Getting hit by a puck or skate blade is a far bigger worry. The cheap shots with the stick (McSorely) or what Bertuzzi did need the harsh enforcement they are getting. Keeping Bertuzzi out until his victim recovers, if it means forever, is a great deterrant. Imagine if a guy with all that talent gets banned? That would shut this down real quick. Doesn't matter if he didn't mean it, just saying if the guy you hurt never plays because of injury means you never play again would be exactly the signal the players would need to take responsibility for what clearly mean-spirited things they do. It is good to have an enforcer out there because those guys don't cheap shot, they plain come after you. Clean checks and fights without sucker punches aren't going to cause much damage. Note the two deaths in hockey in the modern era were from a player not wearing a helmet and a fan getting hit by a puck.
What really happened on the ice in Vancouver the other night is not unusual if you are talking about a punch in the back of a helmeted head. That goes on during almost every NHL game. The real problem was the collision between Steve Moore's head with the ice, with the weight of Bertuzzi and an Avalanche player on top of him. That is what caused all the damage. The punch itself simply initiated the chain of events that led to the broken vertebrae, facial contusions, and concussion. So - should every punch that gets thrown in any sport be prosecuted? No, it dependes on the result, out of thousands of punches thrown only a few result in any kind of serious injury. Unfortunately this one was of thoses times. Did Bertuzzi think he was going to break Moore's neck when he woke up the other day, of course not, bad judgement on his part, and even worse luck led to a very regretable outcome to an impulsive act. If he does'nt land right on top of Moore we would not be talking about this right now, it would have been just another game misconduct.
wil.
wil.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> What really happened on the ice in Vancouver the other night is not unusual if you are talking about a punch in the back of a helmeted head. That goes on during almost every NHL game. The real problem was the collision between Steve Moore's head with the ice, with the weight of Bertuzzi and an Avalanche player on top of him. That is what caused all the damage. The punch itself simply initiated the chain of events that led to the broken vertebrae, facial contusions, and concussion. So - should every punch that gets thrown in any sport be prosecuted? No, it dependes on the result, out of thousands of punches thrown only a few result in any kind of serious injury. Unfortunately this one was of thoses times. Did Bertuzzi think he was going to break Moore's neck when he woke up the other day, of course not, bad judgement on his part, and even worse luck led to a very regretable outcome to an impulsive act. If he does'nt land right on top of Moore we would not be talking about this right now, it would have been just another game misconduct.
wil. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
ya...so there
wil. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
ya...so there
Wil, the question you asked was: "Should every punch that gets thrown in any sport be prosecuted"? And your answer was "No, it dependes on the result."
Since a player certainly can't know the result BEFORE he does the dirty deed, it would be a GREAT deterint to have a SET punishment (other than 5 minutes in a stupid penalty box).
Fighting in the NBA and MLB means an automatic ejection and then it's up to the league to deal out futher game suspensions. I think this would be a good idea in hockey as well.
Charlie
Since a player certainly can't know the result BEFORE he does the dirty deed, it would be a GREAT deterint to have a SET punishment (other than 5 minutes in a stupid penalty box).
Fighting in the NBA and MLB means an automatic ejection and then it's up to the league to deal out futher game suspensions. I think this would be a good idea in hockey as well.
Charlie
Hockey is in dire straights until they address this problem. Bottom line, I have two boys who would love to pursue this sport, however, until strides are made to ensure me that ultimately they won't have to deal with these horrible fights, they will have to play basketball or another sport with some degree of safety for my children. If hockey would send out a message like the NBA that this will not be tolerated, i would love to send my kids to hockey camp, etc. However, knowing that hockey has no intention of changing the status quo, i am out.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TEASER GURU:
Bottom line, I have two boys who would love to pursue this sport, however, until strides are made to ensure me that ultimately they won't have to deal with these horrible fights, they will have to play basketball or another sport with some degree of safety for my children. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey if you want to raise 2 wusses that's your call guy.
Bottom line, I have two boys who would love to pursue this sport, however, until strides are made to ensure me that ultimately they won't have to deal with these horrible fights, they will have to play basketball or another sport with some degree of safety for my children. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey if you want to raise 2 wusses that's your call guy.
Teaser, the guys that fight choose to do so. That is what caused the recent mess in the Ottawa/Philly game when you had checking line types jumping skill players. Every team has a known fighter and a couple of guys that will scrap on occasion. The star forward and the best defenseman is usually far too valuable and not talented enough at fighting to go at it and no one expects them to drop the gloves because of it. Besides have you really watched an NHL fight? Unless it is two guys that owe half their living to their fighting skills, it reminds most of a scrap between two guys in a bar after having a few too many. There is a lot of movement, a few missed punches, and if they are lucky a decent deflected punch that lands. No one ever has to fight, nor do they ever really hit much.
Anyone else that doesn't believe it, put on just half the pads those guys wear, go stand out on some ice and see just how hard it is to throw a good punch. It is next to impossible even when you are not worried about getting hit at the same time! It is nothing like boxing, you can't get good leverage with your legs on ice unless you really work on it and that is why the tough guys keep their jobs. I used to play hockey and I could skate alright, but I can tell you I thought many times to myself how do these guys do it so well? Unless your technique is excellent with perfect balance, you will be hitting the guy with nothing more than arm punches and that will never do much damage. Once again, I repeat the biggest danger in hockey is getting hit with a puck in the wrong spot, going face first into the boards which can happen even with a legal check, and the one you don't think about, but getting cut on the neck with a skate blade. Two players almost died on the ice that I remember from getting a slashed neck. One player almost choked to death swallowing his tongue. No one I know of got clocked so bad in a fight he was participating in that even did more than broke his nose.
Anyone else that doesn't believe it, put on just half the pads those guys wear, go stand out on some ice and see just how hard it is to throw a good punch. It is next to impossible even when you are not worried about getting hit at the same time! It is nothing like boxing, you can't get good leverage with your legs on ice unless you really work on it and that is why the tough guys keep their jobs. I used to play hockey and I could skate alright, but I can tell you I thought many times to myself how do these guys do it so well? Unless your technique is excellent with perfect balance, you will be hitting the guy with nothing more than arm punches and that will never do much damage. Once again, I repeat the biggest danger in hockey is getting hit with a puck in the wrong spot, going face first into the boards which can happen even with a legal check, and the one you don't think about, but getting cut on the neck with a skate blade. Two players almost died on the ice that I remember from getting a slashed neck. One player almost choked to death swallowing his tongue. No one I know of got clocked so bad in a fight he was participating in that even did more than broke his nose.
