Lightning/NHL

Domi's sins belie image as good guy

By TOM JONES
Published September 24, 2006

After 1,020 games and more than 3,500 penalty minutes, Tie Domi retired from the NHL last week. So we say, goodbye, Tie. And good riddance.

Sure, Domi was a good guy off the ice, working tirelessly for charities and becoming a cult figure in Toronto. Witnesses will tell long stories about how he visited hospitals and spent more than the few minutes it takes to sign an autograph or take a picture with sick children after Maple Leafs practices and games. All reports are that he's a wonderful father and husband. Former teammates say he's simply a heck of a guy and we believe it. That's all commendable.

But, on the ice, Domi earned his reputation as Tie Dummy, a goon in every sense of the word. So before you shed any tears about Domi, remember these incidents one more time:

2001 Playoffs: With 20 seconds left in Game 4 of a series against the Devils, Domi viciously elbows an unsuspecting Scott Niedermayer in the face, snapping the defenseman's head into the glass and giving him a concussion. Domi gives a tearful apology, but is suspended for the rest of the playoffs.

2001: While in the penalty box, Domi squirts water on hecklers in Philadelphia. When one fan leans over glass and falls in the box, Domi doesn't go berserk, but does give the fan a few shots to the head. "Hey, that's old-time hockey, it was perfect," Domi said at the time, laughing. "Hey, he comes into my territory, that's what happens."

1999: Sandy McCarthy, who is black, accuses Domi of uttering a racial slur. Domi vehemently denies the charge, saying McCarthy made up the story after McCarthy spit on him.

1995: Sucker punches the Rangers' Ulf Samuelsson in the back of the head, knocking out the big Swede with one punch. Domi is suspended eight games.

[Last modified September 24, 2006, 02:15:29]