Questionable Story from "Blood Feud" ?

[mmorland 16]

"Blood Feud" is a book documenting the Red Wing Avs rivalry from 1996 - 2002. It was written by Adrian Dater, a member of the Denver post. Here is a section from the book which I question its accuracy, any thoughts?

After Game 3, a 6-4 Detroit victory, Lemieux walked out of the south entrance/exit to McNichols, with wife, Debbie and baby son, Brendan - named in honor of Lemieux's good friend and former teammate from New Jersey, Brendan Shanahan.

To get to the player parking lot, the Lemieuxs had to walk past the idling Detroit team bus. Through the open doorway, Lemieux heard yelling his way what seemed like an older man's voice.

"Lemieux, you gutless (expletive), nice sucker punch," the voice said from the front. "I hope the league suspends your (expletive)."

In an instant, Lemieux knew the voice to be none other than that of legendary Red Wings coach, Scotty Bowman.

"Pardon me?" said a stunned Lemieux, who walked onto the first inside step of the bus to confront Bowman.

For Lemieux, this was a first. Hockey has always been a vicious sport, but held together by a tenuous code of moral conduct on the ice. When a game ends, however, tradition held that any beefs would wait to be settled the next game. When the game's over, it's over - no matter the outrage that might have happened on the ice. Players that tried to punch each other's lights out in a hockey game were likely to shake hands and have a laugh afterward. "That's hockey, eh?" as the Canadian saying goes.

This was not hockey, however, confronting a player carrying a baby in his arms, next to his wife.

Lemieux received a few "get the (expletive) out of here's" from some members of the Wings, before heatedly telling Bowman, "I would expect better out of you. I'm with my family here, have some class."

"(Expletive) off, (expletive)," Lemieux heard upon exit.

The next day, Lemieux walked through the same doorway into the arena. The first person he saw, of course, was Bowman, talking quietly with Colorado general manager, Pierre Lacroix.

"Hey Scotty, if you want to talk, it's time to talk now. I don't have my kid now, and you don't have your entire bus behind you," Lemieux said, inching closer to the 62-year-old Bowman, a former junior player in the Montreal system whose career was partly derailed by a head in

Your thoughts?

[BlakChamber 8]

What makes you doubt this?

The book has been out a couple years and I've never read anything about false stories in it.

[Yc172 3]

its not "just hockey" when you cheapshot someone as badly as lemieux did draper. Was it "just hockey" when bertuzzi attacked moore? I didnt think so. Although most incidents should be left on the ice, there are a select few which need to be addressed outside the rink.

[Izzy24 44]

Pfft, Bowman would have kicked his ass.

[VM1138 1,921]

I believe it. Tensions run high, especially after what happened that night.

[Izzy24 44]

its not "just hockey" when you cheapshot someone as badly as lemieux did draper. Was it "just hockey" when bertuzzi attacked moore? I didnt think so. Although most incidents should be left on the ice, there are a select few which need to be addressed outside the rink.

This is before the Draper incident, which occurred in game 6.

[mmorland 16]

To me, it made Bowman seem like that bad guy and Claude a innocent family man.

[eva unit zero 271]

This is before the Draper incident, which occurred in game 6.

Game 3 was the Kozlov cheapshot. Almost the same hit, but at the end boards rather than against the benches, and Kozlov was closer to the boards.

[mmorland 16]

Also, I would have liked to see contributions from both sides. From what I understand, the majority of the material was taken from Colorado reporters, players, and members of the media.

[VM1138 1,921]

To me, it made Bowman seem like that bad guy and Claude a innocent family man.

The writer was an Avs beat writer, so it's natural it would have come out that way.

Otherwise it's a very fair and entertaining read.

[mmorland 16]

I've wanted to read it but have been on the fence about buying it.

[Izzy24 44]

Game 3 was the Kozlov cheapshot. Almost the same hit, but at the end boards rather than against the benches, and Kozlov was closer to the boards.

I can't tell if you're arguing with me or not. I'll assume not, since it wouldn't make any sense.

[mmorland 16]

Either way, I still thought it was a little disheartening to see Lemieux's lack of compassion for what happened to Draper.

[pavyaz19 1]

I've heard that story long ago, it's definitely true... however, keep in mind that bias comes into play since it's being told from an Avs writer. What I hear long ago was that Bowman cussed out Lemiuex in the parking lot in front of Lemieux's family. As far as baby in arms, and Lemiuex being super classy, that's where the bias comes in.

[South Dakota wings fan 7]

I've wanted to read it but have been on the fence about buying it.

I have to say the book was a great read. It made me happy we didn't get Foppa or Foote.

When I first read the excerpt about Scotty on the bus, I found it wierd people never heard about this. Remember, Scotty Bowman did write the forward to this book. Had it been false, he probably would not have contributed to the book.

[Echolalia 2,961]

"After Game 3, a 6-4 Detroit victory, Lemieux walked out of the south entrance/exit to McNichols, with wife, Debbie and baby son, Brendan - named in honor of Lemieux's good friend and former teammate from New Jersey, Brendan Shanahan."

whaaaaa?

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Lemieux talking about class? I'm glad Scotty said that, and I wish someone had come out of the bus and beat the s*** out of him. This guy was the biggest disgrace in hockey as far as I'm considered. If Lemieux had actually fought 62 year old Scotty Bowman, lets just say it wouldnt have surprised me.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Who cares if he was with his wife and son - he did so much dirty s*** in his career that they would all have to be blind not to figure out he was a gutless prick at some point in their lives. He should have thought about his reputation and his family before he hit Draper from behind.

But really, who cares now. The Avalanche suck, Lemieux is long gone, and Draper is one game away from hoisting his fourth Stanley Cup.

[poxer 0]

Its a good book. I'd buy it. The writer was pretty neutral.

[vangvace 12]

I've wanted to read it but have been on the fence about buying it.

local library my friend... most share with other libraries too. The one I checked out when I read it came from a library in Indiana.

[shannyfan1414 0]

I've wanted to read it but have been on the fence about buying it.

It is a great read. You can, or could, pick up a copy at Barnes and Nobel. I got it there last year.

I don't doubt any of the stories in the book. The writer did a great job of looking at everything from both sides of the story.

[mmorland 16]

I may check it out sometime.

[55fan 5,133]

My sister got it for me for Christmas. She found it used online (e-bay or some such thing). She said it was quite a reasonable price; so reasonable she bought me 2 books!

Good read.

[fastballspecial 0]

Scotty Bowman's the man! He can do no wrong!

[DaKineMaui 8]

This was not hockey, however, confronting a player carrying a baby in his arms, next to his wife.

Lemieux received a few "get the (expletive) out of here's" from some members of the Wings, before heatedly telling Bowman, "I would expect better out of you. I'm with my family here, have some class."

"(Expletive) off, (expletive)," Lemieux heard upon exit.

No...it's NOT hockey. It's the N.H.L. PLAYOFFS. "It's the most, wonderful time of the year."

Wasn't it Draper who had to eat out of a straw for a few months?