When Chris Simon was first suspended 30 games ago, I wrote the following commentary in a blog:

"There is clearly something wrong with Chris Simon. He not only loses control of himself, he looks to seriously injure an opponent. I was outspoken last season after the (Ryan) Hollweg incident and I will repeat myself here: I do not want (nor have I ever wanted) Chris Simon to be an Islander.

As a human being, I hope he gets the psychological help he needs so that he can, one day, be a productive and useful member of society.

As a hockey fan, I never want him to take the ice again."

I look back on those words after watching Simon, fresh off his suspension, play last night as a member of my team. On his first shift, he was booed loudly. The fans wanted to let management know that they do not approve of him remaining an Islander.

Many people have already voiced their displeasure on message boards, citing his track record of suspensions as proof that he should be ejected from the league. As much as I found it distasteful for fans to boo a player on their own team, I reasoned that, since they paid their hard-earned money, they are allowed to do as they please (within legal limits, of course).

However, while I will not fully castigate their actions, I cannot endorse them either. I find myself very conflicted about the words I had previously written in my blog. Was I so truly outraged by Simon's transgressions that I was justified in dismissing the idea that rehabilitation could allow him to play the game again and not act inappropriately? Do I really have the right as a paying supporter of the game to deny a man who has served his NHL mandated suspension the opportunity to prove to me that he's a changed person?

If I am to be completely honest with myself, the answer to both questions is No.

If someone wishes to contend that Simon shouldn't be playing because: a) He brings nothing to the table except for the occasional fight; b) his skills have eroded to the point where he's taking a roster spot away from a deserving prospect; and c) his presence in the lineup is more a testament to his personal relationship with Ted Nolan than anything else, they won't get much of an argument from me. Those are all valid points and I happen to believe all three are true.

However, I will not sit proudly on my "high horse" and boldly state that, as a fan, my team should not employ someone who has acted shamefully several times. To do so would be hypocritical. Anyone who booed Simon at the game because they feel that they are in a position to judge his psychological competency should assess their actions in their own lives. I'm certain that I am not alone in having done things I am not proud of.

If you think Simon should not play for the Islanders due to the aforementioned skill issues, by all means, you are free to voice your displeasure in my opinion. However, do yourself a favor and leave the moral stand behind.

Hey, I still don't think Simon should play for my team. But at least now it's for the right reasons.