Sorry-Ass Sniper: Jamal Mayers Scores Goals in Warm-Up Because He Can't Do It in the Game
Hey NHL: Give a brother a break.
Chicago Blackhawks pine-rider and pretend enforcer, Jamal Mayers, is yet to play a meaningful minute in this year's Stanley Cup run. But that hasn't stopped him getting fined in the second round series with Detroit. His wrongdoing? Firing pucks at the Red Wings' net and goalie Jimmy Howard.
Akin to the ingenuity of crashing the opposition huddle, or pulling in to a competitor's bay during a pit-stop, Mayers was rightfully unapologetic for his shrewd strategic gambit:
"I was trying to get under their skin, I'm not going to hide behind it or lie to you," Mayers said, wearing a Stan Mikita jersey and looking forlornly at 'Hawks coach, Joel Quenneville. "The league fined me and took the appropriate action and I'll pay the piper.
"All of us in there will do anything to win."
Given it's the only thing Mayers can do to win, one might surmise a little League office sympathy in the punishment meted out. Not so: Monday morning, Mayers found himself $1600 in arears of his infinitely more skilled teammates.
Since word of the fine, there has been suggestion Mayers was actually attempting to pad his stats for the purposes of offseason contract negotiations. Mayers' agent has neither confirmed nor denied the rumour.