Bombastic, always fearless, frequently self-promoting and even iconic, the word retiring has never been used to describe Tie Domi.

Until now.

After a career that included some 270 NHL fights - some breaking his body though it was the Maple Leafs that ultimately broke his spirit — Domi punched out for good yesterday after 16 seasons. Even a vicious uppercut couldn't beat back the ravages of time.

But this warrior wasn't carried out on his shield; instead he went out on a satellite dish. The 36-year-old will join TSN as a broadcaster, now using his hard-headedness for ratings instead of rampaging.

Domi's farewell to arms was, surprisingly, understated. While it seemed odd that a fourth-line winger would require a press conference to say goodbye, that it drew almost as many reporters as he had career goals says much about Domi's star power in this market. Love him or hate him, and there was rarely middle ground, you could never argue his popularity.

But Domi's send-off went deeper than the teary-eyed photo op we knew was coming since about mid-way through last season.

He used the gathering to publically patch up any ill-feelings that may have festered towards the Leafs after they bought him out of the the final year of his contract. He finally conceded that his vicious elbow on Scott Niedermayer in the 2001 playoffs was the "stupidest thing" he'd ever done in his life, though he was less contrite on the Ulf Samuelsson mugging earlier in his career. And he admitted that, even if the Leafs hadn't terminated his contract, he still might have retired, his body unable to handle the ravages of a game, especially with its emphasis on special teams, that was passing him by.

"I tried skating a couple of weeks ago and, you know what, if I was playing this year, they way I felt on the ice, we still might be having this press conference today," he said. "I have no regrets."

It was the kind of grace and modesty his critics would say was too rarely present in a career that was often about aggrandizing Tie Domi.

Seeing Domi this way and not as the blowhard who's influence on a franchise exceeded the explainable for a five-goal scorer, it was easier to understand why team captain Mats Sundin had pushed management to bring the enforcer back for another season and why several of his teammates - including Sundin, Bryan McCabe and Darcy Tucker - were on hand for his send-off.

In the end, the guys he'd stood up for during what really was a remarkable career, stood up for him.

"If I could have a career in professional hockey, then every kid can dream the dream," said Domi, who, despite being only 5-foot-10, repeatedly took on the fiercest of opponents, making himself one of the most beloved Leafs in the process.

And though he didn't go out on his own terms, that potentially ugly parting didn't drive a rift between him and the organization.

"I'm not bitter. I'm not Dave Keon. But I played here a long time," said Domi. "I really think Dave Keon has to get off his horse and face the facts. He's loved in this city and this country as a Maple Leaf and it would be a shame if he never comes back here (to honour) his jersey."

Several of the Toronto brass, including general manager John Ferguson, attended the press conference though Domi will have no official connection with the franchise.

Domi said some teams expressed interest in him as a player but there were no actual offers on the table. He said he wasn't interested anyway.

"I had to have closure and I had to have closure as a Toronto Maple Leaf," he said. "You are bitter for a couple of days but life goes on. I couldn't see myself going anywhere else."

"I'm not bitter at the Toronto Maple Leafs at all. Business is business. I was very fortunate to be here a long time. To become a household name in this city is something that you'll remember for the rest of your life."

As for his new television career, Domi promised to put the same enthusiasm into his Wednesday night panel appearances as he did into hockey, noting: "I might need a six-second delay when I start."