gloveside.net

So the Red Wings went down to Nashville last night, and under heavy duress from injuries, a hostile crowd, and a playoff-like atmosphere, pulled out a solid victory to move within points of not only the Division lead but also the best record in the NHL as well. Ozzie played well, and the rookies Hudler and Filppula stepped in and played like seasoned vets. Kyle Calder continued to have success, and may end up being the most valuable new aquisition at the trade deadline.

So why don’t I feel like Gen. Sherman marching to the sea?

I couldn’t be more dissapointed with the,erm, “showing” by Darryl Bootland. I am a fan of Bootland’s, and have advocated for his call-up from Grand Rapids ahead of Ellis, Hussey, Langfield, etc.  I believe the Wings have suffered by not having a player of a pugilistic nature on the roster, as the ledger would clearly show Detroit to be on the recieving end of more abuse than they themselves have dished out. I thought Brad Norton did well to keep other teams honest until his injury early in the season. Despite the best efforts by b-ball man Bettman, its still a fast, viloent game.

So when Bootland was called up last week I was eager with anticipation. Now he is the small side, and certainly doesn’t scare anybody, but I expected him to play the role. His first game this year was against Nashville too, and although he didn’t drop the gloves, he was certainly noticable. I thought he played okay vs. Boston, and his scrap with Reich was lively.

So with the playoff atmosphere hyped up with this home-and-away with those Nashville cats, I figured him to come out flying, telling more than one person that I expected Bootland to make his prescence felt early and often.

So what happens? Bootland engages uberpest Jordin Tootoo with a love tap across the ankles. So far so good. Tootoo has been, suprise suprise, running every Wing in sight, often with hits that appear questionable at best. Tootoo turns around and… proceeds to smack Bootland to the ice with a short, quick series of punches to both sides of Bootlands perfectly coifed sideburns, knocking him to the ice quicker than Tonya taking out Nancy. Bootland does get one off. Glove that is.

And much like Ms. Kerrigan sniffling on that cold Detroit day so many years ago, I find myself crying,” Why? why? why?”

So what the flock of seagulls was Bootland thinking? He’d go over and chat with Tootoo? “C’mon now, lil’ buddy, chill out hitting everybody.You might hurt someone!”

Bootland has no reputation to speak of as of yet, unless you count being bloodied like an extra from Slapshot, by Todd Simpson. This fight-filled game with Nashville a few years back, in a game that was really the tipping point in making the Predlies the Wings biggest rivals, replacing Quebec, I mean Colorado. So its not as if Tootoo was going to be shook just by Bootlands presence.

The role of the enforcer is one of the most difficult positions in all of professional sports, let alone hockey. I have nothing but respect for these players. The spot is not for the timid or meek, and those who have swung their way to the NHL often have had a myriad of off-ice problems as well, as evidenced by the best ever Bob Probert, who was an alcoholic by age 17 and a full blown coke-head ten years later.

But it is a position that is needed. I couldn’t have cared less that the Wings received a power-play, (which they didn’t convert) theWings have planty of guys who get abused and earn calls -thats not Bootlands role. If he’s not going to be a deterent, he at least needs to hold fools accountable.

Perhaps I am making too much of this. Perhaps not. I hope that Bootland finds Tootoo tonight, and puts things right. I know that Mike Babcock defines toughness as a team charcteristic, but Bootland has a job to do. And yes, of course I am glad they won, it just felt a bit off.

I am begining to wonder if Bootland has enough sand to do it. Does anyone know Probies Visa status?