Sports

PRONGER SUSPENSION: IT’S ABOUT TIME!

TAMPA -So how on earth did Clarence Campbell suspend Maurice Richard for the March 13, 1955, incident that preceded the infamous Richard Riot without a clear, decisive video of The Rocket whacking linesman Cliff Thompson twice in the face with his stick?

It doesn’t matter that the first available video of Wednesday night’s incident in Anaheim in which Chris Pronger stomped on Ryan Kesler’s left calf was inconclusive. NHL Vice President Colin Campbell’s reluctance to commence an immediate investigation into the episode is conclusive enough relating to the nebulous standard under which league supplementary discipline is pursued and dispensed.

In short form, it goes like this: If you are a repeat offender playing for the Islanders named Chris Simon, you get 30 games for stomping on an opponent’s skate. But if you are a repeat offender playing for Ducks general manager Brian Burke named Chris Pronger, you get the benefit of the doubt.

Justice delayed was not justice denied, we get that. The eight-game suspension Pronger received yesterday was at least one game too few – he should have been out for the remainder of the regular season. But at least it establishes a platform from which the Anaheim defenseman can be disciplined when he inevitably crosses the line in the playoffs, as he did twice last year while receiving minimum sentences.

After incurring a mere one-game suspension in last year’s conference finals against Detroit for smashing Tomas Holmstrom’s face into the glass from behind, Pronger received only another one-game suspension in the finals for elbowing Dean McAmmond in the head in Game 3 against Ottawa. Apparently the concept of repeat-offender status was lost on Campbell.

Keep in mind the officials working those games called neither infraction a penalty. Pronger was not penalized on Wednesday, either. This is hardly a surprise, given the level of gross incompetence to which the NHL officiating staff has devolved under the leadership of Stephen Walkom, a mediocre referee himself who somehow ascended to an NHL leadership position.

Walkom has a crew of officials who are so consumed with watching for defenders’ sticks being carried parallel to an attacker, they routinely miss dangerous, violent fouls. Intimidated by a bizarre grading system, these referees operate without either a sense for the game or common sense, itself. On some nights – on too many nights – NHL officiating is unprofessional. See: McCreary, Bill.

During the 1997 Eastern finals, Campbell was coaching the Rangers when New Jersey’s John MacLean broke Niklas Sundstrom’s arm with a baseball-bat swing of his stick in Game 4. Despite the act occurring in plain sight, the league did not suspend MacLean, ostensibly because no clear video of the incident was available. The NHL VP in charge of discipline at that time was Brian Burke. Campbell was livid.

It is nice to know NHL players enjoy a presumption of innocence, even one with a rap sheet as lengthy as Pronger. It is not so reassuring to be reminded over and over again how dependent on video evidence this Campbell has become, and how reluctant he is to use his authority.

If this Campbell had been in power 53 years ago this month, there’s every chance that The Rocket might have escaped.

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Islanders coach Ted Nolan has a year left on his contract – he, unlike Neil Smith, actually signed his agreement with owner Charles Wang – so there is little chance he will be dismissed this summer even given the recent clashes with Rick DiPietro.

But Nolan has seemed to have a pout on ever since, a) Simon was booed at the Coliseum upon returning from the 30-game suspension; and, b) Simon was henceforth traded to the Wild.

Beyond that, Nolan suddenly has begun to resemble one of those guys who forever is complaining, “How did they play so bad when I coached so good?”

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We’re guessing the biggest blow this year to Sean Avery’s ego wasn’t Glen Sather’s rejection of his contract request, but rather seeing LeBron James get the cover of Vogue before he did.

John Madden, whom the Devils attempted to move to Ottawa in the offseason in exchange for Mike Fisher, and who was relegated to fourth-line duty in October, is having his best season since 2002-03, if not the best season of his career.

There are all these franchise Devils – John MacLean, Martin Brodeur, Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer, Patrik Elias, Ken Daneyko -and Madden is most certainly one of them.

Question: who is the franchise’s all-time checking center, Madden or Bobby Holik?

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It’s that time again for former Rangers great Adam Graves, who is indefatigable in his charitable work. No. 9 will be appearing at American Legends on Central Avenue in Scarsdale, signing autographs from 1 until 3 this afternoon, with all proceeds ($20 a pop) going to Family Services of Westchester. The funds will be dedicated toward building a youth residence for boys in White Plains.

The NHL and NHLPA are making progress toward resolving outstanding issues regarding Rangers’ participation in Victoria Cup in Switzerland on Oct. 1, we’re told by deputy commissioner Bill Daly.

Asked for his views on the event in which the Blueshirts will meet the winner of the 2008 European Champions Cup in Bern, Jaromir Jagr said, “I’m neutral.”

larry.brooks@nypost.com