Forgotten Sports History: BEFORE Artest, Boston Bruins Go Into The Stands In 1979

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On December 23, 1979, in what remains as one of the most memorable fan-athlete confrontations in sports, Boston Bruins defenseman Mike Milbury whacked a New York Rangers fan with the fan's own shoe during an altercation in which several Bruins players went over the glass and into the stands at Madison Square Garden. The incident resulted in three Boston players being suspended. Of the three Bruins who were suspended, Terry O'Reilly had engaged in a career-high 22 fights during the season, Peter McNab had had only four penalty minutes during the previous season, and Mike Milbury had never before whacked anyone with a shoe
 

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https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/...&gwh=90676B2459D499B312A2E9F5DF179177&gwt=pay

Mike Milbury Wants Hockey Fights Outlawed; He Once Beat a Fan with His Own Shoe
By
Hayden Bird
-
October 9, 2014


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At the 26-second mark in the above video, NBC Sports hockey analyst Mike Milbury expressed a very strong position on the subject of fighting in the NHL. He bluntly stated that it’s “time to get rid of fighting,” and that it’s “time (for the NHL) to grow up.” All of this, Milbury noted, is derived from the new research into concussions and head trauma that has relentlessly shown how bad fighting is for the short and long term health of players. It all sounds reasonable, and (to some), refreshing.

Still, there’s one lingering issue: Milbury was a participant in one of the ugliest fights in NHL history. As a member of the Bruins in 1979, he was there on December 23, 1979 when a fan reached over and hit teammate Stan Jonathan after the game ended, drawing blood. This led to Boston’s Terry O’Reilly leaping over the barrier, into the stands. He was joined by his Bruins teammates. Milbury, who had been nearly in the locker room when the incident began (since the game was over), came rushing back and joined. Eventually, he found the original fan, who the New York Times identified as then-30-year-old John Kaptain, and grabbed him.

Famously, Milbury got a hold of Kaptain’s shoe, and hit him with it. He then tossed the shoe out onto the ice, forever attaching his name in the history of the most out of control hockey fights. You can see it at the 36-second mark here:


Remarkably, he only received a six game suspension for going into the stands and attacking a paying customer of the NHL. Things would inevitably be different if this happened in 2014 (the NBA suspended Ron Artest for a full season after his role in the “Malice in the Palace” in 2004).

Of course, Milbury, born in Brighton, who played for the Bruins from 1974-1987, and coached them to the President’s Trophy in 1989, regrets his role in the entire fiasco.

Perhaps that’s part of the explanation for his suddenly vehement stance against fighting in the league. He’s seen, and been a part of a particularly dark fighting-related moment in the NHL’s history. That said, it’s quite a different thing when two players fight each other by choice, and an entirely unwarranted fight between players and fans.

Naturally, critics of Milbury’s polarizing stance maintain that fighting still holds an acceptable place in the game, and there is plenty of room for debate in the ongoing conversation. Still, it’s worth noting Milbury’s past fight with the New York fan, as it helps to put his modern take on more violent side of the game into proper perspective.

You know, since he hit a guy with his own shoe.
 

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On December 23, 1979, in what remains as one of the most memorable fan-athlete confrontations in sports, Boston Bruins defenseman Mike Milbury whacked a New York Rangers fan with the fan's own shoe during an altercation in which several Bruins players went over the glass and into the stands at Madison Square Garden. The incident resulted in three Boston players being suspended. Of the three Bruins who were suspended, Terry O'Reilly had engaged in a career-high 22 fights during the season, Peter McNab had had only four penalty minutes during the previous season, and Mike Milbury had never before whacked anyone with a shoe


Well holy fuck! I NEVER knew about this; WOW; did the media COMPLETELY forget about this when the Malice at the Palace went down? They made that shit seem like it was a one-of-its-kind situation.
 
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