Auston Matthews

[Kin]

Michael, what over-reaction are you talking about?

Why can't Leafs fans ever have good things?

 

[Zee]

Michael, what over-reaction are you talking about?

Why can't Leafs fans ever have good things?

Exactly how is my comment an overreaction?

 

[Kin]

Can an individual team even suspend a player for something like this? I thought all off-ice, non-team activity related discipline has to come from the league.

 

[ZBBM]

Can an individual team even suspend a player for something like this? I thought all off-ice, non-team activity related discipline has to come from the league.

Didn't think of that, you might be right.

 

[rdowdall]

How much punishment is enough here?  Is the charge and the punishment that is doled out from the justice system as a result of the charge not enough of punishment?  He could also be facing a civil suit.  Not to mention, if he has a criminal record, it will make crossing the border difficult.

So on top of all that, the Leafs need to suspend him and take away the captaincy as well?

A punishment is supposed to be a deterrent against future behavior.  Is the criminal case and a possible civil case not enough for the crime that he has committed?

Does anyone here think that Auston Matthews would do this sort of thing again after this if he wasn't suspended by the Leafs?

The Kadri thing was different because it had to do with the team environment and the culture they are building.  This took place in the offseason, on Matthews own time. 

 

[Kin]

Can an individual team even suspend a player for something like this? I thought all off-ice, non-team activity related discipline has to come from the league.

Didn't think of that, you might be right.

Well, team or league, the important thing is that management should have the power to suspend their employees for damaging their public image irrespective of legal proceedings, right comrade?

 

[Zee]

How much punishment is enough here?  Is the charge and the punishment that is doled out from the justice system as a result of the charge not enough of punishment?  He could also be facing a civil suit.  Not to mention, if he has a criminal record, it will make crossing the border difficult.

So on top of all that, the Leafs need to suspend him and take away the captaincy as well?

A punishment is supposed to be a deterrent against future behavior.  Is the criminal case and a possible civil case not enough for the crime that he has committed?

Does anyone here think that Auston Matthews would do this sort of thing again after this if he wasn't suspended by the Leafs?

The Kadri thing was different because it had to do with the team environment and the culture they are building.  This took place in the offseason, on Matthews own time.

You have to imagine the team already knew about this charge right after it happened in May.  If Matthews was dumb enough to not inform the team in hopes that it would never come out, it looks even worse on him.  Again we're only hearing one side of the story so far.  Maybe Matthews already talked with the Leafs and they were satisfied with his version of events and think it won't be a huge issue going forward.  I can't see any further discipline from the team over and above him not being named captain (if that's what they decide).  He's already damaged his public persona as of now, we'll see if things turn around in the days and weeks ahead.

 

[Fanatic]

It is terribly unpopular in 2019 to call into question the motive of a victim. But just for the sake of clarity, it does appear that the incident was reported on two days after it happened, presumably on the advice of a lawyer. If it was not so unpopular to do so, people might be wondering if this woman is at all motivated by a potential cash settlement.

That said, before this day is over, for all any of us know, the complainant could drop their charge and the whole thing could go away quietly.... or as quietly as it still can be. $250,000 sound about right?

 

[Zee]

It is terribly unpopular in 2019 to call into question the motive of a victim. But just for the sake of clarity, it does appear that the incident was reported on two days after it happened, presumably on the advice of a lawyer. If it was not so unpopular to do so, people might be wondering if this woman is at all motivated by a potential cash settlement.

That said, before this day is over, for all any of us know, the complainant could drop their charge and the whole thing could go away quietly.... or as quietly as it still can be. $250,000 sound about right?

Cynical but that's what I thought of as well.  It's also curious that if Matthews was with 4-5 friends, it's only him named in the charge, why aren't any of the friends also charged?

 

[CatScratchFever]

...the real issue is the harassment-as-fun component.

Weird how this is being treated as a joke by so many people online. Scaring the crap out of someone is not funny, especially with all the other circumstances: late at night, woman alone, security guard (armed?), large drunken man in a group of men. How is she supposed to know he's "joking" and not an actual threat? He's lucky she didn't jump out and shoot him. This happened in Arizona after all, where there are few limits on firearms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Arizona) and she could have claimed self defence. Think about that for awhile. Boyish prank, perhaps. Captain? Not a chance. And if Dubas or Shanny come out all somber to say they take this kind of thing very seriously, and then prove they don't by handing the C to Auston, I am going to have a real hard time with that.

 

[hockeyfan1]

The knives have begun...

None of the allegations have been proven in court and none are of the major-crime variety. More than anything, the real crime here is both stupidity and entitlement. A court of law doesn?t have to prove that. He is already guilty of being an ass, likely a drunken ass at 2 in the morning.

This isn?t the first time ? and it won?t be the last ? that a prominent professional athlete is caught with their pants down. But it changes the perception of Matthews, this close to the start of the new season. It changes the likelihood of him being named captain.

The pi?ce de resistance...

But the ?C? doesn?t seem anywhere near as important as the poor decision-making displayed by the player the Leafs will pay $11.6 million a year for the next five seasons.

They have to be terribly disappointed in Matthews. They expected more ? and should expect more ? from him.

Story: (Yes, it?s Simmons)
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/simmons-will-matthews-stupidity-and-entitlement-cost-him-leafs-captaincy

 

[Zee]

The knives have begun...

None of the allegations have been proven in court and none are of the major-crime variety. More than anything, the real crime here is both stupidity and entitlement. A court of law doesn?t have to prove that. He is already guilty of being an ass, likely a drunken ass at 2 in the morning.

