I am getting sick and tired of all the articles, blogs, letters and opinions to ban fighting from the NHL and hockey altogether.
Of course there is some danger involved, but what contact sport doesn't have danger?
Whether we're talking about the NHL, NFL, NASCAR, NLL or MLB, there is always an assumed and accepted risk taken by each athlete before taking the main stage.
Why is it that fighting is the only one we hear or read about?
I think that most of the people who express their hate for hockey fights have never been in a fight, or played competitive sports in general.
Do they write about their favorite pitcher throwing a 95 m.p.h. fastball at an opposing batter's head?
Do they talk about their favorite race car driver riding another driver into the wall at over 200 m.p.h?
Do they hound the papers when player after player gets carted off the gridiron after horse collar tackles or a chop blocks?
NO!
They whine about fighting because they think it is dangerous. Well, all of my previous examples are a little more dangerous than two willing combatants fighting with their hands.
The people that continue to complain have never laced up and had their teeth knocked out by a high stick or a dirty hit.
They would only be too happy to have a teammate come in and take care of business so it didn't happen again. I think they should stick to watching tennis or golf, which are two of my favorite sports.
I agree that having a hired goon is a foolish way to utilize a roster spot in the new salary-capped NHL. I think a player should be able to play the game to earn a spot in the big leagues.
Maybe it is time we thought about trimming team rosters to three lines to make that last roster spot more valuable, but cutting that many NHL jobs would not go over well with Mr. Kelly and the NHLPA.
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8 months ago
right on bro...i agree that the premeditated fights are stupiid, but i also think that is a bi-product of the instigator rule. Nobody wants to see injuries, but i still feel it is important for teammates to stick up for eachother with a good ole donneybrook....i happen to love the excitement too. As soon as the cheap hits are out of hockey, fighting will be an afterthought. I somehow doubt either will ever happen
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