Comments on: Fighting–the NHL’s answer to Twinkies http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/ Where the world is one big hockey rink Fri, 10 Sep 2010 22:07:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Michael S. http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/#comment-267 Michael S. Fri, 02 Nov 2007 19:16:03 +0000 http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/#comment-267 When I say that "fighting is an accepted part of the game" I am not suggesting that it is right or just that it exists. I don't even suggest that it should be tolerated. However, it has become so marginal in the greater picture that I don't think we need to worry very much about it. The league's efforts should be focused on head shots and knee on knee hits. For every player seriously injured in a fight, there must be at least 5 or 6 with multiple concussions or torn knee ligaments from dirty hits. Fighting is no longer a significant priority. One exception would be when a coach sends three goons onto the ice with less than a minute left in a lopsided game. Coaches who do so to "send a message" need to be sent a message about that kind of behaviour. When I say that “fighting is an accepted part of the game” I am not suggesting that it is right or just that it exists. I don’t even suggest that it should be tolerated. However, it has become so marginal in the greater picture that I don’t think we need to worry very much about it. The league’s efforts should be focused on head shots and knee on knee hits. For every player seriously injured in a fight, there must be at least 5 or 6 with multiple concussions or torn knee ligaments from dirty hits. Fighting is no longer a significant priority.

One exception would be when a coach sends three goons onto the ice with less than a minute left in a lopsided game. Coaches who do so to “send a message” need to be sent a message about that kind of behaviour.

]]> By: Lucas Aykroyd http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/#comment-265 Lucas Aykroyd Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:46:17 +0000 http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/#comment-265 As I mentioned regarding Don Cherry, I don't think that the fact that "fighting is an accepted part of the game" really stands up as an argument. Slavery, cigarette ads on TV, and drowning witches were also once accepted. (No, I'm not directly comparing hockey fights to those things--just illustrating that a widespread acceptance of or appetite for certain things doesn't automatically mean they're OK.) As for what should be done, I think you have to assess fights on a case-by-case basis. Generally, five and a game makes sense. (It's already the case in international hockey.) But if, say, a much larger opponent randomly jumps a small guy, or two players just "stage" a fight for no reason, then yeah, look at suspensions. As I mentioned regarding Don Cherry, I don’t think that the fact that “fighting is an accepted part of the game” really stands up as an argument. Slavery, cigarette ads on TV, and drowning witches were also once accepted. (No, I’m not directly comparing hockey fights to those things–just illustrating that a widespread acceptance of or appetite for certain things doesn’t automatically mean they’re OK.)

As for what should be done, I think you have to assess fights on a case-by-case basis. Generally, five and a game makes sense. (It’s already the case in international hockey.) But if, say, a much larger opponent randomly jumps a small guy, or two players just “stage” a fight for no reason, then yeah, look at suspensions.

]]> By: Michael S. http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/#comment-264 Michael S. Fri, 02 Nov 2007 18:14:11 +0000 http://hockeyadventure.com/2007/11/02/fighting-the-nhls-answer-to-twinkies/#comment-264 Whether you like it or not, fighting is an accepted part of the game. Rather than compare it to twinkies, I would compare it to car crashes at the race track. One hopes that it doesn't happen, but when it does, it fulfills a certain bloodlust in a segment of the audience. I would certainly not be proud of enjoying such a spectacle, but it is a human response. Having said that, what more should be done? Suspensions for every fight? I would not oppose a game misconduct for every fight, but too much time is spent debating fighting in hockey. It is on the decline, and is a less pressing concern for me than late cross-checks, blows to the head, knee on knee hits and other dangerous acts. Whether you like it or not, fighting is an accepted part of the game. Rather than compare it to twinkies, I would compare it to car crashes at the race track. One hopes that it doesn’t happen, but when it does, it fulfills a certain bloodlust in a segment of the audience. I would certainly not be proud of enjoying such a spectacle, but it is a human response.

Having said that, what more should be done? Suspensions for every fight? I would not oppose a game misconduct for every fight, but too much time is spent debating fighting in hockey. It is on the decline, and is a less pressing concern for me than late cross-checks, blows to the head, knee on knee hits and other dangerous acts.

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