This topic came up in another thread and it once again got me thinking about the attitude that so many "fans of hockey" have about fighting being a fundamental part of hockey. So I decided that it's been quite some time since I stated my opinion on this. Even though I know this goes against majority sentiment, I know that there are also many that agree with me.
I know exactly how this will go... about 60+% of the posts will be claiming I, the OP, don't understand hockey, that if I don't like fighting I should watch some other sport, that they don't want the NHL to become a ********* European-style League, etc, etc.
I've been watching hockey for almost 40 years, and during that time I've seen the fights, and I've seen how they've been a "part of the game"... but they've been a "part of the game" only because they have existed, not because they need to exist, and not because hockey needs fighting, and not because fighting is part of what hockey is. So many fans have been weaned on fighting as part of hockey that they can't imagine it any other way. Somehow, I and a percentage of other fans also have seen the fights but we never came to consider them as part of the game. I don't know how I came to see it differently, but as I see it logic supports my position.
In what other sport does having a Penalty for something mean that the "something", in this case fighting, is considered "part of the game"? If it's a penalty, and it has always been, then officially it's not considered as an acceptable "part of the game". I've personally always wanted to see players play hockey, which includes lots of hitting but not with your fists. I used to also be a fan of boxing, and in boxing of course I looked forward to seeing a good fight, but a fight in hockey was always for me been a distraction from the game.
I accept that fighting exists and that there will always be at least the occasional fight. And I truly do absolutely love the raw physical play and hitting that takes place in hockey, or at least North American hockey. And we see even more of that physical intensity in the Playoffs, but it's then that we also should see that fighting is not necessary, because in the Playoffs it's a very rare occurance.
To all of those who say that they wouldn't accept the NHL if fighting was virtually eliminated, I say to them... If hockey without fighting would be so boring, then go watch basketball..., or if you'd prefer not to spend your time and money on another sport, then play monopoly.
I think most of you are talking out of your *****, because if you truly enjoy hockey then you'll still enjoy it without fighting, though maybe somewhat less. Sorry about that, but if you want to see fights then you should look elsewhere.
What I'm saying is: I simply do NOT equate fighting as being a necessary element in hockey!
Every fight should automatically entail a game misconduct / unsportmanlike conduct penalty with immediate ejection from the game; and if the fight occurs in the 3rd Period or later then the player shouldn't be allowed to play in the team's next game. That's the penalty I'd have for Fighting.
EDIT: Oh, and I would change the "Instigator" penalty, and make it that if it's deemed that there was an instigator then that player's team simply receives a minor penalty. I don't see the reason why one fighter should be penalized extremely more than another, other than giving his team the minor. Three Instigators and then it's an automatic one full game suspension with a fine.
I don't intend, at least, to argue this point much further in this thread, because truly it's not a central issue of mine, but I did want to initiate the topic and let the rest of you have at it.
I know exactly how this will go... about 60+% of the posts will be claiming I, the OP, don't understand hockey, that if I don't like fighting I should watch some other sport, that they don't want the NHL to become a ********* European-style League, etc, etc.
I've been watching hockey for almost 40 years, and during that time I've seen the fights, and I've seen how they've been a "part of the game"... but they've been a "part of the game" only because they have existed, not because they need to exist, and not because hockey needs fighting, and not because fighting is part of what hockey is. So many fans have been weaned on fighting as part of hockey that they can't imagine it any other way. Somehow, I and a percentage of other fans also have seen the fights but we never came to consider them as part of the game. I don't know how I came to see it differently, but as I see it logic supports my position.
In what other sport does having a Penalty for something mean that the "something", in this case fighting, is considered "part of the game"? If it's a penalty, and it has always been, then officially it's not considered as an acceptable "part of the game". I've personally always wanted to see players play hockey, which includes lots of hitting but not with your fists. I used to also be a fan of boxing, and in boxing of course I looked forward to seeing a good fight, but a fight in hockey was always for me been a distraction from the game.
I accept that fighting exists and that there will always be at least the occasional fight. And I truly do absolutely love the raw physical play and hitting that takes place in hockey, or at least North American hockey. And we see even more of that physical intensity in the Playoffs, but it's then that we also should see that fighting is not necessary, because in the Playoffs it's a very rare occurance.
To all of those who say that they wouldn't accept the NHL if fighting was virtually eliminated, I say to them... If hockey without fighting would be so boring, then go watch basketball..., or if you'd prefer not to spend your time and money on another sport, then play monopoly.
I think most of you are talking out of your *****, because if you truly enjoy hockey then you'll still enjoy it without fighting, though maybe somewhat less. Sorry about that, but if you want to see fights then you should look elsewhere.
What I'm saying is: I simply do NOT equate fighting as being a necessary element in hockey!
Every fight should automatically entail a game misconduct / unsportmanlike conduct penalty with immediate ejection from the game; and if the fight occurs in the 3rd Period or later then the player shouldn't be allowed to play in the team's next game. That's the penalty I'd have for Fighting.
EDIT: Oh, and I would change the "Instigator" penalty, and make it that if it's deemed that there was an instigator then that player's team simply receives a minor penalty. I don't see the reason why one fighter should be penalized extremely more than another, other than giving his team the minor. Three Instigators and then it's an automatic one full game suspension with a fine.
I don't intend, at least, to argue this point much further in this thread, because truly it's not a central issue of mine, but I did want to initiate the topic and let the rest of you have at it.
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