Dean Lombardi, through the Kings, put out the following statement this afternoon after he was fined $50,000 by the NHL for his public criticism of league VP Mike Murphy on LAKings.com last night…
LOMBARDI: “I spoke to the commissioner today and he made it very clear to me that my actions last night were inappropriate and detrimental to the game. There is no question that his assessment is correct and the punishment fits the crime. Just as important, I apologized to Mike Murphy this morning and I sincerely appreciate his willingness to accept my apology. Like the team must learn from its mistakes, the GM has to learn from his mistakes as well.”
Message sent by all parties, case closed!
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I’ll take it every time Deano! Don’t be afraid to tell these punks what’s up! We all have your back!
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“… And the League must learn from their… ”
Probably not worth him adding that part since the league will never admit they screwed the pooch… EVER
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VanKingsFan Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@EmptyTank, would probably mean another fine too… lol
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R. Stauber Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:15 pm
@EmptyTank, what a bunch of BS. clearly the league blew the call…THEY should admit it and move on. a $50K fine for speaking one’s opinion (based on evidence) should not be tolerated. screw toronto, this is america…call the lawyers.
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“Like the team must learn from its mistakes, the GM has to learn from his mistakes as well.”
Wow. I pretty much got exactly what I was asking for 2 days go. A little accountability.
Bravo Deano, Bravo.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:53 pm
@wavesinair, except he is only taking accountability for making that statement…
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wavesinair Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 3:57 pm
@VanKingsFan, You’re right. Damn. Now I’m pissed again.
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Kings x Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 12:54 pm
@wavesinair, Lol
Cristobal Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@wavesinair,
Does “the team” include the coaches?
Westgarth’s turnover leading to a two goal deficit less than 1 minute after the delay?
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Cristobal Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:08 pm
@Cristobal,
As well as almost 3 years of inconsistent PP and scoring?
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He shouldn’t have apologized. If anything the league should apologize to the Kings for taking back Smyth’s goal in Ottawa and allowing this goal to stand as a good goal.
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This is more like DL protecting his job then agreeing with the league…
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50 large well worth it!! crappy call and I for one was happy he pointed out that the kings get no love outside of Los Angeles! what do we have to do to get calls right! the NBA does it NFL does it MLB is another story! but the NHL broke into video review and all the other leagues fallowed! and passed the NHL bye!… Integrity is a big part of the game. the NHL needs to get calls correct or the game will fade away!. DL was 100% right on this! NEXT GAME PLEASE!
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EmptyTank Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:31 pm
@jpizzle313,
I think the NFL and NBA do officiating right, and I’m not just talking about Video Replay. How many time have you seen in a football game where after a conference of officials a flag is picked up and there is “no foul”. This is because those officials are not arrogant and realize they are human and can make mistakes.
The NHL and MLB could learn a thing or two from football. It needs to become commonplace for an official to be willing to admit that “I may NOT have seen it correctly” and not be too arrogant to overturn their calls. Hell, in baseball that dude could have gotten credit for his perfect game last year if they had a system where it was acceptable for one ump to help out another and correct his obviously BAD call. (not a baseball fan so I can’t remember the pitcher’s name, sorry)
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No the NHL needs to apologize to the Kings. They blew it and everyone knows it.
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twnclick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@twnclick, Bye the way, the way the refs are calling the game is more detrimental to the game than what DL said.
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NOT IMPRESSED Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:21 pm
@twnclick, Agreed on both statements.
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twnclick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:40 pm
@twnclick, Everyone keeps going back to Ottawa when all we have to do is go back to the three faceoffs.
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Eberlin Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:08 am
@twnclick, I actually did notice that…and I was thinking “watch, when the other team wins this faceoff, they’re not going to whistle it dead.” WTH was that about? I don’t remember anyone getting thrown out of the faceoff circle so it seemed like it was the referee’s ‘fault’ for dropping the puck wrong or something.
