He Said She Said?

1) The title is tongue in cheek, but the result of the incident that permanently injured former Avalanche forward Steven Moore is no laughing matter. To review for those who may have been on another continent Bertuzzi, then with the Canucks, grabbed Moore, a Colorado Avalanche rookie, from behind during a 2004 game, punched him in the side of the head, then landed on top of Moore, driving his head into the ice. Moore, who lay in a pool of blood for several minutes, was removed on a stretcher. Moore suffered a broken neck and a concussion; doctors have since ordered him to retire from the NHL. He filed a lawsuit against Bertuzzi, the Canucks and their parent company in Ontario in February 2006. The lawsuit is seeking $38 million for loss of income and damages, naming Bertuzzi, the Canucks and Orca Bay as defendants.

2) In apparent conflicting statements Todd Bertuzzi was reported to have said that his former Canucks coach Marc Crawford ordered him to do what he did. A statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court by Moore's lawyer and obtained by FAUXRUMORS said Crawford pointed to Moore's name and number on a board in the Canucks' locker room during the second intermission of that game and said, " ... [Moore] must pay the price". The court documents also allege that, as Moore lay motionless, "a television camera panned to Crawford who was smirking," according to The Toronto Star. In an accompanying document, Moore's lawyer claims Crawford's statement was disclosed by Bertuzzi while under oath, and by then-Canucks general manager Dave Nonis.

3) More recently according to a published report, former Vancouver Canucks head coach Marc Crawford claims in court documents that Todd Bertuzzi acted in "direct disobedience" of the team's coaching staff in his 2004 attack on Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Moore. The Toronto Star is reporting that Crawford stated that the Canucks' coaching staff was attempting to pull Bertuzzi off the ice before the attack that broke Moore's neck and ended his career. "This was not done under any specific or general direction or encouragement from Crawford, was a direct disobedience of the instruction that Bertuzzi had been given from the bench"

4) One would think that these conflicting statements could/should be easily corroborated/challenged by the many other folks who were in the room/on the bench that night. IF Crawford made the statement that Moore needed to be punished then we could assume that Todd wasn't the lone player who heard his head coach make that statement. Also, tapes of the game should show whether or not Crawford appeared to 'smirk' or not. Not that this should mean squat. Its also not certain how much liability Crawford should garner IF he said what was alleged. Its not like he stood and pulled a reggie-dunlop, and put a 'bounty' on the head of Moore, offering his "own money for the first guy who nails that punk."

5) Sorry, but Todd Bertuzzi and only Todd Bertuzzi should take responsibility for his actions! His is NOT an automaton; doing what he is ordered regardless of the consequence. We may not particularly like Marc Crawford, but with the current information available feel he should have no liability in this matter.