Posted on 11/10/2013 9:53:16 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Flash-forward a few seasons in the NHL from now. A fight breaks out, the linesmen immediately jump in the middle and break it up, and one or both players are ejected. Later, depending on the severity, the players are either fined, suspended for one or more games, or both. And, when this all happens, it will be because of the NFL.
Thank them or blame them (I would advocate the former), but Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr have to either be having the discussion internally, or reached out and discussing this proactively. If Fehr is smart, he’ll bag the notion of arguing the issue, and Bettman will worry less about losing a long-standing element of the game and start thinking of their pocketbooks.
The NHL is not the NFL, which is to say, the NFL might be able to weather a major class-action lawsuit by its players over the matter of concussions, but the NHL likely cannot.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
How about the fights in prize fighting?
Just do away with Football and Hockey.
After playing hockey for 30 years +/- I can say, the fights are stupid and not that effective from a fighting standpoint.
Trying to throw a punch while on skates is not the best method of self defense. Not a lot of punch behind the punch in most cases.
Ejection & game suspension for fights without any appeal process might help.
Also get rid of that 4th official for 2 reasons. There are too many people on the ice anyway and most importantly we can now bring back a tune which at one time was the only song banned in an NHL rink. 3 Blind Mice.
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