As it turns out, Larry Brooks’ original speculation about the cause of Derek Boogaard’s untimely end has proven to be correct. The source who leaked the information about Boogaard was correct. Boogaard was in the NHLPA Substance Abuse and Behavioral Program. They were right.

Derek Boogaard’s death has been ruled to have been an accident due to lethal ingestion of the drug Oxycontin and alcohol.  It has now been established by the Hennipan County Medical Examiner. This information was released yesterday, one full week after Boogaard’s death. One full week after Larry Brooks decided what we needed to know and when we needed to know it.

I, however, will never be convinced that Larry Brook’s releasing the information about Boogaard being in the NHLPA “program”  nor characterizing Boogaard as a “troubled soul” was the decent thing to do when he did it. He was using the information he was given  to speculate about the cause of Boogaard’s death. That it turned out the be correct is immaterial to my objection.

I try to live life by the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If Larry Brook’s child,  my child, anyone’s child, had died under questionable circumstances, would you want speculation about their cause of death, be it fact or fiction, splashed across the the internet and the newspapers less then 24hours after their death?

Henry Clay, when defending his position on abolition, said “I’d rather be right than President.”  Larry Brooks and his defenders would rather be right than consider the feelings of the Boogaard family. I was also taught that, in addition to the Golden Rule, never to speak ill of the dead.

Dead men cannot defend themselves.

Posted under New York Rangers

Some fans in Minnesota went viral on FaceBook with their grief at the passing of Derek Boogaard. They wanted to get Boogaard’s fans together for an impromptu memorial service outside the Excel Energy Center. To their credit, the Minnesota Wild organization, recognizing the needs of their fans and the community, brought the ceremony, the fans, Boogaard’s friends and family inside to grieve and remember Derek. That’s a pretty classy move considering Boogaard had left the Wild to play for the Rangers.

http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2011/5/15/2172804/boogaard-memorial-a-chance-to-say-goodbye

Because of the ongoing renovations to Madison Square Garden and the sheer numbers of people who would want to attend, such an event in New York is not likely to happen immediately. I am sure that the New York Rangers Hockey Club will have their memorial to Derek at next season’s home opener, whenever that may be. Until then, Ranger fans are reaching out by visiting their favorite Ranger websites and commiserating with their friends in those web communities.

Posted under New York Rangers

Addendum: Let the record show that Larry Brooks revised his article at 957pm 14May by adding this paragraph in an attempt to deflect criticism from himself:

“Sources close to the situation stressed it would not only be unfair to draw inferences from Boogaard’s participation in the program as to the cause of his death, but that everyone who had been in recent contact with the universally popular athlete was impressed with his positive attitude and shocked to learn of his passing.”

In an apparent attempt to garner more readers with salacious speculation about the circumstances surrounding the death of Ranger Derek Boogaard, Larry Brooks has gone too far this time.

By “sharing” his information that Derek Boogaard was in the  the NHL/NHLPA Substance Abuse & Behavioral Health Program, Larry Brooks has implied, intentionally or not, without offering any substantiating evidence, that Derek Boogaard had either a drug, alcohol or a behavioral problem and that perhaps could explain his death. Brooks, in my opinion, has crossed a line and all responsible Ranger fans and bloggers should call him out on this.

The New York Rangers Hockey Club should demand an immediate retraction of  this article. Brooks should also apologize. If he doesn’t, I think the Rangers and the NHL should pull his press credentials.

Tortorella has been right about Brooks are along. Derek Boogaard isn’t even cold or in his grave. Now is not the time to publish an incendiary column of this nature.

I have had enough of that tabloid rag, the NYPost and Larry Brooks. Brooks, I didn’t think you could sink any lower. You make me sick.

Posted under New York Rangers

Even as New York Ranger fans are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of forward Derek Boogaard yesterday, it begs the question: Is there a dark cloud of tragedy hanging over the Rangers? For the third time in the last 8 years a player in the Rangers organization has died suddenly and in the prime of their youth.

In July 2003 Roman Lyashenko reportedly committed suicide while on vacation with his family in Turkey. Alexander Cherepanov died in the arms of Jaromir Jagr in October 2008 from myocarditis while playing hockey in Russia. And now, Derek Boogaard been found dead.

No cause of death has been determined at this time but one has to wonder if the concussion Boogaard sustained in early December might be a contributing factor. It will be weeks before autopsy results are available.

Deepest condolences to Derek’s family, friends, fans and the whole New York Rangers organization.

If death does come in threes, please let this be the last tragedy to befall our team for many years to come.

May the soul of Derek Boogaard and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Posted under New York Rangers