disclosed, but he will almost certainly be one of the highest-paid members of the team.
"We are excited to be able to reach a long-term agreement for Matt Cassel to be a Kansas City Chief for many years to come," owner and board chairman Clark Hunt said in a statement. "His proven leadership on and off the field will be a tremendous asset to the organization."
Patriots made him their franchise player, meaning his salary for this season will be about $15 million.
New head coach Todd Haley, taking over for Herm Edwards after a 2-14 season, refused to name a starter at any position during offseason workouts. But it was obvious to everyone the team belonged to Cassel.
"I go out there each and every day with that focus that I'm the starter," Cassel said during a June minicamp. "Competition brings out the best in everybody."
The signing will come as welcome news to Cassel's new coaches and teammates. Amiable and hardworking, online football betting he appeared to win over everyone at minicamp.
"I think he's got some unique leadership qualities. I think his teammates like him and have respect for him. I think he's doing a pretty good job on the field, too," Haley said last month. "He's doing everything that I'm asking him, that our coaches are asking him to do. I don't have one single complaint how he's carrying himself."
After one workout, wide receiver Devard Darling declared Cassel "a breath of fresh air."
"He has a lot of swagger, a lot of confidence. It's good for us," said Darling. "We trust in him that he's going to go out there and lead us all the way."
nse to accommodate his specific abilities.
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Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who had been Bill Belichick's assistant in New England, engineered the trade after the Patriots became convinced that Brady would recover fully from his knee operation.
"Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community," Pioli said. "His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players."

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Big 12 Conference betting odds

Work left to do: Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

Texas joins Texas A&M and Kansas as locks after getting league win No. 11. Texas Tech greatly helped its own hopes and crippled OK State's with the two-point win Saturday. Is K-State the last reasonable hopeful? Could be an elimination match in Stillwater on Tuesday, at least for the Cowboys.

Work left to do:

Texas Tech [18-11 (7-7), RPI: 44, SOS: 12] A critical two-point win over OK State leaves the Red Raiders with Baylor and at Iowa State left. Get both and the Red Raiders likely are good to go. Get one and there could be some interesting comparisons with a K-State team that could finish two or three games "ahead" of them in the standings but doesn't have any of the quality wins Texas Tech has. Not a lot in nonconference play (against Arkansas in Little Rock being the best win, by far) to lean on.

Oklahoma State [18-9 (5-8), RPI: 50, SOS: 35] Still without a road win, the Cowboys now need to win two on the road just to get to .500 in conference play. It's hard to recall a team (OK, other than Clemson) falling so precipitously from lock status to almost certainly out of the NCAAs at this point. There are wins to be had in the last three, including a very big home game against K-State on Tuesday, but this team is reeling. Can you tell the pressure to win is getting to them with the way the final possession played out at Texas Tech? There are some good nonconference performances to lean on, specifically beating Missouri State and Syracuse on neutral floors and Pitt in OK City, but if the Pokes don't right this very, very soon, that won't be enough.

Kansas State [20-9 (9-5), RPI: 56, SOS: 96] It pays to be in the Big 12 North. The nine league wins are Colorado (twice), Missouri (twice), Iowa State (twice), Baylor, Nebraska and (a good one against) Texas. That helps explain the middling computer profile. The win over USC is nice, but the nonconference leaves a lot to be desired. The game at OK State in Stillwater on Tuesday is huge, as it could KO the Cowboys and leave K-State with a home date against Oklahoma with which to work.