Fighting in hockey
I have a message for all the hockey fans who think fighting is bad for the game.
SUCK IT.
The Red Deer Rebels were in town tonight to play the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL). It was a sellout (have sold out every home game this year), and a really great game. Tigers took it 6-1.
There were 3 or 4 really great goals - highlight reel stuff. But halfway through the third period, the Rebels know they're done. They're going to be 3 points back of the Tigers after this game... time to send a little message and set the tone for the next game, baby.
A couple of good tilts, the crowd goes nuts. Then we get a fight by the bench, then a couple of others go, next thing you know it's a line brawl. Like a wedding party sharing the first dance, we've got 5 pairs of guys going toe to toe. The place was going INSANE. Bigger cheers than the goals were getting.
Fighting is a part of hockey, plain and simple. To anyone who thinks it's too rough, bad for the game... either grow yourself a ball sack and drop some testicles into it, or start watching figure skating.
That's it. Discuss or whatever.
SUCK IT.
The Red Deer Rebels were in town tonight to play the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL). It was a sellout (have sold out every home game this year), and a really great game. Tigers took it 6-1.
There were 3 or 4 really great goals - highlight reel stuff. But halfway through the third period, the Rebels know they're done. They're going to be 3 points back of the Tigers after this game... time to send a little message and set the tone for the next game, baby.
A couple of good tilts, the crowd goes nuts. Then we get a fight by the bench, then a couple of others go, next thing you know it's a line brawl. Like a wedding party sharing the first dance, we've got 5 pairs of guys going toe to toe. The place was going INSANE. Bigger cheers than the goals were getting.
Fighting is a part of hockey, plain and simple. To anyone who thinks it's too rough, bad for the game... either grow yourself a ball sack and drop some testicles into it, or start watching figure skating.
That's it. Discuss or whatever.
Comments
Maybe when I'm at work on Monday and I get behind I'll just pound my fist into the guy down the hall? Set the tone for the rest of the week.
Drop the Gloves!
There is a lot wrong with hockey today, fighting is the least of their concerns. It's the obstructions and a clogged up neutral zone. It's unskilled players making a career out of clutching and grabbing. If they got rid of the instigator penalty enforcers could get back to doing their job by punishing those cheap morons that are killing the game.
12/11/1999
Mike Johnson vs. Luke Richardson
2pd 12:40
Comments: Domi skated away from Berube first. McCarthy pushed Berube out of the way and then Domi literally turned tail and skated away as fast as he could. Mike Johnson grabbed Richardson, who is known for just starting to throw during a brawl, and that started the donnybrook. Domi stayed on the outside only until McCarthy's back was turned and he was pounding Khristich. Somewhere during this Domi is cut and he skates away again. Domi then decides to double up on Adam Burt. Richardson then sees this and goes after Domi. Domi then hides -- Tie Domi, who has fought Bob Probert 12 ****ing times -- from Luke Richardson behind Tomas Kaberle. Then, after McCreary gets Richardson away, Domi tries to fight Brian Boucher, who is locked up with Curtis Joseph. If you saw the CBC/HNIC or whatever Canadian feed that I have, you don't see all of the above. Try to get ahold of the other feed of this incident. Other Penalties: Berube received a roughing and misconduct; Richardson a game misconduct; Domi and McCarthy a misconduct and game misconduct; Brian Boucher and Curtis Joseph both received a leaving the crease penalty.
"I'm tired of his talk, talk, talk. He's supposed to be a tough guy and he won't drop his gloves with me. He hides behind the refs and then sucker-punches our guy [Burt]."
-- 12/99: Philly's Sandy McCarthy on Toronto's skating chicken, Tie Domi
Originally posted by Scott
I think fighting in hockey is the dumbest ****ing thing in the world. It's like a Professional Wrestling in the middle of the game.
Maybe when I'm at work on Monday and I get behind I'll just pound my fist into the guy down the hall? Set the tone for the rest of the week.
That's genius; taking a physical, sometimes violent sporting event and applying aspects of it to an office job. Maybe stick to crapping on the political threads?
heh
And yes, Domi sucks. When he does want to fight he's pretty tough to take out though.
not that i care, just wondered how this came about....
i also see why hockey is such a "see it live" sport and why it isn't nearly as good seen on tv...live at the venue the fights are great with the crowd roaring...at home it is not really the same...two idiots punching each other on skates falling about pulling at each others jerseys...not graceful, actually kinda clumsy and comical...hard to get the bloodlust rolling sitting in the living room...but eh, ey surely no canadian be....
the real question i find interesting is will they still keep fighting as the neew guys coming up get use to the money...few football players fight because they don't want to risk injury and lose that 5 million a year paycheck...will these multi-millionaire players risk fighting?? and, if not. will murbot only get to see fights at medicine hat games with minor league players?
g
As far as where the "tradition" comes from:
Hockey is different from many other sports in that players are at times specifically targeted to be taken out during a game by an opponent, in order for that opponent to gain an edge. These players that are targeted are often the more elite players on a lineup. Unless the guys who are sent out to take players out of a game are dealt with, then teams will suffer the loss of their best players. This is how a large number of fights come to be in the NHL.
Also, hockey is a much more intense physical contact sport than a lot of people realize. They've got constant speed, a small playing "field", and unlike other physical sports they're confined by the boards, which affords one the opportunity of smashing their opponents up against. When you have a game being played at such high speeds with so much full contact, adrenaline really gets ramped up.
Lastly, it's my opinion that hockey players play their sport with much more emotion and heart than most other sports. There isn't nearly as much ego as you see in the NBA and NFL. The players are passionate about their sport in ways that most other athletes in other leagues simply are not, and it's the passion for the game that gives it the more intense physicality.
-warren
1. the intense phyisical aspect of the game is a lot more than even football, though basketball seems to aspire to be more like hockey all the time. Guys just lose control sometimes, their adrenaline boils over. It just comes withthe very limited territory.
2. Guys like Wayne Gretzky, who couldn't check the boards let alone another player (and unlike Gordy Howe!) were targets that big fourth line forwards and defensemen went after. So to counter this, teams would but someone like Marty McSorely on their fourth line and go after the guys who were going after the "skill" (read: wimpy but fast)players.
3. There was a time just after the NHL started expanding from the original six, where talent was spread thin, the defensive hockey of the previous years wasn't selling and a lot of otherwise average players had to deal with a few exceptionally good players. Fighting sold tickets when there wasn't enough hockey talent to fill the league.
Gordie Howe was known as Mr. Elbow for a while... Rocket Richard was street fighter tough.
The earlier era of fighting is before my time, though I remember some brutal Boston and Philly 70s teams.
Gretzky's early Oilers had an enforcer called Semenko, who was bodyguard to the Great One.
Part of the plus to Messier was a blend of talent and toughness.
Nowadays, the big thumping guys with goal scorers hands are prized more and more...
Bertuzzi and Jovanovski as Canuck examples, even if they're slumping a bit lately.
Few of the real elite players ever fight (why risk broken hand/lost $$$$).
Part of me still likes the intensity (if my guys win), part is appalled and thinks fights are medieval.
As for those who are truly obsessed with hockey fights...
Old Time Hockey!