Sandy McCarthy-Top-10 All Time?

[mikebflorida]

I have Mcarthy at number 10 all time behind Joey Kocur and just ahead of Craig Berube and feel now that I may have him under rated in some of the key skills.

He had great balance, strength, and could take a punch as well as anyone as seen in his toe to toe battles with some of the greats of his era. He switched hands very well, was very intimidating with that menacing look to him, and has as good a fight card as anyone.

His last couple of years were all but worthless but his entry into the league far outweighs his exit, he was simply a beast when he broke in. In contrast, Brashear had a terrible beginning and ending to his career in the NHL, Sandy just had a lousy finish which isn't unusual for guys playing 10+ years and so many fights, it's going to take its toll on anyone.

I love the comments by Benchclearer, just hilarious, it shows how unknowledgeable he is about hockey fighting, his posts have zero credibility with me, I wish there was an ignore button so we wouldn't have every thread polluted with his Brashear is the greatest ever retardedness. "He was a chin tucking wimp who was afraid to take a punch". Really?? And Brashear was a chute pulling bailer who ran away from Sandy and Probert, so intimidated by them and afraid to get beat up by them. The difference with my Brash bashing is that I actually have facts on my side versus the complete speculation that you use like "he slipped" when he actually bailed.

It would be cool if you actually watched the videos of the chin tucking wimp where he goes toe to toe with some of the all time best like McKenzie, McSorely, Oliwa, and many others taking the hardest shots they had to offer and not going down. Your boyfriend, The Donald, would have bailed a quarter of the way into those bouts or bear hugged them and licked the wax out of their ears.

I love calling you out on stuff like this, you're such an easy target.

Anyway, Sandy was a great fighter and one of the 10 best of all time.

[Habs # 1]

A Calgary era McCarthy was a handfull... some give Probert, Brash and Domi a hard time over "bailing" with their scraps... they didn't though he was legit and pure beast.

[flex_buff_chest]

Yes! Top 10 No questions asked.

[Plateworker]

Originally Posted by Mr. Pink

McCarthy is significantly more impressive than Laraque, at the very least

Very true I have always had The Sand Man ranked higher that BGL. Better Card, better fighter...BGL was just one of those guys that had his number. Same with Brash. I always have Sandy around 6-10 when doing my list. The last 2 years don't figure into the argument what so ever as most if not all fall off

[Plateworker]

Originally Posted by Bench Clearer

I have an incredible anti-McCarthy bias so I wouldn't even rank him in my top 20. In my mind he was never even close to being champion of the league.

Remember his "prime" year in 95-96? That was the first time he and Brashear fought in the NHL, and the fight that caused people to say that Brash "ran away" from him. This was not the case....in fact, McCarthy pulled the old jersey trick because the kid was embarrassing him as far as punch count was concerned and he wanted to gain an unfair advantage. Brashear beat him in Vancouver, then did it again and again once he got traded to Philly. Those were all good, fair fights where neither man had an unfair advantage, and it proved who the better man was.

McCarthy was never in the same league as most of the other heavyweights from that era. He was a chin-tucking wimp who was scared to take a punch. Once he was forced to eat a bunch of lefts from the likes of Brashear and Laraque his days as an enforcer were clearly numbered (not to mention the beating that Eric Cairns put on him in 01-02).

R U ok did they give you the wrong medication again? This maybe up for most unknowledgeable post of the year award...Actually there is no way it can not be. Bias or not, your logic is ridiculous and your argument is pathetic with not a single person on this site agreeing with you

[GOON 21]

I think Sandy is slightly overrated by this thread - hes not a all time top 10 NHL fighter in my book, i think he was very good and probably in the 20 or so range, but not top 10


His downhill spiral was very fast and dramatic (2 fast for me) and i wasnt a big fan of his style (tuck chin, look down and throw punches) it worked for him though


For 4 years or so he was damn good, i just dont think his window/career was long enough for top 10 all time material

[illukka]

in his prime top10 definitely, as for overall career i'd say around 15

[vamp09112]

Originally Posted by mikebflorida

It would be cool if you actually watched the videos of the chin tucking wimp where he goes toe to toe with some of the all time best like McKenzie, McSorely, Oliwa, and many others taking the hardest shots they had to offer and not going down.

Don't know what fights you were watching but Brashear pummeled all three of those guys on more than one occasion.

[mikebflorida]

Originally Posted by vamp09112

Don't know what fights you were watching but Brashear pummeled all three of those guys on more than one occasion.

Brashear has NOTHING to do with the topic. It was a response to a known troll who admits he hates Sandy and is Brashear's bedfellow. I don't care who Brashear beat, what matters is that Sandy fought some of the best ever and held his own, it's why he is ranked so high by much more knowledgeable posters than most.

[jayc948]

Sandy is ranked 15th all-time for me at the moment.