hockey fans... in this sport, u encourage the fighting... so why do?

Question

people get so upset when someone like Simon, or Bertuzzi.. high stick or punch another player... where do u draw the line?

never claimed to be an expert... just a question... relax

Answer 1

I don't encourage fighting and I don't appreciate you assuming I do. There's a BIG difference between a fight and someone attacking you with a stick. I have no problem with the fighting, I don't like it but it's here to stay.

I have a BIG problem with a player swinging his stick like a madman because he is unhappy with what is going on in the game.

And that is where I draw the line. A punch is punch but swinging the stick in any fashion should not be allowed at all.

Answer 2

In a hockey fight, both players drop their gloves, face each other (like boxers), and "duke it out". Both parties have an equal chance. In addition, when the fight starts, the play is whistled dead by the referee. This is how hockey fights have been taking place for decades. You never heard about it on the news because it's PART OF THE GAME.

But recently, (within the last 10 or 15 years) there has been a disturbing trend where players have lost respect for one another. In addition, the NHL, the sports press, and society in general, have been frowning upon fighting in the game because it's "politically incorrect" or "the way of the barbarian". As a result, when players are discouraged from fighting, they start swinging their sticks, throwing elbows to the head, hitting from behind, and taking other cheap shots.

In Bertuzzi's case, Steve Moore was blindsided while the play was going on.

In McSorley and Simon's cases, the stick was used as a weapon, while the play was going on.

There is a huge difference between a hockey fight and what happened last week with Chris Simon.

Let me finish by saying that people who don't like/follow/care about hockey (This includes you, ESPN and NBC Nightly News) should worry about the World Poker Tour and the war in Iraq, instead of pretending to be experts on hockey only when something like the Simon/Hollweg incident happens.

Answer 3

Looking someone in the eye and dropping the gloves is totally different from sucker punching someone from behind and driving their face into the ice or smacking a player across the jaw with a stick. Don't even begin to act like they are even close to similar. Most fights are to protect star players. There is a reason why teams have enforcers. When you have a player like Ovechkin, Crosby, Gaborik, Drury, ect., other teams will throw some extra checks their way. The enforcer who is willing to drop the gloves means that if you hit our star, you will get something in return. In the case of Simon, he freaked out, plain and simple. Bertuzzi's shot on Moore was so weak. There was no reason to jump on a man's back and drill his face downward. Keeping to the hockey code is one thing. Taking cheap shots that could end careers because you're a baby is another.

Answer 4

So why did people get upset when Tyson bit off Holyfield's ear? Come on there is a difference between a cheap shot/low blow and a FIGHT. For one thing they drop the gloves and go at each other in a fight. Bertuzzi went after Moore FROM BEHIND over a BOUNTY from a PRIOR game. He wasn't even the one hit. Now if you go by Simon then that is simple. He USED THE STICK AS A WEAPON.

Answer 5

both parties are included in a good old fashion hockey fight,what simon or bertuzzi did was one sided and totally uncalled for.when the guys drop their gloves and fight they are both engaged it in and not caught off guard or blindsided.they do not go after each other with the intent to hurt or put some one out of the game.fighting sparks the team.you usually see the fighters hit the ice when one team just isn't meshing and need to be fired up or if the other team has their enforcer out there looking for a fight they then send their enforcer out.a lot of these guys are friends off the ice so they are not out to end some ones career.

Answer 6

Hockey is (almost ) the last bastion of sportsmanship. In most hockey fights it's a mutual agreement before the gloves are dropped that the 2 want to fight. In most cases the grudges are left on the ice... of course with some exceptions. To see guys give their all to win during the playoffs and to shake hands after-wards is a beautiful (and rare) thing. We don't encourage fighting but it IS part of the game. We draw the line at intent to injure. No one wants to see serious or career ending injuries.

Answer 7

Swinging a stick and throwing "sucker" punches, that's where I draw the line.

I won't mention names, but I don't think some people on Yahoo Answers draw a line at all.

Answer 8

because we just want a fight with fists; a fair fight NO STICKS OR SKATES OR CHEAPSHOTS fighting really isnt that bad the players do it becase they know the fans want it. most of the time the fighters never intend to hurt the other guy. hockey isnt all about fighting though its becoming less and less about fights and more about skills and great moves

Answer 9

We don't 'encourage' it, we know it comes with the territory in a game that is fast paced and physical. It should never end in serious harm That's when it is a problem.

Answer 10

If someone's career ends or they end up in a coma. If they are just fist fighting, then it is okay.