This isn?t the first time ? and it won?t be the last ? that a prominent professional athlete is caught with their pants down. But it changes the perception of Matthews, this close to the start of the new season. It changes the likelihood of him being named captain.

The pi?ce de resistance...

But the ?C? doesn?t seem anywhere near as important as the poor decision-making displayed by the player the Leafs will pay $11.6 million a year for the next five seasons.

They have to be terribly disappointed in Matthews. They expected more ? and should expect more ? from him.

Story: (Yes, it?s Simmons)
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/simmons-will-matthews-stupidity-and-entitlement-cost-him-leafs-captaincy

I was watching Overdrive last night when they finally broke the story and Simmons was on the panel.  You could almost see him giddy with excitement cause he was about to write this article ripping Matthews and the Leafs.  It's what he enjoys.

 

[Kin]

This happened in Arizona after all, where there are few limits on firearms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Arizona) and she could have claimed self defence.

I appreciate that all bets on common sense and good judgement when it comes to laws in Arizona are off but it seems unlikely that getting mooned would justify a shooting inn self defence.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I appreciate that all bets on common sense and good judgement when it comes to laws in Arizona are off but it seems unlikely that getting mooned would justify a shooting.

Multiple drunk men trying to get into your car at 2am could though, don't you think?

edit: I mean I don't know if that would justify it in the eyes of the law, but if she felt that their motives were more dangerous than they were it wouldn't have been surprising if she jumped to defend herself.

 

[Zee]

I appreciate that all bets on common sense and good judgement when it comes to laws in Arizona are off but it seems unlikely that getting mooned would justify a shooting.

Multiple drunk men trying to get into your car at 2am could though, don't you think?

edit: I mean I don't know if that would justify it in the eyes of the law, but if she felt that their motives were more dangerous than they were it wouldn't have been surprising if she jumped to defend herself.

I mean, given that she's a security guard that works at his condo, he's probably come across her in the past.  In a drunken stupor he thought it would be funny to jiggle the handle of her car door.  Bad judgement for sure, she reacted the way she did and we're here now.  Again, we don't know all the facts so let's see what happens.

 

[hockeyfan1]

This is no joke...

[tweet]1176751537072328706[/tweet]

 

[herman]

The truth is neither you or I have the slightest clue as to what kind of person Auston Matthews is. Anything we've seen of him has been through the lens of carefully crafted PR people and a sports media that's largely owned or affiliated with his employer.

True. I think his work with Sick Kids is genuine (he did not publicize that).

Now, you may be right that Dubas and Shanahan want to act in a way to protect their careful branding of the product they're selling and who knows? Maybe a dead eyed Auston Matthews reading cue cards about how you shouldn't be a jerk to people is the thing that will finally kick toxic masculinity right in the ol' keester. Fingers crossed!

Fair point. I think it's worthwhile to try nonetheless. I can see for some that they'll stick by the team throughout the process regardless of cultural impact, but I would like to see the Leafs and Matthews lead by example here in a more positive way.

Like the RFA structure, there's a way it's always been done where the incumbents hold the power, and then there's a way that maybe it should be done.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I appreciate that all bets on common sense and good judgement when it comes to laws in Arizona are off but it seems unlikely that getting mooned would justify a shooting.

Multiple drunk men trying to get into your car at 2am could though, don't you think?

edit: I mean I don't know if that would justify it in the eyes of the law, but if she felt that their motives were more dangerous than they were it wouldn't have been surprising if she jumped to defend herself.

I mean, given that she's a security guard that works at his condo, he's probably come across her in the past.  In a drunken stupor he thought it would be funny to jiggle the handle of her car door.  Bad judgement for sure, she reacted the way she did and we're here now.  Again, we don't know all the facts so let's see what happens.

There was the person who intervened to break it up.  That?s when Matthews began walking away before doing the mooning thing.

If it hadn?t been for the friend to have broken it up, just how far would the situation have escalated?  Luckily, it ended with no one being physically hurt nor shot at.

 

[Kin]

I appreciate that all bets on common sense and good judgement when it comes to laws in Arizona are off but it seems unlikely that getting mooned would justify a shooting.

Multiple drunk men trying to get into your car at 2am could though, don't you think?

edit: I mean I don't know if that would justify it in the eyes of the law, but if she felt that their motives were more dangerous than they were it wouldn't have been surprising if she jumped to defend herself.

The relevant part of the incident report isn't particularly clear but the way I read it was she heard someone trying to get into the car, noticed movement outside the car and got out to confront them and it was Auston and his friends. Whether or not that's saying she caught them in the act of trying to get into her car is unclear but, if it isn't, then there's not a specific allegation that it was Matthews as opposed to one of his friends who was actually trying to get into the car(which I'm assuming to mean is pulling at the door handle).

What Matthews is specifically alleged to have done is A) say that he thought trying to get into her car was funny(boo, hiss, be more of an intersectionalist feminist, Auston!) and B) mooned her(which is the potentially illegal act).

So if she had just jumped out of her car firing because she felt threatened, which I'm pretty sure is more or less the defense that police woman in Texas is using right now after shooting the guy in his own apartment, she might not have been shooting at Auston at all.

 

[Peter D.]

In the moment, yeah, this was probably seen as innocent fun by Auston and his group.

But even I would be crapping my pants thinking of bad intentions if a behemoth of a man along with a few of his friends tried approaching me at 2 in the morning.