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NHL Considers Banning Fights—Are They Nuts?
by Puckcentral.net on 03/16/09 at 12:25 PM ET | View all posts by Puckcentral.net
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There has been a lot of talk over the past few months about removing fighting from hockey. Let’s be honest, there are a few in the media who continuously bring this up at every opportunity that they can get. Unfortunately this season there have been two incidents in particular (the tragic death of Don Sanderson the result of a fight in the OHA and shortly thereafter a fight in the AHL that resulted in Garrett Klotz being taken off of the ice on a stretcher). This was fodder for the anti-fighting proponents in the media and in the NHL. Ever since it seems like you can’t go to TSN.ca without having to read an article that is anti-fighting or listening to a Versus/NBC telecast where one commentator completely rips a part the idea of fighting in hockey.
Despite what some might like you to believe—for example TSN continues to have headlines on their main page that would have you thinking that most fans want to get fighting out of the game. For example, a headline a few weeks back that indicated that “Majority Want Fighting Eliminated!”—However, when you read the article you see that the survey was conducted not just of hockey fans but amongst the general population of Canada. In fact the article even specified “68 per cent of NHL fans who follow the NHL closely say the gloves should continue to drop.” How can you run an article on the front of your website with such a misleading title? Why would anyone care what a typical Canadian thinks of fighting in hockey? Wouldn’t it seem obvious that the people who actually watch hockey, pay for season tickets, pay for individual games, pay for NHL apparel would be the one’s whose opinion would count? If 68% of NHL Fans are in favor if fighting—why is this even an issue?
Did you watch the Adam Graves retirement ceremony a few weeks ago? Among the guests at center ice for the duration of the ceremony were Darren Langdon and Tie Domi, two resident tough guys during their years in the NHL. Langdon and Domi got cheers just as loud (if not louder) as the cheers for Messier, Leetch and Richter. Sounds like the fans hate fighting, huh?
The clear majority of NHL fans are in favor of keeping fighting in the game because they know that it has its place in the game. There are so many reasons why fighting should not be considered a removable element of hockey - but the main reason is it sells! If 68% of Fox viewers said that they enjoyed watching ‘The 5:oo News’ would they consider removing it from their station?
Every day we turn on the news and hear about the economic crisis that we are having. We hear how NHL teams are having problems selling tickets. How the NHL is not happy with their TV ratings. Yet, continuously on a Sunday afternoon we have to listen to Pierre Maguire of NBC complain about fighting in the NHL (I never thought I’d say this, but thank you Mike Milbury for being an adamant supporter on NBC for fighting to remain part of hockey). Complain about an aspect of the game that the majority of the fans enjoy. Pierre should be the first to know (since he’s in attendance at a lot of games) that only one thing gets fans out of their seats as fast as a goal for the home team ---and it’s a fight!
Filed in: NHL Talk | KK Members Blog | Permalink
Tags: Fighting, Fights, NBC, NHL, Orr,
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Good article. First of all, Bettman and his cronies would (and they have!) vehemently deny wanting to get rid of hockey. You see, they would never institute a direct rule that removes fighting from the game (e.g. automatic game misconduct for fighting). However, they’ve actively proposing new rules for next year to “control” fighting. What’s very bothersome about this is 1) they went above the NHLPA’s head and said that they do not need their approval to clarify an existing rule (i.e. the misconduct); and 2) they’re putting more power in the hands of the referees in handing out misconducts. So while Bettman and Campbell would deny wanting to eliminate fighting, they’ve knocked (and are knocking) out the foundation of hockey fights brick by brick.
As for media outlets like TSN and media mouths like Damian Cox, their agenda is quite clear. The article you refer to was a huge embarrassment for TSN. How can a legitimate outlet claim that “the majority” want fighting out of the game without specifying who the majority are? Good for you for actually reading the entire article as the details become quite clear toward the very end of the story. You and I and everyone who has followed hockey knows that it is a niche sport. Ted Leonsis himself has said this. It’s a very polarizing sport as well… most sports fans either like it or don’t. So it truly is insignifcant if the majority of Canadians like or dislike fighting in hockey as they non-fans aren’t going to watch anyways. One thing is clear though (and you pointed this out), the overwhelming majority of hockey fans enjoy the fisticuffs and would prefer to see the game remain as it is. Bettman and Collie won’t get this through their thick heads… the fans are happy with the game as it is. Even I was skeptical about some of the new rules. But now leave the game alone. Leave fighting alone.
Posted by siggy on 04/29/09 at 10:39 AM ET