UPDATE (8:20 a.m, April 27): There’s now video of the hostile interaction between New York Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle and New York Post writer Larry Brooks at Rangers breakup day Tuesday.
As expected, it’s extremely uncomfortable. Check it out below.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The New York Rangers’ season ended much sooner than anyone in their dressing room would have liked. Maybe that’s best explains what happened Tuesday at the team’s breakup day.
Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle had a very public spat with New York Post hockey writer Larry Brooks. According to Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog, Boyle repeatedly tried to have Brooks removed from a scrum of reporters.
Unfortunately there’s no video, but according to a transcript at Puck Daddy, Boyle repeatedly told Brooks he doesn’t respect the veteran reporter and that nobody likes or respects him.
“At least I’m leaving here with the respect of my teammates,” Boyle said, according to Puck Daddy. “Instead of (expletive) someone like you, who tries to bury somebody. That’s all you do. It’s not a critique. I’m telling you I don’t want you here. I have no respect for you. I want you to get the (expletive) out.”
This isn’t exactly unfamiliar territory for Brooks, who had some legendary spats with former Rangers coach John Tortorella (more on that in a bit).
Brooks on Tuesday tried to hold his ground, insisting he didn’t have to do what Boyle said.
“I can tell you to get the (expletive) out if I want to!” Boyle reportedly shouted.
Eventually the situation was diffused as Brooks walked off — but not before telling Boyle to grow up.
Boyle did say, however, he has respect for most of the Rangers’ press corps but also named Brett Cyrgalis, also of the Post, by name. Cyrgalis wasn’t there Tuesday.
Cyrgalis responded with a tweet.
A couple of hours after that tweet, Cyrgalis tried to do a little damage control.
What a wild scene.
As we mentioned before, this isn’t the first time Brooks has had a very public dispute with a member of the Rangers organization.
Then there was this one.
The Tortorella-Brooks rivalry even goes back to the coach’s time in Tampa Bay, with this NSFW exchange.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