I guess we have to plan to win games by like 5 in case they wipe a couple out from Toronto. 8Q
What I want Terry Murray to talk about it why exactly the 4th LIne was on the ice after the long pause for video review. A (non-goal) goal that hurts the team. Team needs to come out angry and focused right away. The 4th Line is for this purpose? Really? And further, why exactly is Westgarth playing at all, much less on the 4th Line?
Answer those Terry, then we can move on to the twin Albatross of Kompon and the offense.
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I generally agree that it’s bad to call out the “integrity” of Mike Murphy or the video review staff. They do the best they can, with the equipment and camera angles they are provided.
I think it’s obvious to most of us, that the goal last night came off a high stick. But, the video review staff felt they did not have enough evidence to overturn the call on the ice. So, the real question is, what other equipment or camera angles do they need to make the correct call in that instance, and let’s make sure they have it!
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Will Hutchison Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@Kostamojen, What more evidence do they need? It looked like a high stick to every person that saw it except perhaps the 1,400 Coyotes fans watching the game at home, the stoned ref and the guys hot boxing the video replay booth late into the night in Toronto.
They are supposed to look at the play, and make a decision. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, it’s probably a duck. The same logic can be used for the bad call on the ice. How both sets of NHL officials messed it up is what is so frustrating. The linesmen can help here too, yet they didn’t.
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Wow! Deja vu.
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The current state of officiating is more “detrimental to the game” than Lombardi’s comments.
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Some of us can read tween the lines.. however this is deflection from real problem of not even 1 goal scored by us.
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screw bettman of course DL had to apologize but i sure hope it wasnt sincere because they dont deserve one. Have DL back 100 percent he will get us to where we need to be.
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Dl, this is wrong, your apology means you did something wrong, No you didn’t, they DID make a wrong call.
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james Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 8:21 pm
@zdfun, He got personal
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This reminds of how the NFL and the refs screwed the Seattle Seahawks in the SuperBowl a few years ago. It was unbelievable how they sided with the Steelers in every call. Seahawks should have one easily.
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ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!! I wanna sign a patition that makes the NHL apologize to the Kings Orginization for calling it a bad goal. They have all the stats and video they needed to determine it was a bad goal. I say $50,000 is due for componsation for not addressing they were wrong on the NHL website. ALL those with me please say “I”. Mr. Rich Hammond please get me the info on where to send this letter to mr Bettman. Thanks
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Leo4kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 4:43 pm
@kingme81, Please note that his apology was not because of his objection to the call. Apology was made due to personal comments he made to Mike Murphy and something in the range of the guy wanted DL job and he was upset why he did not get it. So, he had to apologize for that, but not for his objection.
Plus, all this is a smart act on behalf of DL to distract everyone to talk about his fine rather than why TM still has a job? To me that was his real master work.
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Ducks suck fatties Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 7:32 pm
@kingme81, aye! Howabout the league takes that 50k and put it towards funding for their own cameras which it will place wherever it needs to in all 30 bldgs to have the proper angles (ie crossbar height looking down the goal line on both sides in each end, overhead of crease, etc.)! Mr Murphy, mrs Campbell, wouldn’t that help the integrity of the game? That way there’s little to no room for argument on a review? Not to mention the undeserved job security u might inherit from it?
But as always nobody asks me!
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sid the kid Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 8:02 pm
@Ducks suck fatties, despite your derogatory username, this is a great suggestion. let’s get the league to put that $50K towards some crossbar-level cameras in every arena
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Dear Mr. Bettman:
In the past I and many others have criticized your leadership.
I see now that you ARE capable of swift and decisive action when the game’s integrity is threatened.
I would like to see this same “no nonsense” demeanor the next time:
1. A lockout or strike is threatened.
2. The ridiculous notion of awarding the LOSER of a hockey game one point is challenged.
3. A player is sucker punched or one player swings their stick at another.
I’m not holding my breath.
Sincerely,
HockeyNerd
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Bettman did what he did to discourage disparagement of the integrity of the league.
Lombardi did what he had to do, since he is subject to Bettman as a GM in the NHL.
