Drag Net

The Associate Press has a headline today about the Chicago Blackhawks goalie, Corey Crawford.  The Blackhawks are currently playing the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup semi-finals, which Los Angeles is leading 3 games to 2.  The headline reads, "LA Fan Files Battery Charge Against Corey Crawford."

Now, we've seen a lot of stories in recent years about bad behavior, even criminal charges involving athletes.  Even as we sit here, Aaron Hernandez of the New England Patriots is on trial from charges of two murders.

So, when you see a headline that reads -- "LA Fan Files Battery Charge Against Corey Crawford", about a pro athlete in one of the fastest, most aggressive sports, where fighting is commonplace, take a moment to consider what you envision that problem to be.

Do you have a picture in mind?  Good.

You probably got it wrong.

Here's what Los Angeles police are investigating. "The report alleges Crawford used a water bottle to spray the face of the heckling fan, who was thrown out of the arena and later filed the complaint with police."

Okay, how many of you had that in the office pool?  Hands?

Now, I'll acknowledge that players would be wise not to spray paying customers with water.  I'd also suggest that fans shouldn't be so abusive that they have to get thrown out of an arena.

"I just heard about it on my way over," Blackhawsk coach Joel Quenneville said on Wednesday. "First I heard of it. I'm not aware of the situation other than what you just said. I'm not worried about it right now. I'm worrying about the game."  (The Blackhawks won that game in overtime, 5-4.)

Los Angles Police didn't tell the A.P. whether or not charges are likely.  I suppose that they do have to look into all charges of battery, though one would think that a charge of "spraying water" shouldn't take too long -- especially at an event where competitors spent the event crashing one another into boards and slashing at their opponents with sticks, while having hard rubber objects shot at you at 100 MPH, while trying to protect the net.

So, no doubt the Los Angeles Police are indeed being diligent in investigating this potential water bottle spraying crime against the Chicago netminder.  I am sure that the fact that creating a distraction for the star goalie in the middle of a playoff series against Los Angeles doesn't factor into this at all.

Next on the police blotter.  Los Angeles Police Investigate T-P'd Fraternity During Rush Week.