Fightin' Fuss

Some of our esteemed mentors continue to poke fun at the sport of ice hockey. Some of the HoG's very own writers enjoy this to excess. They offer tired euphemisms of television ratings, non-interest from the sports world, and uninstigated unacceptable violence. If they're not making fun of the sport, they're joking that the only thing worth watching in it is the fighting itself. Moments later, they criticize it for the same reasons they just applauded.

I'm going to assume that the Detroit Red Wings will finish off the San Jose Sharks (not pictured above) tonight, which will leave me a lousy 2-2 in my conference finals predictions. Oh well. No big whoop.

What has reached a ridiculous stage of old, however, is the aforemention bashing of a game synonymous with integrity. And I offer this picture so that you may take a moment, the next time you begin to bash, to realize that this is the only major sport not played in athletic shoes. I know. Profound, huh?

Yeah. You're on ice skates. Moving much faster than any of those other guys. Therefore, when you get blasted like a catcher guarding home plate, or a receiver in the flat, or a beer-consuming fan in the stands of an NBA venue, it means more. I'm not saying the hits are less hard in those other sports. But you're moving faster in hockey when you get hit, you're frequently blind-sided or hit from behind, and more often than not, you're drilled into a wall. Thus, tempers flare, fights ensue. End of story. This is the only reason why fighting has been (and will continue to be) a factor in hockey.

Counter this argument all you want. But don't do it until you've been on skates. Don't do it until you've been knocked out of your CCMs while skating full steam toward the opposing net. Don't do it until you've had your clock cleaned, leaving your melon to thud the surface near the blue line. Or, just keep doing what you've been doing all along. That's cool. Whatever.