I had the pleasure of going to see an NHL game last weekend. It was so exciting to be part of the fan crazy - and believe me, there was tons of fan crazy! The Toronto Maple Leaf fans are known for it. And despite the rant I'm about to go on, I loved it. Every tense second. I'd jump at the chance to go to another... if only the tickets weren't so prohibitively expensive.
BUT...
The fights. Ridiculous! Gloves flying off, grown men beating on each other like schoolyard bullies... what's up with that?
No less than three major fights broke out, one even caused some blood on the ice (okay, that totally turned my on, but that's a whole 'nuther show, people).
No less than three major fights broke out, one even caused some blood on the ice (okay, that totally turned my on, but that's a whole 'nuther show, people).
What did they get? 2 minute penalties for roughing, 5 minutes for fighting or charging. Puh-lease. And they got to sit in a little box on the other side of the ice from their team mates. Hardly a deterrent.
I say - increase the penalty to no less than 10 minutes and make them sit with the other team. Ha! See if you can big boys can deal with that.
Where else is this crap allowed? You don't see Tiger beating down on Vijay. Selena doesn't jump the net and put her sister in a headlock!
It's called sportsmanship. It should be part of the rules.
Here's my other solution -- Fire the refs, let some MOMS out there. Here's how it would go down:
"What did you say to me? He started it? Really? Because that's not what I saw.... and don't you lie to me, I have eyes in the back of my damn head.
Now stop your whining and go stand in the corner.
No, not the penalty box where you can still watch the game. You stand in the corner, on your tip toes and you THINK about what you did, young man. Ten minutes. You heard me! And if you don't watch your lip, you'll be licking the soap."
Incase you're interested, Leafs beat the Flyers 5 - 4 in overtime.
6 comments:
Okay, as an ex-player and coach -- and someone who hasn't missed a home opener in ten years and is damned if she'll miss tonight's, too -- let me try to explain.
This game has a passion imbued in it. When you step on that ice, stick in hand, you play with every last fiber of your being. Even me, who only played in adult pickup leagues. The casual kind. It doesn't matter. It's hockey, and hockey is passionate.
Don't compare it to other sports. It's unique. It's a combination of testosterone, of hurt feelings, of the fact that it's a full-contact game, of how fast it is, of how hard it is to throw a punch while on skates. (Trust me!)
Fighting really is a natural extension of what goes on during a game. I can't explain it other than that.
And besides, it's better than if they kick each other with knife blades on their feet. Or if they belt each other over the head with their stick.
Bwahahaha! Love the idea of having moms take the place of the refs. :)
Wylie - welcome back to the blogosphere! I thought we'd lost you permanently to the twitterverse.
Hey SHG -- thanks for weighing in from an experienced viewpoint :)
M!!! - I couldn't stay away from the blogoshere. But I just don't have time like I used too *Pout* so twitter is a convenient and quick alternative.
Hiya TL -- yes, moms would make great refs. At least MY mother would! It would be a much cleaner game ;)
Wylie - I would SO love to see your version of the Mom Ref.
Hiya Julia :)
I would SO love to see MY mother ref a game!! There would be no nonsense, for sure, and she'd have the boards padded.
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