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Henderson Isn't the One Who Needs to 'Man Up' |
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Follow Paul on Twitter: @PaulStewart22
In the days since the public revelation of linesman Don Henderson's lawsuit against Calgary Flames defenseman Dennis Wideman and the Calgary Flames, I've seen a distressing number of anonymous keyboard warriors flexing their internet muscles and proudly displaying their abject ignorance. I did not intend to write another blog on the topic, but I need to vent here a bit.
Don Henderson is not a greedy or opportunistic person looking to "cash in on a little bump he took" during a game. He's sure as hell not "lazy," "greedy" or "trying to get rich while not working". And there's no need for the courts or anyone else to tell Hendy to "man up." The person I and the rest of his officiating brethren know is a high-character man with more guts and pride than the internet tough guy brigade can ever fathom.
Where were you folks when he was in surgery last summer getting the ruptured discs taken out of his neck? Were you there last month when he was getting a six-inch needle plunged into his spine to alleviate the pain? Putting aside the fact that his hockey officiating career is over through no fault of his own, have you seen firsthand how his quality of day-to-day life, including once-routine tasks such as trying to reach something on a high shelf, has been significantly worsened?
Knowing what Don went through -- and continues to go through -- is why I get so worked up over this whole situation. I applaud the NHL for trying to uphold the mandated 20-game suspension but I am also frustrated that the teeth of the Abuse of an Official punishment standard got extracted in negotiation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Players' Association (of which I am a former member) and the NHL, while the NHL Officials Association (of which I am also an alum) sat back passively.
To you purveyors of internet message board and social media tough talk, you wouldn't know what manning up is when it comes to dealing with the layers on the ice. I will say this, though. Hendy got attacked from behind with no provocation. If someone did that to you, and the assault took away your livelihood and left you in chronic physical pain, how long would it take you to lawyer up?
The guy who attacked Hendy is the one who truly needs to man up. So does the organization that continues to employ him. The organization whose hockey operations are run by former NHL disciplinarian and lawyer Brian Burke. Deep down, Brian knows has acted with supreme hypocrisy in casting his lot with Wideman in the name of "standing up for our player," or whatever similar B.S. rationale he uses to let him sleep at night in not accepting the NHL Rule Book-mandated punishment. He also knows damn well he'd fully support the same aforementioned 20-game suspension it was for any player but one on his own team.
I have only one wish for how this plays out. I hope Hendy gets the $10 million he seeks if the case goes to court, If it settles beforehand, I'd wish that the settlement amount makes clear that Wideman and the Flames know they wronged Henderson and they would have lost in court otherwise. This was a no-win situation for Don as soon as it happened but he at least deserves monetary vindication. I know him well enough to say that he'd trade that back to be able to be back on the ice in the NHL, but that is no longer physically possible.
Actually, I have a second wish for Hendy. I hope collects it in U.S. dollars.
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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
Blogger •Former NHL Referee • 
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