55fan 5,133 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 This is a product of the training-wheels-on-the-tricycle generation. When I was a kid, you got on the bike and spilled until you learned to ride. You scraped you knees, licked some spit on them to get rid of the blood and got back on the bike. It was part of being a kid. Now you wear pads and have mommy standing by with the anti-bacterial spray and bandages. There are many risks that are a part of life. You can't eliminate them all. Sure, things like seatbelts are a good idea. They save lives. You can still drive your car, but you're safer. This is like taking the car out of the picture. The guys have equipment to make the game safer, but there is no promise that they won't get banged up. They know this. If they want to make the game safer, make players accountable for their actions. Get rid of the instigater rule, and keep the game honest. Or tape pillows to their heads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Fans love fights, anyone who has gone to a game where a fight broke out should understand that. It's often the most excited the crowd gets in any given game. It's also what use to make the Wings Avs game a must watch. Again for me it is the whole package, those games had some of the hardest hits, best fights, best players, great goaltending, out and out hatred for each other, coaches going at it, and more often than not whomever won the playoff round out of the two hoisted the cup. I love a good fight, when I lived in Maine and saw the Lewiston Maineiacs play they would clear the benches almost every night. It was exciting it was fun, but most importantly is was done because some one took a cheapshot. It wasn't a fight for the sake of fighting. Much like what you referenced above. But like I said in my response about Mac, fighting is great but not the only reason for hockey being exciting. Were the fights the only reason that the Avs Wings a must watch, really, just the fighting? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
esteef 2,679 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Again for me it is the whole package, those games had some of the hardest hits, best fights, best players, great goaltending, out and out hatred for each other, coaches going at it, and more often than not whomever won the playoff round out of the two hoisted the cup. I love a good fight, when I lived in Maine and saw the Lewiston Maineiacs play they would clear the benches almost every night. It was exciting it was fun, but most importantly is was done because some one took a cheapshot. It wasn't a fight for the sake of fighting. Much like what you referenced above. But like I said in my response about Mac, fighting is great but not the only reason for hockey being exciting. Were the fights the only reason that the Avs Wings a must watch, really, just the fighting? Fighting isn't the only ingredient for excitement in hockey yes, but it is an important one nonetheless. Why do you think everyone was pissed when Avery was suspended before the Flames game? Because they KNEW there would've been a fight and everyone wanted to see it. Not because the of the play on the ice or good goaltending. Fights attract viewers. esteef Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DatsMyWings13 4 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Again for me it is the whole package, those games had some of the hardest hits, best fights, best players, great goaltending, out and out hatred for each other, coaches going at it, and more often than not whomever won the playoff round out of the two hoisted the cup. I love a good fight, when I lived in Maine and saw the Lewiston Maineiacs play they would clear the benches almost every night. It was exciting it was fun, but most importantly is was done because some one took a cheapshot. It wasn't a fight for the sake of fighting. Much like what you referenced above. But like I said in my response about Mac, fighting is great but not the only reason for hockey being exciting. Were the fights the only reason that the Avs Wings a must watch, really, just the fighting? Not for every fan but those that didn't normally watch hockey the thought of a possible team vs team brawl sucked them in. I live out here in Colorado and there were people that didn't watch a hockey game all year except for the four times a year these teams squared off. Why would that be? The possibility that a melee might break out had a LOT to do with that! But then there will always be fans like me and you that will watch hockey regardless of the rule changes. Like I said earlier part of the reason I got sucked in to hockey was watching Probert pound someones face in and then only have to serve a few minutes in the penalty box and then he was right back out there on the ice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Just so you know, I wholeheartedly hate the instigator rule!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DatsMyWings13 4 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 Just so you know, I wholeheartedly hate the instigator rule!!! You and me both! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
commadore183 103 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 As others have said before me, if fighting is banned, you are going to see more cheapshots, not only by the goons, but by everyone retaliating to a cheapshot, as it would be the only way to make the goon pay if he doesn't get penalized for it. You would see more players swinging their sticks at others, or more elbows to the head, or more boardings, etc, as the team's enforcer would not be able to do its job without getting severely punished by getting ejected or whatnot, so if they are going to get ejected, they might as well make it worth while and knock the goon out. I hope it doesn't happen, but I'm afraid this might happen if fighting is banned and the goons run wild without tough officiating. Just my opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opie 308 Report post Posted January 23, 2009 (edited) As others have said before me, if fighting is banned, you are going to see more cheapshots, not only by the goons, but by everyone retaliating to a cheapshot, as it would be the only way to make the goon pay if he doesn't get penalized for it. You would see more players swinging their sticks at others, or more elbows to the head, or more boardings, etc, as the team's enforcer would not be able to do its job without getting severely punished by getting ejected or whatnot, so if they are going to get ejected, they might as well make it worth while and knock the goon out. I hope it doesn't happen, but I'm afraid this might happen if fighting is banned and the goons run wild without tough officiating. Just my opinion. And a well worded opinion at that. I may not be the biggest fight fan on these boards, but my distaste for it comes from the Goons. I love watching Lucic skate around the ice, the plays he makes, his fighting his whole style of play really. But to piggy back off of you point and some one else's; Boulerice is bad for the game, the players, and the league, as the game stands today. You remove the instigator and let him try his s*** then. The reason that a Probie fight was great is there was something to it, either from that game or the last game, but some one did something they shouldn't have and Probie let them know. How many times did Probie drop gloves with some one for no reason. Even the Kocur fight, IMO, was to show Kocur that he was still the man! But I agree you remove fighting and teams that are outmatched on the ice will start to do what they can to win. Lets say that last years Flyers with no fighting in the game, they goon their way to the cup with 1 good line, and a bunch of goons. cheapshotting and dirty hits galore. Possible but not probable. BTW Enforcer/Fighter does not = goon! Edited January 23, 2009 by Opie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest micah Report post Posted January 23, 2009 The majority of Bob Probert's fights were not in retaliation for a cheapshot, the majority were "hey big guy, you wanna go?" type fights. Same for Joey Kocur. Same for Stu Grimson or Darren MacCarty or any other wings enforcer you can name. That said - I don't think that there is ANYTHING wrong with two tough guys having a scrap for no apparent reason - it's a very important part of their job. What good is the tough guy that seldom fights? He doesn't make a name for himself, nobody if afraid of him and he doesn't serve as any sort of deterant. If an enforcer is going to detur rough stuff (and I think a good enforcer can - though not to the extent that some pro-fighting types believe they can), he has to be a good fighter and a willing, fearless fighter. The only way to be a good fighter is to fight alot. The only way to prove that you are a willing, fearless fighter is to fight alot. - sometimes because your captain got sticked, and other times just to keep your claws sharp and your badboy rep alive. There's nothing wrong with that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vangvace 12 Report post Posted January 24, 2009 Jim Kelley's article on fighting... ...forward thinking GM's huh? Amazingly, it sounds like Kenny leans toward no fighting or being ejected from the game for fighting. hyperreaction to an unfortunate death imo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vangvace 12 Report post Posted January 24, 2009 As others have said before me, if fighting is banned, you are going to see more cheapshots, not only by the goons, but by everyone retaliating to a cheapshot, as it would be the only way to make the goon pay if he doesn't get penalized for it. You would see more players swinging their sticks at others, or more elbows to the head, or more boardings, etc, as the team's enforcer would not be able to do its job without getting severely punished by getting ejected or whatnot, so if they are going to get ejected, they might as well make it worth while and knock the goon out. I hope it doesn't happen, but I'm afraid this might happen if fighting is banned and the goons run wild without tough officiating. Just my opinion. This I already see happening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted January 24, 2009 uh-oh Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
