Couple more facts: Neither coach was fined, the players remain on the salary cap and roster and also continue to get paid.
Brad Jones:
The punishment is based on what I thought was fitting. The fact that both teams are losing a player for a significant amount of time and they remain on the salary cap comes into play.
On Lawmaster: I look at it that he's getting fined and did receive a game misconduct for being the aggressor. I felt that the situation behind the net could have been called a little differently which could have played a role in this.
David Franke:
I was a little surprised that Brad got 15 games, but when you look at it he got pretty physical with the linesman. I don't have a problem with what Brad (MacMillan) did. He came to the aid of a teammate. He knows in the future he has to stay in the box and let the guys on the ice handle this.
The one thing we can't do is let the league turn into a "Slapshot" type of deal, and I think that's one of the reasons Brad Jones ruled as harshly as he did. We want more physical play, but we don't want Pier 6 brawls and we don't want abuse of officials. I also think the league ruling is fine except Lawmaster in my opinion should have gotten a suspension.
Brad MacMillan:
It's not a surprise. I knew I was getting suspended. I'm a little disappointed in the reprimand in the fact that Lawmaster gets nothing out of this. I wouldn't change anything I did besides I wouldn't have touched the official.
It's important that the fans enjoy the game and have a good time, but I wwant to make sure
Comments
I agree with Brad MacMillan......and LawMaster now has a huge target on him.....lets pound that guy. He is a Gutless Wonder. He targeted a defenseless player and was trying to hurt him. I hope someone runs over that guy out on the ice and feels the pain that Shaf feels.
I need to talk to you Blake....watch for an email.
Unless you're sending me a bunch of emails in Arabic or asking me to do something indecent, I haven't received anything yet.
You should have mail...thanks Super Fan.
I have a comment about the suspension: "No Comment"
UMMM....
Whoa....
The players continue to get paid? WHAT?
Message sent.....
Goon it up, leave the bench/penalty box and get a paid vacation.
I told Mom while all this was going on that Mac would get at least 10 games, and she looked at me like I was nuts. She's gonna be disappointed, Mac's her favorite player. Hey Wendy- you gonna try to interview Mac for one of the games of the week?
Jones is the sole person responsible.. I have an idea...
What about a discipline committe...
1 former player (I nominate Jim Duhart)
1 Brad Jones
1 ref/former ref (I nominate Bob Langdon)
I think a former player has insight that Jones (a former player) sometimes forgets..
Undisclosed fines=slap on the wrist.
Did Franke say that the league doesn't want this kind of stuff with a strait face? Or did he do it as he was counting the money he'll make off of it? Lol..
I'm glad MacMillan didn't come off like the prototypical athlete that does dumb things an gives a half hearted apology. He stood up for his teammate and carried himself like a man. He should apologize for what he did. I applaud him for it.
Anyone here think Big Snake is avoiding Brad? I do. He talks about wanting to fight him, but avoids him in a pre-season game and Saturday, he could have waited 1:57 and had his shot at the title, but he wussed out. Big Snake needs to look in the mirror, and I am sure he sees a scared little girl looking back at him.
You guys here that noise? That was the Komets running over Lawmaster.....it is safe to say that Lawmaster will be a healthy scratch the rest of the games agaisnt the Komets. Anyone agree?
*edit* my last post should have read.... "He shouldn't apologize for what he did."
So Jones admits that his poorly prepared officials led to the fracus... have they been fined or suspended?
Whats the hot info Hit?
You know, ordinarily, I'd be sorta offended, but yep, Big Snake is more of a little girl than I ever was. And I really WAS a little girl at one point. What a baby. And ok, I so have to say....I believe that I did use the word "overrated" on this blog regarding that little boy...I'm thinking that it is turning out to be very true in his case. If Bouchard is hoping that Big Snake is his prison guard, then I really hate to tell him that his time in the pen is gonna be one long, painful experience.
I think Brad Jones' comment, "The punishment is based on what I thought was fitting. The fact that both teams are losing a player for a significant amount of time and they remain on the salary cap comes into play." addresses the "paid vacation" and his intent.
Not only are the players in this case punished by not being allowed to play (who knows how this may affect bonus situations?) but the teams are taking a double hit which is also sending a message. It may be a unique way of doing that but it should cause some thought by a player or coach in the future before doing something similar.
I'll bet if someone was injured Brad would have handled it differently, probably much differently.
Geez, I wonder if I hit someone at work if I get a paid vacation?
Normally if you get in a fistfight at work do you go sit in a box for 5 mins, then go back work as if nothing happened?
It is a joke.
If you want to deter this from happening again you don't pay these players while they are suspended.
This is not the NHL where guys can afford to lose a few games pay. At this level the paycheck really means something and if players know it will be taken away they wil think twice before they act even in the heat of the moment.
It's all well and good that the team is punished against the salary cap and all that but the bottom line is until the individual player gets stung, the message will not sink in.
Meanwhile, the Franke's and Muskegon owners rake in $$$ from the altercation by selling more tickets...
It's not like these guys can afford to lose over a months pay.
How do we know that the "undisclosed fine" isn't equivilant to the pay they'd miss?
How do we know there really is a fine?
You've got a point there, Hit. I mean, even if they have some photographers sitting in on the exchange of funds, those photos could be doctored! ;) Guess we'll just have to take their word for it.