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Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09

We showed this last night during the game, but it probably merits another mention.

Senators forward and former Penguin Jarkko Ruutu apparently has a problem with Buffalo's Andrew Peters' ability to open ketchup bottles:

Clearly Ruutu deserves some sort of suspension but the crazy thing was he wasn't the one penalized over this. Peters was. He got two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct!

Peters is the biggest victim in all of this. He won't be able to text message anytime soon:

"I won't be able to text message anyone. Now I actually have to talk to people which is kind of a bummer because I hate talking on the phone."

In all seriousness, Peters felt some sort of punishment was warranted against Ruutu:

"It’s a pretty stupid thing to do, regardless of who you are, it’s just not part of the game of hockey. I’ve never had anyone bite me before, I didn’t know that happened. The refs didn’t see it. That’s unfortunate. I saw a replay of it and it’s pretty evident that he did bite me and I have a lot of confidence that the league will take the proper procedures and go about it the right way. I’m not going to say anything that’s going to get me in any trouble. Like I said, I’m going to let the league deal with it."

Ruutu had a very Clintonian response as pointed out by Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo!:

"He had his finger in my mouth, but I didn’t bite him."


Posted Jan 07 2009, 04:35 AM by Seth Rorabaugh

Comments

DigitalGypsy66 wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 9:11 AM

That Ruutu is a piece of work.  What a sideshow!

Wilf wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 10:59 AM

Yeah, Ruuts will end up missing less games for Tysonesque behavior than the six games-turned-indefinite suspension the Spleenless One got for being classless.  Yeah, it's a little bit oranges and apples, but which of those really did the most harm to another person, or to the League?

Lauren wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 11:23 AM

Great acting there by Peters... how hard did Ruutu had to bite him -- with his glove ON -- for him to react like that? (Honestly, it reminded me of this, just not as cute: www.youtube.com/watch)

Also, for the record, biting is actually listed as a match penalty in the rulebook (along with hair-pulling - Troy Polamalu beware).

Buckles wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 12:06 PM

Is it just me or did Ruutu get crazier after he left here?  

I know what he did was stupid, but I can't stand that is going to another one of things that fires up the American media that doesn't watch hockey into the "it's nothing but a goon's game, let's all play Olympic hockey" high horse that they always get on when something like this happens in hockey.  

firefox91 wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 12:25 PM

Lauren, a male human jaw can produce in excess of 250 pounds of pressure. (www.glapbta.com/BFBP.pdf) Glove or not, that crap will hurt!

It is very clear on the video that Rutuu bit down on that glove. And for that, he is psyco and classless. I liked how he *** people off when he was playing the Pens but that is rediculous. Makes me even happier we got rid of him for Matt Cooke. Now if Cooke would just stop taking stupid penalties...

missdaburgh wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 3:45 PM

I am torn

Ruutu appears to be losing it up in Ottawa

But if some clown is trying to fish hook me in the mouth I might do the same thing

It's not like this happened to a future Lady Byng nominee

I had a guy @ work today ask me why he would do such a thing

This is the first hockey question he has ever asked me

It gives the whole sport a black eye

This was the only mention of the NHL in the forst 30 mins of sportscenter today

missdaburgh wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 3:53 PM

Peters talking about what is best for the game of hockey

Brillant!!!!

Next up OJ will give a speech on the evils domestic violence

Mark Madden will offer diet tips

Plexico will give lectures on gun safety

blueline wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 4:50 PM

Ruutu gets suspended for two games.

tsn.ca/.../story

CathyM wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Wed, Jan 7 2009 10:39 PM

Seth,

That Clintonian reference made my day!

Luiz Mello wrote re: Jeff Finger beware - 1-7-09
on Thu, Jan 8 2009 5:22 AM

@ Buckles:

It's even worse here in Brazil, where there's no hockey coverage whatsoever, *except* when something truly violent or violently bizarre happens.

No word on hand biting events so far, though.