The question remaining is whether Bettman has enough honesty to admit that the NHL “Situation Room” in Toronto was dead wrong; inexcusably wrong; and cost the Kings the game (I know that the ‘yotes got another goal, but they probably would not have, if the bad call had been corrected — it changed the momentum of the game).
If there were a petition to go the the NHL calling for truth and honesty concerning that horrendously bad call, I would sign it.
Is the integrity of the NHL demonstrated by their failure to correct a game-changing bad call that could be seen by anyone with a video reply, eyesight and a fair mind?
If so, then NHL “integrity” is like the Emperor’s New Clothes — and Bettman and Murphy are both naked.
Is there anyone with integrity in the NHL Office?
Such behavior should not go without protest.
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“inappropriate”…maybe “detrimental to the game”….pinhead statement.
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The comment by DL was unprofessional and even idiotic.
I’m as rah-rah Kings as anyone and unhappy about the stupid call.
I’m less happy about our GM making himself look foolish. Diminished credibility for DL means worse options for us in trades, etc
Fact is that the team still sucks and instead of going out there and improving it, he’s acting like a Vancouver fan.
Is Justin Williams re-signed yet or will he be traded? Who are we targeting in the lottery? Those are the questions.
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can someone tellmeY you cannot comment about the refs. I don’t understand why…does it insite a riot? We can rip players, other player, other management, but we cannot rip the people who “control” this game. Where is there accountablility?
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Leo4kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:08 pm
@tellmeY, Is was not about his comments on the refs as much as it was personal comments toward Murphy. I repost what I posted earlier maybe is more clear:
{Please note that his apology was not because of his objection to the call. Apology was made due to personal comments he made to Mike Murphy and something in the range of the guy wanted DL job and he was upset why he did not get it. So, he had to apologize for that, but not for his objection.
Plus, all this is a smart act on behalf of DL to distract everyone to talk about his fine rather than why TM still has a job? To me that was his real master work.}
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BS BS! I’ll back you on this one Dean. Anyone that is not legally blind could see that it was a high stick that knocked the puck into the net. That puck was going up and then down and the puck is a relatively heavy piece of rubber. No way in hell is that thing going in the net unless something knocks it in.
‘People can disagree with a call by an official on the ice or an official in the Situation Room in Toronto, but even in instances of the utmost frustration there is no justification for speaking as inappropriately and irresponsibly as Mr. Lombardi did,” Commissioner Bettman added. ‘Mike Murphy is a devoted caretaker of the game. His commitment to the National Hockey League, all 30 of its Clubs – and to the game – is beyond challenge, question or debate.
Then why don’t you Comm Bettman get someone QUALIFIED (IE NOT BLIND) to start making the right calls here! What a bafoon!
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HEADLINE:
Lombardi kneels before Darth Vadar and pleads forgivness..
-says “sorry” for pointing out the obvious against the Death Star as viewed before mega national audience and says “thanks” for the incredulous nonsensical fine…..
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DL and TM should not complain about the refs……….you dont hear the refs telling TM that he sucks at his job…….The refs dont tell DL that he blew it with Boyle…..Refs dont go to the press and comment on how the Kings are bad on the PP…..etc etc…etc…..
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jess Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:17 pm
@neil,
DL went to the press and complained about the inaccurate video proceedures of the “war room” in Toronto who bungled an obvious call.
Had nothing to do with the refs. But if the refs went to the press and complained about TM I would be fine with that
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So what punishment will come down to the ref who can’t tell a 6 foot deflection from a 4 foot high with two 6 foot plus guys in front of the net to use as a measure?
THAT guy should be fined as well.
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I am glad to see that Dean is still as angry about Ottawa as I am. And last night was ludicrous.
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F*** the commissioner and Murphy!!
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http://www.nhl.com/ice/feedback.htm
This is the link to a form to send a message to the NHL
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jess Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:38 pm
@JackKent Cooke,
Good link –gives folks the chance to be pro-active thanks.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:42 pm
@JackKent Cooke, Thank you for posting that, although I’m not sure what I want to tell them.
