jeff@dciem.UUCP (Jeff Richardson) (02/11/85)
> The next > incident was in the playoffs (in 1983, I think). Again Gretzky was skating > behind the net, and Smith's stick swung around (I won't claim that he was > aiming at the puck) and hit Gretzky in the leg. Gretzky took a couple > more steps and then collapsed in the corner. When he realized the ref was > not going to buy it and call a penalty he got up (neat trick for someone > writhing in pain) and charged after Smith in the crease, waving his stick > in Smith's face. The officials stepped in and broke it up. THEN the referee > called a slashing penalty on Smith. The Edmonton press starting calling > Smith "Public Enemy #1". It was 1983 and I remember the incident well. It was exactly as described above by Rick Gillespie. I hate Billy Smith just as much as the next guy, and not just because of his stick swinging, but I definitely took his side in this case. Smith's action may have deserved a penalty, probably two minutes for slashing, but it should have been called right away, not after Gretzky's antics. Once the referee decided not to give Smith a penalty, he shouldn't have changed his mind. When he headed to the penalty box, I thought he was going to give Gretzky a penalty for attacking Smith. Instead, he gave Smith a five-minute major! I can't remember who the referee was, but I think it's one of the worse calls I've ever seen in the NHL, where the officiating is normally among the best in any sport. (I'm referring to the game officials, not the VP who hands out useless suspensions, but that's another story.) The incident proved two things: Gretzky does not exemplify the qualities of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct (I don't mean that his play is dirty, but deliberately attempting to deceive the officials is certainly bad sportsmanship.) and he receives preferential treatment from the officials. By the way, if I remember correctly, Smith waited until a crucial moment in the game (or maybe another game in the same series) and took a big dive when an Oiler gave him a bit of a hit. I think he got an Oiler penalty out of it too, (What choice did the referee have after the Gretzky incident?) so in the end justice was done. -- Jeff Richardson, DCIEM, Toronto (416) 635-2073 {linus,ihnp4,uw-beaver,floyd}!utcsrgv!dciem!jeff {allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!dciem!jeff