Bryan Berard

[lmanchur.]

Anyone hear that over the weekend, Bryan Berard has decided to discontinue his re-hab, not come back to the NHL, and take $6 million in disability money.

Too bad... I had a lot of respect for him because he seemed so committed to come back to the game. However, I have absolutely zero respect for him now -- he just quit!?... what made me even madder is that he's not talking to the media about this. If he would talk about it, maybe I'd change my opinion, but not right now.

Last winter, Berard was struck in the eye on a wild, unintentionally siwng of Senator Marian Hossa.

[budman2]

hey ! give the guy a break! lets see you lose sight in an eye and where your additude ends up. the guy was going to be one of the great defencemen in the n.h.l and he was faced with the prospect of barly competing , let alone being one of the best. his family life as well as his professional life was turned upside down and you judge him so harshly? shame on you! i cannot believe your comment,rethink sc , rethink and when you do , think about it from his stand point. also , it may have been a collective decision between the team the league and his doctors, we don`t know. all i do know is that pro hockey players work there whole life from morning to night practicing in hope to one day become an n.h.l. player. i don`t think berard would just give it up so easy unless there were extenuating curcomstances.( anyone out there want to give me spelling lessons) anyay you need to take what you said about berard back, he doesn`t deserve that.

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by budman2
also , it may have been a collective decision between the team the league and his doctors, we don`t know

That's the point -- we don't know.

WHY don't we know?... that is what's bothering me. All we know is that Berard's lawyer said that Bryan wasn't going to talk about it.

I realize that I probably couldn't live with one or both of my eyes... but at past news conferences and media reports, he seemed sssoooo committed to coming back again... at least giving it a shot... and now, just like this, out of the blue, we find out he's not!?... that's what I'm angry about...

[PeterDewar]

I dont know if I'd be talking very much about it right now. It would be hard as **** to talk about walking away from a game you love so much and spent your life working at.

Give the guy to sit and think and then he should come out and say something, I'm sure he will.

[BTRoots]

I'll happily give you spelling lessons, Budman2.:D

Lee, I have a sneaking suspicion that you're going to have to rethink this one. Berard is probably legally blind in the eye. We read here that all he can see is shapes (= legally blind). Hard to see that little black puck travelling at such speed, with only one eye. Even Ohlund, who never did recover 100% vision, but can at least see, is not the player he was/could have been.

As far as I know, Berard is not blaming anyone. It must be very hard for him, not only to lose vision in one eye, but to be forced to give up a promising career, not to mention the more than $6 mil that would have come his way over time.

However, I think $6 mil in disabillity is outrageous. :)

[Peck]

I think u are over judging the guy too Lee. I am really dissapointed in him just quitting but still you should give the guy some respect, he kind of is "blind" in one eye!!!

[icas]

I'm sad to see Berard go, but i respect him because he actually tried to come back into the game... there are people out there who would've given up before him... but he kept going... berard was such a great player too... but hell he gets 6 million that's a lot more than people make in their lifetime!!! and i can understand why he wouldn't talk to the media, he's worked so hard but to find out he probably will never play in the nhl again... he's gotta be really bummed and only wants to spend this time with his family while he's still thinking and telling himself this is the right decision... if i was put in his place i don't think i'd want to talk to the media at this time... it'd probably take me awhile before i said anything... think about what the guy went through before being so hard on him

[lmanchur.]

(referring to all of your posts........)

True, true.... I guess I kind of overreacted... It was just that, all of a sudden, out of the blue, the news came out, and not from HIS mouth... that's what bothered me.

Did he not win the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) a few years back? -- yeah, a shame he had to go out like that, because he probably could have made a lot more then $6 million.

[budman2]

hockey, is about honour. as a spectator, or fan , we live the life of the hockey player, sharing each victory and sulking about each loss right along with the team we chear. its easy to be pationate about hockey and all the issues we uncover each game and each season. thats what seperates north amarican hockey from europien hockey , fans and players(can you believe i spell that bad ?).anyway , hats off to you lee. keep up the good work, this is a good site.

[weekender]

That is because Lee, he is legally blind in one eye. I expected it all along...I was just waiting for it.
Cheers!