It's a sport that calls for numerous skill sets. Finesse, strength and agility are abilities that must be used at the right time. While smarts and heart must be ever present. It's a sport I appreciate for the level of freedom involved, coupled with the ridged in game tactics used by coaches. Maybe it's because of it similarity to soccer why I appreciate the sport so much. Soccer requires similar skills and tactics but the beautiful game doesn't feature a fight. Not fight in spirit but actual, fisticuffs.
Yes, hockey, the coolest game on earth reminds me of soccer, that's what I thought when I went to my first Leafs game as a kid. It grew on me; I even had the old school NHL video games on my Sega Genesis and my sister got me a pair Wayne Gretzky sneakers with 99 on the side. Now, at the time I never set foot on ice or even thought about slapping a puck, it was the furthest thing from my mind. At that young age, when my culture steered me in the path of track, soccer, basketball or tennis, I could appreciate the sport.
But what never stuck was, fighting, I never got it, yeah, it pulls crowds and the goons would intimidate susceptible players on opposing teams, which is all good and well. But I could never see why there was something to settle when they already had the stick and puck for that purpose. Yeah things would get a little rough and I know that's a little euphemism but that's in every sport. There aspects to every game that will be rough and rugged, some more so than others, ah, for example football. I know some may draw on the violence from the grid iron for a compelling argument against me. I understand, but think about it, these dudes, consciously take off their gloves like Victorian gentlemen and go to battle like some type of family heirloom was defiled. As to say, "You sir, thou are belligerent you're your words and neither I nor my ancestors shall be befouled by your verbal slaughter, I challenge you to a duel." No, this can't be acceptable in my opinion, fighting in sports is archaic and below our intelligence. I do admit sometimes you do feel like you want to knock a guy out, but rising above this is what separate the greats from everyone else. Yes, we will all fight when we are pushed to the brink but why allow it to be legal in a sport. I find sports are a tool to help us grow as human beings; we learn discipline, dedication and how to dig through trenches of life when it's thrust upon us.
So on the opening night of the NHL season when the Montreal Canadians' enforcer George Parros started battle with Toronto Maple Leafs enforcer Colton Orrthe crowd roared in excitement. But soon after there was silence, the 6'5' winger went tumbling down and hit the ice face first and was knocked out cold. Two grown men fighting, if this was on the street this would be assault. This resulted in Parros suffering a concussion and narrowly escaping serious injury. This is totally absurd to me, what will it take for this to stop and for the NHL to bring change? Are people so addicted to violence that the staple at a hockey game is a fight? Tsk, tsk, tsk, this is shame and the NHL needs to move past this ideal, whether it be traditional grounds or financial, there has to be something done.
Saskatchewan's very own Derrick Bogard died at 28 recovering from a concussion after an accidental drug and alcohol overdose. However a posthumous examination of Bogards brain showed that he had suffered fromchronic traumatic encephalopathymore advanced than that seen in some former enforcers who had died in middle age. Sad but true, this aspect of the game should be frowned upon and ridiculed for the mere idea it represents. There is too much talent in hockey to waste time knuckling up, I only fear something drastic has to happen on the ice before a change will come as the NHL seems to be holding firm on letting fighting remain in the game. This is not merely a reaction to what happened at the season opener, more of an identifier just highlighting an incident. This has been going on for years and many hockey players have suffered for years, the idea of the enforcer can be changed. It can be limited to checking and other intimidation tactics. Every team sport has some type of enforcers; in basketball is Shaq who imposed his will on other players. In football it was Ray Lewis who made QBs audible until the clock ran out and sent fear in hearts of RBs because he match their skill and speed defensively. Soccer had France's Patrick Vieira who went toe to toe with skillful players reading their every move pouncing at the right moment and showed his offensive prowess when it was required. The game of hockey is the same and doesn't require fighting to justify an enforcer. Let's get it out.
