Why are Americans afraid of fighting in hockey?

Question

Everytime the subject is brought up, Americans almost always want it taken out of the game. They come off almost intimidated or afraid of the fact that the NHL tolerates fighting in hockey? Is it basically, "People are afraid of what they don't know or understand" type thing? I mean, they're the most violent country and group of people on the planet.

Answer 1

Most American hockey fans I have met have been more a fan of fighting in the game than most of the Canadian fans I've met (who prefer fast freewheeling hockey with lots of bone-crushing Randy Jones style hits)'

Wild Fan Spud - Derek Boogaard was a Canadian boy from Saskatchewan last time I chatted with him

Answer 2

This question is ridiculous. Your wording is just plain terrible and, frankly, incredibly offensive. Try not to pool all Americans together when you are making such outrageous claims; if there is any country out there in which people have drastically different views, the United States would have to get a huge consideration as being just that.

I am a huge hockey fan from the very 'centre' of the United States, and I love fighting. My favorite is team brawls, especially when the goalies go toe-to-toe at centre ice. This past week my woman and I thoroughly enjoyed our great seats to the Anaheim/St. Louis game, and saw three fights and one team scuffle. It was old-time hockey at its finest. I'm the type of fan who would rather see a 'Gordie Howe' hat trick instead of a 'natural' hat trick. Be careful the next time you decide to ask a question not to be so ignorant in your wording, and make sure you can back up your claims with some cold, hard, not-Wikipedia based facts.

Answer 3

Sorry, but that's not true at all. Most American and Canadian fans - true fans - know that fighting is as much a part of hockey as the body check, and don't want to see it stopped.

The NHL has tried to crack down on it before. What resulted was dirtier play. High sticks and other types of nasty situations became more common, since players didn't have to worry about tangling with the other team's enforcer. Eventually the league eased up on the fighting restrictions.

Hockey is a violent game. People are moving at high speed around a fairly small rink, carrying weapons. Tempers are going to flare, just because of the nature of the sport.

All-out brawls that occur every five minutes are unnecessary, and start to get tiresome. Fortunately, they don't occur often. But the occasional one-on-one slugfest between two players is part of the game, and a necessary part. Fans love it and always have.

Answer 4

My primary advice is to tell him the truth and try to talk it out. Make sure a lot of people see it so he can't start another one or if someone does it'll be stopped quickly. My secondary advice is to look up a map of the pressure points on the human body on the internet. This will give a list of good striking points, that even his size can't influence very strongly. It's all about technique when fighting bigger people. If you can raise your leg above your head, I would suggest going to YouTube and looking up some easy beginner kicks from TKD or Karate, maybe even some kicks from Muay Thai. You must do a lot of stretches before practicing these moves though, you can damage your body very badly if you don't. You can probably look a typical warm up on the web or YouTube as well. In the fact that you can actually raise your leg above your head, you're probably training in something that makes you physically fit already. I would suggest looking up the running front jump kick or the the high front snap kick. And try to hit him on his chin, his nose, his groin, upper back thigh, or even snap his knee with a hard kick to it's side. But that's just a really bad last resort if he get's dangerous. If you use it at the beginning of the fight it will very bad repercussions in the long run.

Answer 5

Huh??? This is one of the reasons people like hockey here. I've never really heard anyone complain about it to tell you the truth. I was a hockey player for 9 years, and fighting was just a part of the game. It wasn't encouraged, but tolerated, and the crowds always loved it.

Answer 6

Well, just like every other American I know, including myself, we love fighting. Most Americans relate hockey to fighting. I dont understand why Canadians always have something to say about Americans. Just because hockey originated from Canada, doesn't mean it cant be played in America, or any other country. Instead of saying junk about each other, we should just focus on hockey and the values of the sport.

Answer 7

Why is it that every time the subject of fighting comes up that no one has a clue why fighting exists in the game.(Historically) Fighting isn't for ratings, and it isn't for boosting your teams morale(even though it's becoming more commonplace). The original intent behind fighting was to protect the smaller, more skilled players from getting run by the opponents larger players. Ever wonder why Mcsorley always played on Gretzky's line? Because if anyone took a cheap shot at Gretz, Mcsorley was gonna beat him down. Fighting is there as a deterent of cheap shots and stick work. It allows the players to help police the game themselves.

Answer 8

fighting is a good thing now and then in hockey...if ur team is down and u need a moral boost then ok but thats not what hockey is about...hockey is about putting the puck in the net...generaly the people who fight are not that good of players...the only good fighter/players i can think of are jerome iginla and maybe zedno charra....think about it...who scores the goals???the fighters or people like sidney crosby and jaramir jagr....its not that americans hate the fights...its just that they can get out of hand and happen to often...and if u have never played hockey dont talk about people being afraid of what they dont understand....i played hockey for a long time and all that a fight did was make us go great....now were are missing a man for 5 and it messed up the lines....

Answer 9

WHAT? STOP STEREOTYPING. OK
First we "Americans" aren't against fighting. That is Liberals who think fighting is always wrong. They don't understand the sport and all they hear is there is fighting in it. Americans are fine with fighting if you go to the Northern regions where we understand the game.
Second what about your own crap. Most violent country? Based on what? Do you have statistics to back that up or is that just your B.S. claims? I'd say 10-1 it is your OPINION and you have nothing to back it up. Oh and the most violent country and "group" of people. Well which is it? Does our country go around beating people up or something? Do trees go around jumping out of the land to fall on people? I mean if it is "country" and "group of people" I guess the land itself attacks people.

Answer 10

I'm an american and I'm proud to say this...I like mindless violence. Fighting was the MAIN reason I used to pay attention to hockey. Now that they've basically taken out the fights, in addition the betting scandal that hovered over the sport for a while, I just don't see any joy in watching it anymore...BRING BACK THE FIGHTING!!!