Ohashi_Jouzu*
Registered User
I agree. I stream all my hockey and watch a lot of local feeds, this is empirical and non-scientific but I think the promotions in smaller markets, say a 20 second ad for an upcoming game, feature more hitting and fighting than similar spots in traditional/larger hockey markets. Especially staged fights. there's a whole production protocol for them. So fighting has been transformed into something of a gimmick imo. But yes shootout etc are better examples.
It's because I know what you're saying there, that I guess I have to agree on some level then. I just think it borders on "overly cynical" because fighting legitimately is something that distinguishes it from every other "major" sport (both in its "tolerance" and in the players'/league's relative success vs other sports in terms of association with violence outside of the arena), so it's going to be highlighted.
One problem among many is that some networks/media in some markets are overly sensitive to "promotion of violence" concerns than others. I watch so much hockey on other networks that at this point I can detect which network commentators (i.e. not the "expert" member of a panel) "tow the company line", so to speak, lol, or are allowed more flexibility (I bet anyone would be able to identify a FOX broadcast vs a CBC vs a NBC vs RDS vs Comcast broadcast before long); easily noticed by how they steer those between play conversations, and load questions, etc.
After all, it's legitimate enough to reduce fighting to a "gimmick", if your unwavering (or mandated, on occasion no doubt) public opinion is that fighting shouldn't be in hockey, for example.