Matt Bradley has somehow made himself a Washington Capitals cult hero by interrupting a would-be fight between Steve "Call me Colby Armstong" Downie and some guy named Ovechkin. But I don't care who Bradley thought he was protecting, he's nobody's hero.
Here's the story: In the third period of Wednesday's Captials-Lightning game, Alex Ovechkin and Lightning forward Steve Downie emerged from the penalty box at the same time following coincidental roughing penalties (sparked by a potentially dirty hit by Ovechkin). After exchanging a few words, it was clear the two weren't done with each other, and they dropped their gloves and discarded their helmets to throw down the gentlemanly way. But that's when Capitals'
Since Marty McSorley made star protection famous by watching Wayne Gretzky's back for a decade, fans expect teams to provide bodyguards for players as talented as Ovechkin. So I get it. Bradley's a hero because he kept Ovechkin's Adonis face in order and his $90 million stick on the ice. Sure Alex looked eager to fight, but thanks to Bradley, the two-time MVP got to play it safe.
But that's not what "protection" is. Stars are protected from opponents taking liberty with them; enforcers are around to make sure the Steve Downies of the league don't take cheap shots, rough up, or goad a player like Ovheckin when he's just trying to go about his everyday business. But enforcers aren't paid to keep Ovechkin—or Crosby, Gretzky, Lemiuex, whomever—from making dumb choices. Simply: Ovechkin is a grown man (a rather large grown man at 6'2" 212 lbs), a professional hockey player, and Matt Bradley's team captain—if he wants to fight, then he gets to fight.
Moms may not like it, and fans of other sports may not quite understand, but that's just the way hockey works. A lot goes on between players on the ice, and eventually they may choose to take a stand. Even the stars with bodyguards. Gretzky fought. Lemieux fought. We know Howe fought. Crosby's fought several times. Even famously passive stars fight: Joe Sakic, Steve Yzerman, Henrik Zetterberg, and Jonathan Toews just to name a few. These and any number of other superstars have fought over the years—and their teammates let them. Ovechkin? He, well, hasn't quite.
No one says Ovechkin has to fight. If he chooses to avoid fights—if he skates away from conflicts and goes about his business—fine. Indeed there's a very simple way for Ovechkin to stay out of fights: don't start them. But if he decides he's had enough and he wants to stick up for himself, then (like every other hockey player) he should get to. Maybe Ovechkin didn't really want to fight Downie; maybe he was perfectly happy to have Bradley cut in. But for now, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. And the next time he drops his gloves (first) and throws off his helmet (first) and chooses to take a stand (in a controversy he started), let's just hope Matt Bradley isn't around to come to the rescue of someone who needs no saving.
After the jump, video of the fight and why Matt Bradley should be suspended.
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