McCarty & Claude Lemieux on TSN's OTR

[egroen 384]

I actually think Lemieux is a psychopath (not all of them are serial killers) - he really seems incapable of seeing anything wrong in his actions.

I have seen interviews where he goes on to state that *he* was the one everyone should feel sorry for, because the hit gave him an unwarranted reputation, and that he ultimately did Draper a favor, leading to more money and fan appreciation. He's also expressed how proud he is that his son is also a cheap-shotting bastard (ok, maybe that is not a direct quote), despite being more of a skill player.

[mmamolo 287]

It was pretty surreal rehashing that old rivalry. I think what still bugs everyone and what Claude Lemieux still doesn't understand is that an apology does mean something after the fact. No one is saying you apologize for the hit or for playing hockey or for whatever happened on the ice. All you're offering is one of those simple, for the sake of it, apologies for the simple fact that someone got hurt and realistically no one should want to see anyone ever get hurt.

It's like if you're at work or school or whatever and a friend of a friend of a friend's dog just died you say, 'I'm sorry to hear that'. It's obviously a different situation but the point is that the principle is that it's common courtesy. There are a simple set of rules that we as humans expect each other to follow in terms of how we treat each other. Whether the intent was there or not when something bad happens, like it did to Draper, you apologize whether you want to you or not. If you want to go the extra mile after that then that's up to you. But you sure as hell at least apologize. That's the absolute minimum.

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Great to watch. McCarty was Draper's "Official Keeper of the Pliers"? I did not know that.

[VM1138 1,921]

Man...if McCarty agreed to bury the hatchet, this really is the resolution of the rivalry after many years. If the hate is gone between those two of all players I guess that's that. Weird.

[drwscc 212]

Is it just me or does Lemieux have a massive melon?

I was thinking the same thing. Either Mac has a pin head, or Lemieux has a pumpkin sitting on his shoulders

[hockeygods 2]

ill never get enough of watching that video!!!!!! to bad if that happend now the wings would probably do nothing about it

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Great interview!

My jaw dropped when Lemieux said he held no ill-will toward Draper. What a ******-bag comment to make. Oh, I'm so thrilled for you Claude that you hold no ill-will toward a guy you f*cking cheapshotted! [/sarcasm]

I was shocked at first when Mac agreed to shake Lemieux's hand in this interview, but what Claude said to Mac in the Dallas game probably mended a big bridge. Not only that, with him being a recovered alcoholic and the steps those individuals make, that was probably important for him to let go of some of that anger.

Lemieux is still a jackass in my book!

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Wow, there were 4 available clips to watch on TSN so I'm not sure if I missed anything. Was able to tune in at work.

I still wish Lemieux would've apologized to Draper with a call or whatever for the big hit, but I understand his reasoning in terms of when somebody gets injured and the like. I still think there's a fine line in a game to where you have to let up to not injure somebody, whether you mean to or not. That'll probably be something from this interview that Lemieux and myself won't ever see eye-to-eye on.

He's certainly got a lot of cojones, and from this you understand he'll probably always man up to get things resolved if people have a problem with him.

I think also many people forget that while Draper-Lemieux was probably the most dramatic incident, Kozlov-Foote got it all started earlier that series, so I understand the angle Lemieux took to seek "revenge" on him and the like. Not sure if that could've been taken care of better/differently, but whatever.

An absolutely great segment by both McCarty and Lemieux about all the incidents and how some rules today really need to be changed up.

[softshoes 83]

Great interview!

My jaw dropped when Lemieux said he held no ill-will toward Draper. What a ******-bag comment to make. Oh, I'm so thrilled for you Claude that you hold no ill-will toward a guy you f*cking cheapshotted! [/sarcasm]

I was shocked at first when Mac agreed to shake Lemieux's hand in this interview, but what Claude said to Mac in the Dallas game probably mended a big bridge. Not only that, with him being a recovered alcoholic and the steps those individuals make, that was probably important for him to let go of some of that anger.

Lemieux is still a jackass in my book!

I think that ill-will comment might be a bit out of context. What I thought he meant was the hit was just playing and he meant no premeditated harm to Drapes. (at least not facial reconstruction harm)

He is also right about leaving s*** on the ice. That's not to mean they should be golfing buddies but whatever happens in the framework of a game needs to end off the ice. Death threats and police escorts are bulls*** stuff, no place for it in any sport.

I didn't see any agendas from either, they didn't duck any questions and both seemed honest to me.

[Barrie 900]

He is also right about leaving s*** on the ice. That's not to mean they should be golfing buddies but whatever happens in the framework of a game needs to end off the ice. Death threats and police escorts are bulls*** stuff, no place for it in any sport.

I'm not a big fan of leaving things on the ice. It's almost an excuse to do whatever you want during the game. The hit on Draper, and more recently Seabrook and Savard, effects off ice too.

I remember when I was playing Baseball, one of my coaches said, "Whatever you do on the field, reflects who you are in real life". I've never forgotten that!

Again just my opinion.

with him being a recovered alcoholic and the steps those individuals make, that was probably important for him to let go of some of that anger.

Excellent point Mac!