It’s not so much that DL didn’t deserve SOME fine (not for the criticism of the call but for his comments about Murphy which were waaaay out of line).
But THAT amount?
And like I said above, I’m still waiting for the NHL to hold the owners, players and managers to the same integrity on a consistent basis.
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:51 pm
@HockeyNerd,
What will get the league’s attention is not the content but the number of messages.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:02 pm
@JackKent Cooke, Point Taken.
Hat trick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:48 pm
@JackKent Cooke, Here’s a link for the NHL Officials website feedback page.
http://www.nhlofficials.com/contact.asp
maybe if we tell what a Great job they’re doing maybe they might actually do something about it.
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@Hat trick,
Thanks for this link. I sent the following message:
Everyone respects a person who can admit a mistake more than one who does not. Can you admit the mistake in the LA Kings game 1/21/2011?
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Hat trick Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 7:57 pm
@JackKent Cooke, Nice. Hopefully they’ll respond to you. I’d be curious to see what they would say. I sent them something also but it just wasn’t as polite. It wasn’t rude but it wasn’t as refined as yours.
dabronx Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 8:06 pm
@Hat trick,
sent:
replay review of an on ice call during the 1/20/11 Kings game was so completely wrong that you need me there to make sure it never happens again.In my career I make multiple decisons every day that are way more important to life then any replay review of a game. If I constantly can get the the right answer to the toughest of questions I should be able to handle the easy work of replay review. It is obvious the crew in place can not handle the job. I would like to help you earn some integrity. But only if you truly want it. Please advise
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Bow and scrape, get back into line, nothing to see here…
Except people won’t stop talking about it, and the league knows that. Heh.
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Yes the league made a bad call, but the refs make bad calls all the time! Some tine the calls go against you and sometimes they work in your favor! The Kings would have lost the game anyways and although I like the attitude of this team, If they would have won they wouldn’t have made a stink about that goal! The team is frustrated and it’s finally starting to show! Get revenge tomorrow night and get us into the playoffs! How good would it feel to win the cup after all the bad calls this season?? Go kings Go
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you shouldn’t have to pay 50 grand for saying that dean. thanks for sticking up for our guys.
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Folks,Folks,Folks… Have you guys actually read DL’s statement? I posted it earlier and tried to explain; but from reading your posts it seems a lot of you guys think he was fined and forced to apologize for objecting the call and talking about the referees!!!! THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENED HERE.
DL Statement: “When the guy in Toronto making the decisions on the goals, in Ottawa and the one tonight, wanted the GM’s job in L.A. and was not happy about not getting it, you have to assume you are going to get those type of calls,”
DL made it personal with Mike Murphy and that’s why he was fined and demanded an apology from him.
Rightfully so. Talk about the bad call all you want; but don’t make it personal. He did and so he paid the price and had to personally apologize to Murphy. I have no problem with that and actually agree with the NHL. Leave personal crap seperate than the business on hand.
Now, had they fined him just for talking about the refs, that would have been different. In that case;they would not have asked for an apology. This one did deserve it and DL was right and quick to do it. Period.
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jess Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 5:56 pm
@Leo4kings,
Thanks for that Leo I did not read that yet and an action like that definately “departs from the professionalism and diplomacy befitting of a GM”
Thanks Again
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Leo4kings Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:10 pm
@jess, Very welcome sir. I know Kings fans are one of the most informed one’s in the league and was just trying to make sure they have all the facts before getting all bent out of shape. We re pissed these days, but have to be carefull where we direct that frustration. Have a good weekend Kings fans and tomorrow would be our game.At least,I Hope it is.Lol..
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JackKent Cooke Reply:
January 21st, 2011 at 6:11 pm
@Leo4kings,
I think that people are less invested in the fine of Lombardi, than the league making him a scapegoat for their blunder and that they are taking no responsibility for the action of their own people.
