Twenty-five years ago a member of the Los Angeles Kings named Paul Mulvey ignited one of the worst public relations disasters the NHL had ever had to face. Don Perry, the Kings coach ordered Mulvey who was the Los Angeles tough-guy to start a bench clearing brawl against the Vancouver Canucks and Tiger Williams. Mulvey, who had just come off a suspension, refused to leave the bench with the words "I'm not going to be a designated assassin". Within hours the 23-year old Mulvey was placed on waivers and sent to the minors and ultimately never played another NHL game. The coach was fined and suspended and within a year was fired never to be heard from again. Mulvey eventually took a settlement on a 22-million dollar law suit against the Kings.
A quarter-century later the NHL is feeling the public relations heat aain. Testimony under oath that Vancouver Coach Mark Crawford told his team that "Steve Moore must pay the price" words that led to the infamous Todd Bertuzzi incident. Thewre's a very winable 38 million lawsuit in the courts and Bertuzzi is apparently not going to take the rap alone. Andonce again the so-called 'hockey culture' is put under the microscope.
We're constantly told that players should be able to police the game themselves. As we watch player after player being carted off the ice on stretchers we have to say that not only are the players incapable of policing their game but neither is the NHL itself. And where does that leave us?
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