[bdavis 28]

Seems to me that Lemieux has a big ego issue, and can't flat out say sorry. Maybe that's just how he is, I dunno.

Also, isn't it true that Crawford is a prick, and wanted his players to do revenge type s*** (Like Bert on Moore)? Seems like Lemieux's claim that Crawford told them to finish their checks, don't hold back, actually holds some water. Even though I don't think he injured Draper on purpose, he still should've recognized that Draper was in and poor position to be checked from behind.

Edited March 19, 2010 by bd2988

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Seems to me that Lemieux has a big ego issue, and can't flat out say sorry. Maybe that's just how he is, I dunno.

Also, isn't it true that Crawford is a prick, and wanted his players to do revenge type s*** (Like Bert on Moore)? Seems like Lemieux's claim that Crawford told them to finish their checks, don't hold back, actually holds some water. Even though I don't think he injured Draper on purpose, he still should've recognized that Draper was in and poor position to be checked from behind.

I'm not one to read headlines or press stories with a fine tooth comb all that much so others in here could probably go into detail better than me, but yes I have read about this before coming from Marc Crawford.

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Seems to me that Lemieux has a big ego issue, and can't flat out say sorry. Maybe that's just how he is, I dunno.

Also, isn't it true that Crawford is a prick, and wanted his players to do revenge type s*** (Like Bert on Moore)? Seems like Lemieux's claim that Crawford told them to finish their checks, don't hold back, actually holds some water. Even though I don't think he injured Draper on purpose, he still should've recognized that Draper was in and poor position to be checked from behind.

He apologized to Drapes and was apparently told to f*** off.

[Rivalred 630]

Watching those videos makes me really miss that rivalry. What transpired between those two teams from '96 to '02 was something I've never seen in my lifetime in any other sport, and it depresses me to think I likely won't ever see the Wings in that epic of a rivalry again.

6 yrs of true Red Wing Hockey....

(edit since I can't add)

Edited March 19, 2010 by Rivalred

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I think that ill-will comment might be a bit out of context. What I thought he meant was the hit was just playing and he meant no premeditated harm to Drapes. (at least not facial reconstruction harm)

He is also right about leaving s*** on the ice. That's not to mean they should be golfing buddies but whatever happens in the framework of a game needs to end off the ice. Death threats and police escorts are bulls*** stuff, no place for it in any sport.

I didn't see any agendas from either, they didn't duck any questions and both seemed honest to me.

I get what he meant, but I still think it was a poor choice of words. Simply stating he wasn't trying to avenge something Draper had done or that he didn't premeditate it is a much clearer way of getting his point across.

He apologized to Drapes and was apparently told to f*** off.

Got a source/link for that claim? I'd be interested to see it.

[Barrie 900]

He apologized to Drapes and was apparently told to f*** off.

If that's true, I don't blame Draper. There was still all that B.S. Lemieux said the following year.

Edited March 19, 2010 by Barrie

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

If that's true, I don't blame Draper. There was still all that B.S. Lemieux said the follow year.

I don't blame him either. It was a horrible hit and he should have known he could cause serious injury.

[nosyt612 103]

Wow, there were 4 available clips to watch on TSN so I'm not sure if I missed anything. Was able to tune in at work.

I still wish Lemieux would've apologized to Draper with a call or whatever for the big hit, but I understand his reasoning in terms of when somebody gets injured and the like. I still think there's a fine line in a game to where you have to let up to not injure somebody, whether you mean to or not. That'll probably be something from this interview that Lemieux and myself won't ever see eye-to-eye on.

He's certainly got a lot of cojones, and from this you understand he'll probably always man up to get things resolved if people have a problem with him.

I think also many people forget that while Draper-Lemieux was probably the most dramatic incident, Kozlov-Foote got it all started earlier that series, so I understand the angle Lemieux took to seek "revenge" on him and the like. Not sure if that could've been taken care of better/differently, but whatever.

An absolutely great segment by both McCarty and Lemieux about all the incidents and how some rules today really need to be changed up.

If you watched all 4 parts then you saw the whole interview.

[Carp 0]

He is also right about leaving s*** on the ice. That's not to mean they should be golfing buddies but whatever happens in the framework of a game needs to end off the ice. Death threats and police escorts are bulls*** stuff, no place for it in any sport.

There are lines that once crossed cannot be left on the ice, ask Mr. Bertuzzi. "The Code" doesn't work when a player deliberately crosses the line from playing hard to negligently or deliberately endangering other players.

[8 Legged RedWing 367]

He apologized to Drapes and was apparently told to f*** off.

Yea I have heard this as well.. I am not surprised. I would do the same if I was Drapes. Maybe 30 years down the road you forgive the guy but while you are still playing... nah.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I must see this! Clicking the link right now, thanks for posting guys!

[cusimano_brothers 1,655]

Once again, TSN...

[Guest mindfly]

Once again, TSN...

TSN rocks your socks off!

[RedWings91 0]

Does anybody know what Lemieux said to Mac in Dallas? It was pretty dumb that they interrupted Mac for that question.

[Marty Barry 230]

They even shook hands!