Matt Cooke, possibly the most violent player in the NHL's modern era, has apologized for his elbow to the head of Ryan McDonagh. The apology came after he was suspended the remaining ten games of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs. Forgive me if I find it hard to believe his sincerity.
"I realize and understand, more so now than ever, that I need to change," Cooke told Pittsburgh reporters Monday night. "That's what I wanted my message to be.
"I'm fortunate that Ryan McDonagh wasn't hurt," said Cooke. "I don't want to hurt anybody. That's not my intention. I know that I can be better. ... I made a mistake, and I'm the one who's accountable for that. And I take full responsibility for it."
How can you not intend to hurt someone when you deliver a flying elbow to their head? Of course he meant to hurt McDonagh. When Cooke meant to say is that he didn't intend to end McDonagh's career, although he must have known it was a possibility. McDonagh did not actually sustain significant injury, but that shouldn't matter anyway, and who knows if he's hiding concussion symptoms to continue playing. What should matter is the intent, the elbow, and the player's repeated violent activities that fall outside of the rules and expectations of the sport.
The suspension is deserving, and Cooke's words are meaningless.
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