Fake Locke explained that when something bad happens, a victim is left with lingering anger. With no outlet on which to unleash that anger, the victim has no choice but to go insane — even if the chosen outlet doesn’t necessarily deserve the blame.
The Bruins can’t do anything about the fact that Marc Savard is likely out for the season after being on the receiving end of the Hit Heard ‘Round the World, courtesy of Matt Cooke. They can’t take away Savard’s concussion. They can’t (legally) give Cooke a concussion, either. Shawn Thornton couldn’t morph into the smoke monster and take care of business inside the confines of the TD Garden, so he had to resort to a few right hooks and some choice words.
But what the B’s can do is blame the person who failed to discipline Cooke for his gutless hit. That person — that outlet — is NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.
There are times when the rules make sense. This was not one of those times. And though the Bruins were slow to react when the hit initially happened — and there are a variety of ways to explain that, one of which can be attributed to the fact it takes a human’s brain more than a millisecond to catch up with his eyes — they’re taking a stand now, against the man responsible.
Well, the other man responsible. The one not named Cooke.
Just like Locke said, the Bruins are finding an outlet for their anger. Campbell is the unlucky chosen one.
Campbell failed to punish Cooke for a reckless, dangerous, unnecessary, unsportsmanlike (insert new adjective here) play. So now, the Bruins don’t care what he has to say. And Mark Recchi made that very clear prior to Thursday’s game, when he heard Campbell would be in attendance at the TD Garden.
In other news, fans get creative — and philosophical — with signs at spring training games in Fort Myers, the rest of the NBA is starting to notice that the Celtics’ roster is no longer full of spring chickens and Sportsman of the Year Gilbert Arenas chimes in on Tiger Woods‘ return to the Masters.
“He’s not speaking to us before the game. I hope he’s not. [We have] no interest in having him in our dressing room.”
–Bruins winger Mark Recchi, on NESN, when asked whether the Bruins will be receptive to a possible pregame talk from NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell
“Walks are like ex-wives — they always come back to haunt you.”
–A fan’s sign during a St. Patrick’s Day game in Fort Myers
“John Farrell never once offered to drive.”
–Red Sox manager Terry Francona, on NESN.com, after driving 160 miles from Kissimmee, Fla., to Port Charlotte with pitching coach John Farrell for split-squad spring training games
“I don’t know if it’s effort or maybe they’re a little older. But they’ve been old.”
–Former Celtic Leon Powe, in The Associated Press, on the Celtics’ age concerns
“It’s not Slap Shot.”
–An anonymous member of the Bruins, on Boston.com, when asked prior to Thursday’s loss to the Penguins if the B’s would retaliate against Matt Cooke
“To me, the Celtics look bored with the regular season. I’m not saying they’ve tanked the regular season. I’m just saying an experienced team like Boston has so much talent, they know how to win in the playoffs. Just looking at them, they look like they’re ready for a new challenge.”
–Cavaliers star LeBron James, on the team’s Web site, on the Celtics’ woes
“Everybody told me after the match what’s happened, but during the match, you know how fast Americans speak, and I am Spanish. I didn’t understand nothing.”
—Rafael Nadal, in the AP, on drama between tennis stars Andre Aggasi and Pete Sampras
“There’s people, stupid, that like to write something when it’s not the truth, and that’s all I have to say about that. … If I’m getting traded, they need to come to me. That’s not my job to go to them. I’ve been saying all along I want to be here, but whatever, it’s not up to me. I just think somebody tried to be funny, but it’s so stupid when somebody takes something like that serious.”
–Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, in the AP, as trade rumors surfaced that claimed he was being shopped to Philadelphia in exchange for Ryan Howard
“To come up with that one is abusive. To the extent that anybody takes it seriously, it could distract the Phillies, it could distract here. I am pretty sure neither is happening.”
–Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, in the AP, on the Pujols-Howard trade rumors
“I have a painting of him in my garage. I just walk by it with my head down. I called Mrs. Pollin and said, ‘If Abe was still with us, I would’ve had to talk to him, so I’m gonna give you the same respect. I want to say sorry to you. I deserve to be punished. I’ll do everything it takes to get back your husband’s respect.'”
–Maligned Wizards star Gilbert Arenas, in Esquire Magazine, on whether the late Abe Pollin would be disappointed in his behavior this season
“I’ve never seen my numbers for spring training on the back of my baseball card.”
–Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, on Boston.com, responding to claims that he’s getting off to a slow start in spring training
“Say it’s all true. At the end of the day, that’s not the reason I love Tiger. I got three Tiger Woods games for my Xbox just in case one gets scratched. On the cover, it doesn’t have him walking next to his wife. It just has Tiger Woods, hitting shots.”
–Arenas, in Esquire, on Tiger Woods’ reputation taking a hit
