Suspension Restarts Debate on Violence in NHL

FoxNews.com ^ | 3/12/04 | AP

[Texas Federalist]

TORONTO

[Texas Federalist]

This is stupid. The fighting instigator rule is the reason why people like McSorely and Bertuzzi have resorted to means other than fighting to resolve their differences. Players generally do not sustain serious injuries during fights, but often do when others resort to using slashing, high sticks, and slew footing, techniques far more likely to cause injury, to settle a score with an opponent.

[AreaMan]

Hockey without fighting is like a day without sunshine.

[Texas Federalist]

Barry Melrose had the best take on this:

Those who know hockey understand that a line was crossed and that what Bertuzzi did is should never be part of the game. They are likely the same group that will use this as another argument for abolishing the instigator rule -- which gives an extra minor penalty to the player who starts a fight -- and letting the players police themselves by exacting retribution before situations like this arise.

Others will be calling for an end to fighting and a move to European rules, but they likely don't watch a lot of overseas hockey. If they did, they'd see that the European game is the dirtiest in the world. Players over there engage in all kinds of stickwork -- slashing, spearing, high-sticking -- and the physical play involves kicking and the like. There is no accountability or retribution, so a dirty player can run rampant all game long without having to face justice. . . .

Many people who don't truly understand the game are talking right now, but they are exactly the group who should not be saying anything. The NHL is dealing with one terrible incident and will survive. Let's just hope Steve Moore's career survives.

[Alberta's Child]

Anyone who uses this incident to support a ban on fighting doesn't know a damn thing about hockey and shouldn't be taken seriously. As you pointed out, the most serious injuries in hockey have occurred as a result of things other than fights.

In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of a case in which a player involved in a fight was ever assessed a match penalty for intent to injure.

[Charles Henrickson]

"These comments are for Steve. I had no intention of hurting you."

Yeah, right. That's why you sucker-punched him from behind and jumped on his back and shoved his face into the ice.

"I feel awful for what transpired."

Notice how the coward can't even say, "I feel awful for what I did." Now it's just something that "transpired."

[CatoRenasci]

Well, I don't know a damned thing about hockey, and I couldn't care less whether the players fight among themselves, maim each other or even kill each other. I vote with my feet by not watching professional hockey at all. I'd simply have some cops review vidoetapes of each game and apply the normal criminal laws to those who commit the crimes of assault, battery, etc.

[Texas Federalist]

Well, I don't know a damned thing about hockey, and I couldn't care less whether the players fight among themselves, maim each other or even kill each other. I vote with my feet by not watching professional hockey at all. I'd simply have some cops review vidoetapes of each game and apply the normal criminal laws to those who commit the crimes of assault, battery, etc.

Sure, let's do the same thing for football and basketball too. Illegal elbow to the face, two shot foul and probation. That's the dumbest idea I've ewver heard. It's obvious you don't "know a damed thing" about any sports.

[Texas Federalist]

Bertuzzi is a chicken s--t. I can't wait until he plays his first game in Colorado after his suspension. This will surpass the old Colorado/Detroit rivalry. Payback is hell.

[Alberta's Child]

This case may very well turn out to be the most compelling reason why law enforcement can't get involved in incidents of this sort at professional sporting events.

Marty McSorley was run through the criminal justice system for his attack on Donald Brashear a couple of years ago. Both the McSorley and Bertuzzi incidents occurred in Vancouver, and yet the Vancouver police have already started dropping hints about why the Bertuzzi case is "different" -- ("McSorley used a weapon (his stick)," etc.).

What they are actually doing is glossing over the real reason why they are reluctant to prosecute Bertuzzi -- Bertuzzi plays for the Vancouver Canucks, while McSorley played for the opposing team.

[CatoRenasci]

Sure, let's do the same thing for football and basketball too.

Works for me! Few sports, perhaps only boxing, wrestling, fencing, and the martial arts necessarily involve trying to injure one's opponent. And, even in those sports, precautions are taken to contain the violence, and the rules prohibit gratuitous violence. I've been actively involved in sports since I was a kid, ranging from baseball and football, to cycling, to tennis, riding, sailing, fencing, rock climbing and more. The football we played in high school was tough, but clean, our coach wouldn't have it any other way.

[Desdemona]

Bertuzzi has knocked enough people out for the season, this year alone, that it should not have taken this incident to suspend him.

That being said, bring back the bench clearing brawl. With it, the players were much more respectful on the ice.

And while we're at it, can they do something about the ice? It's like watching the game in slow motion. And don't give me the weather outside the building excuse. The ice was fine until all the new buildings were built. The weather hasn't changed.

[Desdemona]

The cross check from behind that injured Mario Lemieux certainly wasn't from a brawl and plagued him the rest of his career.

[cherry]

I like hockey, but don't watch much of it..until the playoffs, and then I am a big Devils fan.....

that attack on Moore was a very cheap shot from behind and I wouldn't be surprised if the most damage was done by the piling on of several players after Moore hit the ice...

there is no place for that kind of attack...

but a face to face fight?...what is wrong with that?...if it gets the aggression out and solves at least temporarily rage and anger issues, then why not?

the way they crush each other against the glass, no wonder people get very hot....

sometimes in our efforts to be civilized, we try to eliminate the one thing that may just make men behave better overall.....a simple fist fight in the open with onlookers .....

[Alberta's Child]

The ice was fine as long as the NHL wasn't playing in places like Texas, California, and Florida.

Back in the 1980s, the NHL players consistently ranked the arenas in Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Minneapolis and Quebec City as the ones with the best ice surfaces in the league.

New York's Madison Square Garden is always ranked at the bottom of that list.

[petercooper]

The NHL has violence?

Hannity has a book out?

Kerry was in Vietnam??

HOLY S....

[HamiltonJay]

Why is Hockey some super exception to fighting? Fighting is not permitted in other professional sports. What is so special about average to short white men on skates that makes this sport some sort of exception? Sorry, not buying it.

[marshmallow]

Should law enforcement ever get involved in violent sporting assaults?

Let's say Moore dies. What's that? A long suspension and a hefty fine? How about a guy getting his neck broken and ending up paralysed? Still no call for the cops?

Just curious to find out if there is any line in the sand, or should I say ice, beyond which, it's OK to involve law enforcement. Or is any mayhem beyond criminal procedings provided one is wearing a uniform, skates and carrying a stick?

[B Knotts]

I was against them prosecuting McSorley as well. But, you have to admit that whacking a guy across the neck with a stick is a little different.

[Dante3]

Let's not forget the violence in boxing, including biting ears off. Boxing is all about knocking someone senseless. I bet more are killed and brain damaged by boxing than any other sport.

Then there is the NFL. Much of the violenc is off the field, directed at women, including pregnant ones. NBA has had cases of sexual assault on children that have led to hardly a slap on the wrist.

[judgeandjury]

The fighting instigator rule is the reason why people like McSorely and Bertuzzi have resorted to means other than fighting to resolve their differences

Many Americans are sitting in prison cells right now because of how they chose to resolve their differences with other people.