Last week, Boston Bruins Forward, Greg Campbell, dove to block a shot by Evgeni Malkin, during a Penguins power play. He immediately felt discomfort and continued for the next 45-60 seconds to kill the penalty, while hobbling on one leg, even poking the puck away from Malkin on the point. Campbell, after the whistle finally blew, skated to his own bench and left the game with a broken fibula.
Courtesy: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
Campbell wasn’t showing bravery or heroics as he continued to play; he wasn’t trying to become a ‘legend’. He was doing what pretty much every hockey player would do in the same situation. He was playing for his team.
Chances are Campbell didn’t know right away that his leg was broken. For a guy that only plays about 2 minutes a game, Campbell was probably running on pure adreneline, and just trying not to fail his teammates by taking himself out of the play. Sure he showed how tough he is. He showed how hockey players will do whatever it takes to get their name on the Cup. He showed that no matter what, he wasn’t going to let his team down when they needed him most.
And with that, this play will go down in hockey lore.
But you know what really pissed me off about this whole situation? The idiotic sports pundits who know absolutely nothing about hockey calling Campbell’s actions ‘stupid’. I’m not going to name names or point fingers – that would just give them credit. I do want to address it though because I’m so tired of networks like ‘ESPN’ – also known as the football and basketball network – pretending to give a shit about the NHL. I’m tired of hockey being looked at like the red-head step child. I’m tired of ignorant shitheads calling hockey a ‘pussy’ sport. You who’s a pussy shithead? You are. Because you never had the sac to lace ’em up and try it. Instead you make fun of something you cannot possibly understand. Instead you hide behind your baseball trophy from 1986. Instead, you followed the band wagon and played football for two months out of the year and pretended you were a star. Shithead.
Sure, you have be a little crazy to play this game. Hockey isn’t like other sports and the Stanley Cup isn’t like other trophies. It is THE Trophy and any NHL’er worth his salt is going to dive in front of hundreds of 100+mph shots to win it. They’re going to break as many bones and take on as many injuries as they have to get their name immortalized on the oldest trophy in sports.
I’ve been playing hockey since I was 4 years old. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to play. I’ve played soccer. I’ve played football. I’ve played baseball. I’ve actually TRIED other sports, but the only thing I wanted to do was strap on my skates and play a real game. An intense game. A physical, fast, high tempo game. I’ve had a my fair share of injuries, too. I’ve broken my leg. Broken my ribs. I’ve suffered 16 concussions (that I remember). I’ve dislocated my shoulder. I’ve had numerous cuts, broken nose, broken fingers, stitches, black eyes, broken toes, sprained ankles. But I still come back. I’ve friends of mine who have played for weeks with casts on because they didn’t want to miss a game. Why do we do such things?
Because it’s hockey.
If you have never laced ’em up then you have no idea. Shithead.
Hockey is the worlds biggest and greatest brotherhood (Yes and sisterhood for the chicks that are cool enough to try hockey out, and I’ve known some good ones). Even after our professional or college or junior or high school days are over, we’re still part of a group of athletes unlike any in sports. Because we’re crazy enough to love a sport that can give so much and take it away just as quickly.
The NHL Playoffs is completely different animal compared to any other hockey game you’re going to watch. It’s a whole other level of playing and sacrafice that no other sport can even come close to comparing itself to. Ray Lewis played with a robotic-arm brace? Kudos. No one is denying you’re a tough dude. Curt Schilling pitched two games with a blown achilles? Good for you. You gave a whole new meaning to the term Red Sox. Derek Rose didn’t want to play against the Heat in the playoffs because he didn’t want to risk injury? You’re just a pussy. It’s freakin’ basketball.
Greg Campbell broke his leg and played through the pain for a full minute because he didn’t want to hurt his team on the penalty kill. Daryl Sydor in the 2000 Cup Finals blew out his knee on a missed check and crawled around in the defensive zone trying to block shots until he was carried off the ice. Bobby Baun in the ’64 playoffs scored the game winning goal in OT for the Maple Leafs on a broken foot. Bobby Orr would have the training staff help him wrap his knees and get dressed before each game because his knees were all but distroyed, but he still played. Because it’s hockey.
There are a ton of stories like this. And yes, I know, there are a ton of stories from other sports too. The point is: Campbell sacraficed himself for the better of his team. He lifted the Bruins up another level because he was willing to do whatever he had to do to win the game. They’re aren’t many athletes out there that would have done such a thing. I’m not calling him brave or a hero – those words are better saved for actual heroes like Military and First Responders, etc… – I’m simple saying that Campbell showed what a heart and soul player can do for his team.
He’s not stupid for continuing the play on a broken leg. He did want any hockey player would do – never give up on the play. He showed his sac is bigger than most and that he was willing to sacrafice his body for the good of his team. That’s what hockey is about and for anyone who still thinks hockey is a ‘pussy’ sport:
“Is hockey hard? I don’t know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us, oh yeah did I mention that this whole time we’re standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don’t know, you tell me. Next question.”
-Brendan Shanahan
More to come…
