The Best and the Worst of Hockey

[shaina]

Wow...wotta game! The Leafs took out the Thrashers 9-1 in what was, at times, the very best of the 'new' NHL:  fast;  chances for  some of the leagues' best shooters; huge saves by Eddie.  It was also, unquestionably some of the worst of the NHL - with the game far, far out of reach,  we saw a truly disgraceful hit on Darcy Tucker that resulted in a gash over Tucker's eye that will require 20-22 stitches to close and a hit on Nik Antropov resulting in a gash under his eye that will require 10-12 stitches to close (although it's possible that the hit was unintended).

For those of you who watched the game, you'll notice that there is no whinging and whining about the fights - although it's not a 'PC' position to take, I firmly believe that all true hockey fans like a good fight.  The idea that fighting in the NHL has to be eliminated in order to keep fans - or worse yet, to attract fans - is ludicrous. Those who are already hockey fans know that fighting has always been part of the game; not just for the sake of throwing a few haymakers, but because hockey is a physical game - a team sport - and sometimes, the message must be sent that the team will not stand for one of their own to be treated in a certain way.  A two, four or five minute penalty really means nothing to a player - but he will remember that a cheap shot on Mats Sundin or Keith Primeau results in Tie Domi (recently, Wade Belak) or Donald Brashear beating on your head.  The penalty is fleeting; the bruises will stay around a little longer.  And frankly, very few people get Hurt (with a capital H) in a fight.  Let me be clear here:  the whole Bertuzzi / Moore thing was NOT a fight.  Do not point to this as an example of why fighting does not belong in the NHL.  Whether you feel that Bertuzzi got too much, or not enough, the one thing that most everyone seems to agree on is that it was not a fight; it was a horrible, horrible incident: either a cowardly, intentional attack or a terrible accident resulting from emotion overruling common sense.

If Commissioner Bettman wants to eliminate fighting in the NHL to attract new fans whose delicate sensibilities might be offended by the occasional fight, this is simply a betrayal of the legacy of the sport which has been entrusted to him.

And as a final note regarding this issue:  even in Atlanta, there wasn't a single fan actually in their seat during the fight.  OK, that might be an exaggeration, but seriously, when you catch the replay, take a look at the stands.  You'll see that the majority of the spectators are on their feet, cheering.

The brightest spot in the game HAD to be Eddie Belfour; after a shaky outing last time, he showed why he's among the top goaltenders in the league with a fantastic game in which he made some truly impressive saves.  I don't care how old he is; there's no one I'd rather have in net for Toronto except possibly Marty Brodeur.  Way to go Eddie!

On a final note, Congrats to Jeff O'Neill for picking up his 200th career goal!

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

"Whether you feel that Bertuzzi got too much, or not enough, the one thing that most everyone seems to agree on is that it was not a fight; it was a horrible, horrible incident: either a cowardly, intentional attack or a terrible accident resulting from emotion overruling common sense."

Not that I choose to take a stand (having not even aseen the game), but that's not much of a strong argument.

It seems to be suggesting that the horrible-horrible-incident-but-not-fight happened _independently_ of the fighting atmosphere in the game. As if to say it is as likely to happen in *any* game.

[lady-shain.livejournal.com]

"It seems to be suggesting that the horrible-horrible-incident-but-not-fight happened _independently_ of the fighting atmosphere in the game. As if to say it is as likely to happen in *any* game."

In my opinion, Bertuzzi wasn't looking for a fight - it was more akin to the hit on Tucker, or the whole McSorley / Brashear thing - he lost his temper and lashed out - he didn't want to trade punches with Moore, he wanted to hurt him. I, personally, don't think he wanted to hurt him that badly, but only Bertuzzi knows for sure. So yes, I do think that the Bertuzzi incident doesn't belong in a debate about fighting in hockey - it wasn't the fact that there is fighting in hockey that 'caused' it. It was a result of pure human emotion: tempers flaring and extremely bad judgement, and not only by Bertuzzi.

Serious injuries *can* happen in any game - witness Mats Sundin's eye, Nolan's knee, the numerous broken legs on defencemen in the league over the last 5 years, and let's not forget the Lindros brohers, Osgoode, and Stevens - all guys who have had concussions that have or could have ended their careers.

It took a particular set of circumstances and personalities for what happened in Vancouver to happen (an out of reach game, a big hit on a star player, coaches who didn't manage their benches more carefully, a big player with a nasty temper). Change any one of variables and it's likely that it ends very differently.

[gmajor.livejournal.com]

There's the old joke:

"I was at a fight and a hockey game broke out!"

My Two Cents

[seal-clubber.livejournal.com]

I suspect fighting will remain part of hockey because the powers that be want it so, and the powers that be want it so because the fans seem to want it so. It seems to be regarded as "just part of the game" at this point (to the extent that no self-respecting hockey video game would not come with fighting capabilities), which I think is a deplorable situation. In any other sport, a player throwing down his gear and whaling away on another would be ejected from the game. Only in hockey is it not only condoned, but encouraged.

For hockey fans to get a thrill out of seeing two guys enraged beyond the point of reason throw down on one another is akin to the kids who used to stand in a loose circle in the schoolyard excitedly chanting "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

I'd have hoped we all passed that stage by the time we got out of high school.

Re: My Two Cents

[lady-shain.livejournal.com]

You know, for all that I'm a fan of hockey - including the fighting - I actually agree with most of what you just said.

I do disagree that most hockey fights are between 'two guys enraged beyond reason'; from what I have read, most enforcers in the game view fighting as a part of their job - like a boxer or a mixed martial arts fighter, it's not that they've gone berserk and want to kill the guy that they're fighting; they're standing up for their teammates.

Hockey is a sport where you're supposed to hit people, where contact is a given, and unlike football, rugby or aussie rules football, it's played by a bunch of guys who have weapons strapped to their feet, and large sticks in their hands, in an arena with hard walls surrounding it. I suspect that fighting remains part of the sport at least in part because it's an outlet for emotion - I'd rather see Tie Domi go after someone who deliberately hurt a teammate in a fight (because then it's considered done, over, paid back, whatever), then have 20 angry guys out there trying to pay someone back instead of playing the game.

By the way, if you look at the sport 50 years ago, guys had less padding and were going after each other with their their sticks! The modern day fight where players drop the sticks and gloves is actually a hell of a lot safer. Neither here nor there really but interesting to note.

It's become such a huge issue: everyone seems to have an opinion, even if they're not fans of the sport. And yet, fighting is really a minor part of the game - every game doesn't have a fight, after all, and it's the big goals and the big stops that most people are talking about leaving the arena.

As for the fans watching fights and enjoying them, I don't think we'll ever get past it; it's too ingrained in the human psyche. from the Coliseum to the popularity of Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts, people like to watch fighting. Bread and Circuses rule. The hockey enforcer is the deliverer of vigilante justice; people need their heroes, wherever they find them, and standing up for 'justice', being willing to put yourself in the line of fire for a team mate, will never go out of style.