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I can see that the overall integrity of the game is more important than one or two bad calls. But I’m glad Lombardi lashed out because those (last night and Ottawa) were both bad calls and did a lot of damage to this team. The replay is stupid if that’s how things are going to go. Why interrupt the game? Last night, those bozo’s in Toronto affirmed the Ref missed an easy play and blew the call. Waste of everyone’s time. Better to just live with the fact that the game is really fast and the refs are going to miss a % of the calls. Human error. Whatever. It ain’t going away.
Next I say the NHL puts out some photoshopped version of the Hanzal goal as “proof” the Bozo’s were correct. Even Hanzal kinda admitted he knew he used a too high stick to score.
$50K is a lot. Wonder how Bettman came up with that number. Anyone know what others who did similar got fined? Ref complaints are nothing new.
As far as DL: In Dean the Kings fans trust. Not that any fan has a choice in the matter.
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WOOOOOW
Kings get a mention on the “NHL.com” now that is something–U go Dean, I’ll help out with a $1 donation to the charity, only leaves u with $49,999.00. anyone else out there who can help?
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Gary Bettman you are the biggest phony in the league office. You just can, t admit you Mike Murphy screwed up. The truth hurts you such a biggot.
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Dean Lombardi is either very passionate about his team or a very clever man, or both.
Did anyone notice we aren’t talking about how poorly the Kings are playing or their record? We’re all talking about Dean Lombardi and his reaction and apology. It’s called deflecting your attention.
I think Lombardi is a very clever individual. And I like that.
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Way to go DL for speaking your mind! Somebody has to stand up to these idiots, the league won’t, they have “the integrity of the game” to uphold. It was a BS call and a BS fine.
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Dominick Reply:
January 22nd, 2011 at 1:06 am
@Moondoggie, They couldn’t disallow a goal against a team they own. Where’s the integrity in that? I say Dean was getting the fine anyways. He should of gone for broke and really let’em have it.
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I said I would not write until the Kings won 3 in a row, but I decided to kow tow like Dean Lombardi did and just give in to the pressure to be a part of the group.
Bull. Dean Lombardi made the wrong choice in appologizing. Yeah he helps himself and his family and probably the Kings, but he should have come out and said something about his fine. $50,000 for calling someone out? He might even be right!
What a bunch of turds. Canadians truly hate Americans. Well enjoy your soverignty while it lasts, we built a highway through your country and you have no one to help you when we come. Remember 1812? Well this will be 1812, but this time the world power will be attacking and not defending.
Long Live the Kings
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In other words, for complaining about a bull sh.it call, Lombardi was fined $20,000 MORE than Tom Kustopoulos did for breaking Brad Stuart’s jaw.
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dont worry deano i am sure your fans are ok with you talking mad crap to that guy because that was clearly a no goal
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Dean you were 100% correct on everything you said. Mike Murphy was actually considered for this job? Mike can take his ruling and shove it where the sun don’t shine. Murphy should be fired, he’s a joke.
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DL was diplomatic in this one. He spoke his mind and made the criticism but showed integrity with his apology. No need to get anymore bad calls going your way by pissing off Toronto. We all know how it goes up there with Campbell.
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Kingsfanone,
I agree DL is clever about deflecting attention–off the real problem, his mediocre drafts and less than mediocre free agent acquisitions.
Every team in our division has noticeably improved its roster, even ones picking lower than us for years. The core players of this team were not drafted by DL. He has put together a slow, lackluster group of gritty but offensively challenged players. TM is doing about the best he can with the cards he’s been dealt.
DL fooled us last year, by the team making the playoffs, into believing we developed into a contender. The truth is, other teams now have paid attention to us and realized that if they stop our 3 or 4 key players, we can’t score and can’t win.
Sorry to burst everybody’s bubble, but I’ve been a season ticket holder for many years and this is exactly why I finally gave up my seats this year. I hope AEG gets their football team so they can finally sell the Kings to someone who cares– and will take the necessary first step of firing DL.
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