|
PRINT
THIS PAGE | E-MAIL THIS PAGE
Saturday, October 24, 1998
Sharks, Stars swear it won't be a Marchment
grudge match
By C. BRYSON HULL
Associated Press Writer
DALLAS (AP) -- At least two of the seven deadly sins come to
mind when thinking about Bryan Marchment's return to Dallas on
Saturday.
But neither the Dallas Stars nor the San Jose Sharks are talking
about wrath and revenge, despite the barrage of hype surrounding
the rematch.
"If we're going to go out and make it a Bryan Marchment
grudge match, we might be on the losing end of it," Stars
center Brian Skrudland said.
The Stars would have good reason to hunt down the hard-hitting
defenseman, whose play has long carried the "dirty"
label. Three big hits against Dallas players have done nothing
to erase it.
Marchment wiped out Joe Nieuwendyk in the first game of the
playoffs last year, and many said the loss of Stars' leading scorer
for the rest of the season seriously hurt Dallas' chances for
the Stanley Cup. He also knocked Mike Modano and Greg Adams out
of the lineup for extended periods with knee-on-knee hits.
"Whatever we do, it's not going to change what he did
to us last year," Dallas' Guy Carbonneau said. "But
I'm sure we'll have our share of chances to hit."
Nieuwendyk returned to the lineup for the first time Thursday,
six months after Marchment hit him from behind and wrecked the
center's right knee. Nieuwendyk claims that Marchment is going
to be the furthest thing from his mind when he steps on the ice.
"I don't really think about (the hit) too much,"
Nieuwendyk said. "There's going to be a lot of things to
worry about, so that's really my focus."
Despite protestations to the contrary by players on both teams,
Sharks forward Owen Nolan summed up the theme of the rematch aptly:
"It's Marchment Day tomorrow."
When asked about Saturday's game, Marchment handed out the
default answer, mumbling something about wanting to play hockey
and get two points. External factors, such as a local radio station's
"Marchment Countdown," are not his concern.
"I've always had people say what they want to say,"
Marchment said. "As long as I feel good about myself, that's
what matters."
A hardy self-image probably helps Marchment, who's routinely
bad-mouthed by opposing players and coaches as being cheap and
talentless. In spite of that reputation, it hasn't hurt Marchment's
marketability around the league.
"When Bryan Marchment was up at the trading deadline,
there were eight teams that were interested in him," Sharks
general manager Dean Lombardi said. "I don't think there
would be eight teams that would be going after him if he was just
a goon."
Marchment's ability to throw a game-altering body check makes
him rare commodity, Lombardi said. Even the Stars have a qualified
respect for him.
"I don't like the style he plays, but he shows up every
game," Carbonneau said.
Skrudland takes it a step further:
"Put him on your own team and all of the sudden he is
one of your beloved players," Skrudland said.
The lynch-mob atmosphere around Saturday's rematch is nothing
new to Marchment. He's received death threats, hostile early-morning
wake-up calls from radio stations and has been declared a target
by opposing coaches. Marchment insists he isn't paying attention.
"I read the life and travel sections, I don't read your
guys (stuff)," he said.
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address)
of This Story to A Friend:
|
