Take this for what you will

I lost my Uncle Bobby to COVID, in a nursing home. I lost my friend Liz to COVID. I know someone who survived a kidney transplant, but not COVID. My aunt is immune-compromised.

Take this for what you will.

Todd Reynolds, who represents Tyler Bertuzzi, said he will not disclose the reason why his client has declined to be vaccinated. “If the player wants to address his reasons, that’s fine,” he said. “But we see it as a private medical matter, so it’s no one’s business.”— Ken Campbell (@Ken_Campbell27) September 22, 2021

That’s fair. The reasons are his business. The effects (including financial) are plenty of other people’s business.

And hey, it’s always free to speculate. https://t.co/BGI22DZrBG— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) September 22, 2021

Tyler Bertuzzi’s going to miss the Red Wings’ games in Canada and maybe half a million dollars in salary for the sake of not taking a shot. He’s going to have to mask up around his teammates and adhere to strict protocols whenever he’s around his teammates because he’s not taking a shot. He’s a valuable asset to his team and his teammates, but he’s letting them down.

That doesn’t sit right with me, but if it’s his choice, it’s his choice. The consequences thereof are plain.

So the interview script with Bertuzzi pretty much has to be “Does the player want to address his reasons? Why or why not?”— Winging It In Motown (@wingingitmotown) September 22, 2021

I would be shocked if the Wings make Bertuzzi available to the media.

Published by

George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, when MLive hired me to work their SlapShots blog, and I joined Kukla's Korner in 2011 as The Malik Report. I'm starting The Malik Report as a stand-alone site, hoping that having my readers fund the website is indeed the way to go to build a better community and create better content.

10 thoughts on “Take this for what you will”

  1. If he has a choice, this is really a BAD choice and odd. This will become mandatory soon and I do not believe it is “A Person’s Choice”.

    There might be more to this but if not it is going to cost, Lil Bert $$$ and Virus issues being around fans and people in general. Sure doesn’t sound like Lil Bert logic, Odd Odd Odd.

  2. Agreed, this is just plain odd. I don’t want to comment further without knowing his reasons, but it is a strange decision on a number of levels.

  3. After reading more from StevieY, Tyler will have Team restrictions not only wearing a mask. Team functions rules and more!

    On the positive side he is the only Non Vaxxer on the Wings I doubt if he will bbe in Trade talks!

  4. If he has a legit reason for not taking a vaccine, then let’s hear it. He’s willing to put his teammates and coaches in danger, make his team short handed for games in Canada, and miss team meetings and outings. The fact is, there is no legit reason, other than “I don’t wanna”. Is he in breach of contract when he doesn’t show up to play in Vancouver?

  5. It is 100% his choice, but so are the consequences. How much of a priority would you put in his future with the Wings? I know if i was in Stevie’s seat I’d be trading him immediately.

  6. Sadly, something like this will crater his trade value. No one is going to give up fair market value to acquire a player who is actively choosing to diminish his value to whichever team he is playing with. He’s gonna be missing any games on the other side of the border regardless of what team he’s playing for.

    1. Bertuzzi will either be allowed to speak by the Wings and we will find out, or Bertuzzi will not, and we will have to guess. We fans, all of us, are allowed to judge a player by their willingness to do their job, or not do their job.

      1. Did you read StevieY comments about the issues Lil Bert will face with no vaccination? More than a problem playing in Canada.

        Any Wings functions are a no go, having to wear a mask when around Wings players while not playing, etc.

        This is going to be a bit tough on Lil Bert. But I am sure all the inconveniences will become part of the Wings team.

        Why he is not getting vaccinated, like other non Vaxxers , is his decision to not get vaccinated and will solely be up to him. If StevieY accepts whatever Lil Bert is saying or not saying is acceptable with work arounds, so be it.

  8. If the vaccine works how does him not getting it endanger others? If masks work doesn’t that add extra protection? I personally have had my two shots but don’t like mandates because that leads to a slippery slope of more and more mandates for perhaps nefarious reasons.

    And it strikes me that saying someone has a choice but then punishing that means that really is no free choice.

    I don’t think you get the vax to protect others you get it to protect yourself.

Comments are closed.