A Warning For Matt Rempe

Matt Rempe must think he's tough.

After all, The Skating Giraffe just spent his hard-earned – well, sometimes – money on what, in the long run, could be his downfall.

The Remper, who gets more attention for doing nothing than anyone since the puck went from square to round, now has a Master's Degree In fighting. (Well, sort of.)

He earned (Ha!) that this summer by taking a week's worth of "boxing" lessons from Georges Laraque, who deserved a Phi Beta Kappa in Elementary Goonery for his fistic-filled career.

The Maven does not know what form of pugilistic wisdom Monsieur Larocque imparted to our non-conquering hero. But if Gorgeous Georges told Matt that he just made him the "NHL's Heavyweight Champion," I have one bit of advice for the still-rookie Ranger.

Beware, brother, beware! (The Maven speaks from personal experience.)

I happened to be around in 1958-59 when a New York defenseman named Lou Fontinato thought he was the king of clout. And I'll say this for Louie, he did win his share of fights. And, like Rempe, he became an instant idol of the Rangers crowd.

But there was one problem. Louie The Leaper had never fought Gordie Howe. And then, he did – well sort of – and I was there to see it. (I suggest that Rempe check the Howe-Fontinato video before he drops his gloves next time.)

Some critics have labeled Howe-Fontinato the greatest fight of its kind – meaning one-sided – in NHL history. And nobody who was closest to it, like linesman Art Skov, would dare challenge the statement. Here's how Skov described it in the book, Tough Calls.

"Louie skated in and Howe cranked him and smashed his nose. I don't think Louie ever saw that punch. Then Gordie grabbed him by the shoulder and held him down and hit him about three times with his right hand. (Howe dislocated his baby finger.)

"Then they swung around and Howe hit him with a left uppercut. By then it wasn't so much a matter of breaking them up as holding them up. Howe was tired from swinging and Louie was tired from getting hit."

Linesman Skov finally rescued Fontinato from further destruction.

Skov: "When Lou finally raised his head he seemed he didn't have any nose at all. There were two little holes at the side of his face and the bridge of his nose was flat. There was blood like you wouldn't believe. My sweater was covered with it. I don't think Fontinato ever hit Howe. Lou could hardly walk."

Fontinato was hospitalized for further treatment. Meanwhile, the TKO ended Lou's reputation as a fighter. It also played a part in the Rangers missing a playoff berth that spring of 1959 after the Blueshirts held a seven-point lead with two weeks to go.

If Georges Laroque's esteemed pupil still is reading this, The Maven has a lesson for Rempe – BEWARE WHO YOU CHALLENGE:

You could wind up, nose-less, in the MSG infirmary!

Also From THN Rangers:

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/tony-deangelo-details-altercation-that-got-him-waived-from-rangers

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/the-replacement-for-sam-rosen-already-is-firmly-in-place

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/rangers-and-knicks-playoff-success-lead-to-historic-financial-numbers

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/latest-news/its-time-for-a-new-generation-of-rangers-players-to-take-over