Suck it up you big cry baby!!

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller accuses ref of using profanity

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Sabres goalie Ryan Miller on Tuesday accused an NHL referee of using a profanity in response to a question the player asked during Buffalo's 4-3 win at Pittsburgh a night earlier.

Miller told several reporters after practice that the exchange occurred during the second period Monday, after he said he respectfully asked a referee a question.

Miller wouldn't say which of the two referees working the game - Tim Peel or Justin St. Pierre - had made the comment. He also didn't say what he had asked the official.

"To be honest, I was respectful," Miller said.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, NHL spokesman Frank Brown said he was checking with the league's hockey operations department regarding Miller's complaint.

The goalie raised the issue after he was asked what he discussed with coach Lindy Ruff at the end of practice.

Miller said he joked with Ruff that the exchange with the official might have played a factor a few minutes later when the Sabres were issued a bench minor penalty for arguing an interference penalty against Thomas Vanek.

Ruff wasn't available for comment because he had spoken to reporters before Miller.

The complaint comes a week after Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery was suspended for six games by the NHL for making crude comments regarding his ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players, using the term "sloppy seconds."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman deemed Avery's behaviour as unacceptable and detrimental.
Avery has apologized for his remarks and has agreed to be evaluated for anger management.
Though he's eligible to return Dec. 16 against Phoenix, the Stars have not yet determined whether to allow him to remain on the team.

Knuckledragger (Posted 2008-12-10 11:06:14)Hey Miller... so what you whiner ! Refs swear all the time at every level of hockey as do players and coaches. When does all this whaaaaaaa a political correctness end... suck it up man! As my Mom would say "Mind your business.." I can't even beleive an adult can be such a suck !!! It's whining on an extreme level when a guy mentions something this trivial to the media ! WWhhhaaaa.... mommy the ref swore at me... gimme a freakin' break !

Ollie (Posted 2008-12-10 10:47:57)Miller should worry about improving his performance not a ref using naughty words. Memo to Ryan Miller:......STAY FOCUSED on what you're being paid big money to do. The ref actually might have been simply critiquing Miller's performance in goal this year.
Bill (Posted 2008-12-10 10:45:48)Miller has always been a whinner, just like the baby Crosby (shut your mouths)!

Mark Smith (Posted 2008-12-10 09:34:50)So maybe the ref' had just been cussed out by one of the other players out there as they so often are.Ted is right you can hear the colorful language at the stadiums and I'm really glad that my 9 and 10 year old boys can't read lips when we're watching on TV! If the players are treating the ref's like that then it seems odd to have a player--even if he doesn't let the ref's have it--complain about such behavior; surely he's heard what the ref's have to deal with.

Felix MacLean (Posted 2008-12-09 23:32:37)I don't think Miller watched last summer's playoffs. In just about every game they played, Pittsburgh benefitted from a bad call and/or non-call. The worst of it didn't even occur in the finals, which suffered from such lopsided (and apparently pro-Pittsburgh) officiating that the Canadian media picked up on it.

nard (Posted 2008-12-09 23:13:11)its not the players that are being spoken about here, its the officials. the officials are supposed to be unbiased referees, not swearing and going over the top at players. and the avery comment.. thats because he pretty much called all his girlfriends whores and i guess the AP think thats the same as swearing i assume

Ted (Posted 2008-12-09 22:42:19)Who cares, I'm sure almost every player in the league uses profanity on the ice despite the fact they're all at their workplace. I've been to games and heard profanity from the ice despite the fact there is a family environment in the crowds. If Miller has a problem with officials using profanity I suggest he crusade to ban it league wide for players, coaches, management and officials. And like that'll ever happen.

Jordan (Posted 2008-12-09 22:15:01)How did this turn into an article about Sean Avery? Anyway, I think Miller is being way too vague for the league to take action. "I asked the ref a question nicely and he swore at me." Hopefully we can learn more on this issue later.