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SandyBeach26
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What say you fans?
The latest incident being Pittsburgh's Aaron Asham basically knocking out Washington's Jay Beagle.
Of course, the big story there, is Asham doing the "its over" and "go to sleep" gestures to the crowd afterwards.
Kudos for Asham for realizing it was not a classy thing to do, and he apologized, and sounded sincere about it.
This may sound strange coming from a female, but I DO believe there is a place for fighting in the NHL. It really does serve a purpose. And contrary to popular belief, there is generally a respect among NHL enforcers, and many unwritten and unspoken rules that they abide by when going about their business.
Hockey by its nature is a very emotional game. It's what makes it what it is. It's what helps give the league parity. Yes, I said PARITY. Name me another sport that relies on emotion so much, that even a very mediocre team can outplay, and just pummel a much more talented team, simply because they are fired up, emotional, and just want it so bad they can taste it? Sure, it happens in other sports too, but outside of hockey, it's more the exception.....in the NHL, its pretty much the rule.
And what more emotional stirring can there be than a good ol' fashioned slugfest to get players, their teams, and their fans going? Not only that, but the fighting portion and its enforcers help to regulate many of the cheap shotting, coward play, and general weasel behavior that some players in the NHL would go rampant with if there were no fighting and enforcers to make sure they stay honest. And hey, fans, its not like fighting is the ENTIRE NHL. Not like every game features fights and that's whats being promoted....but it does serve a purpose, and it is exciting for fans.
With the NHL being extra sensitive to head shots and concussions, it is understandable that fighting is now in the cross hairs, because really, you don't take many more direct shots to the head than that way. But still, enforcers know what they sign on for when they take on those roles. Many know that if it weren't for their ability to fight, they wouldn't even BE in the NHL. Though, to the NHL's credit, and player's talents, many enforcers nowadays actually CAN play the game. Gone are the days of pure goons who are basically thugs on skates (though a few remnants still remain).
Heck, if you think about it, the fact that fighters make their way on to teams suggests the NHL itself understand the necessity of these guys, and the utter chaos that would ensue should non-fighting cheap shot artists be allowed to run the show. So, it just seems a bit hypocritical to me if the NHL should pursue the removal of fighting, saying it has no place in the game. Uh huh...do that, and cowardly play by sniveling little men would rule the day. Guaranteed they steal the spotlight from the "stars" you so desperately want to give it to by removing the enforcers....
Anyways, bottom line:
I believe fighting still belongs in the NHL. Its not only a tradition, but has proven itself useful in more ways than one. It is a good thing that most enforcers do have respect for each other and the game, though regulation on the NHL's part for excessive actions resulting during and after fights most certainly is welcome.
The NHL wants their stars to be stars. Hence the many rule changes that reward more skillful play, rather than sloppy grabbing and interfering. That's fine. I am on board with that, obviously. But good enforcement by players themselves is a key component to be sure that the star players are allowed to be just that.
And back to the Aaron Asham incident: most enforcers go about their business, then march on over to the penalty box, and let the fans and their teammates exude their emotions from there. Asham didn't do that. He took things to extremes, but again, he called himself on it, and showed that enforcers can be classy and remorseful in the face of uncalled for actions.
The latest incident being Pittsburgh's Aaron Asham basically knocking out Washington's Jay Beagle.
Of course, the big story there, is Asham doing the "its over" and "go to sleep" gestures to the crowd afterwards.
Kudos for Asham for realizing it was not a classy thing to do, and he apologized, and sounded sincere about it.
This may sound strange coming from a female, but I DO believe there is a place for fighting in the NHL. It really does serve a purpose. And contrary to popular belief, there is generally a respect among NHL enforcers, and many unwritten and unspoken rules that they abide by when going about their business.
Hockey by its nature is a very emotional game. It's what makes it what it is. It's what helps give the league parity. Yes, I said PARITY. Name me another sport that relies on emotion so much, that even a very mediocre team can outplay, and just pummel a much more talented team, simply because they are fired up, emotional, and just want it so bad they can taste it? Sure, it happens in other sports too, but outside of hockey, it's more the exception.....in the NHL, its pretty much the rule.
And what more emotional stirring can there be than a good ol' fashioned slugfest to get players, their teams, and their fans going? Not only that, but the fighting portion and its enforcers help to regulate many of the cheap shotting, coward play, and general weasel behavior that some players in the NHL would go rampant with if there were no fighting and enforcers to make sure they stay honest. And hey, fans, its not like fighting is the ENTIRE NHL. Not like every game features fights and that's whats being promoted....but it does serve a purpose, and it is exciting for fans.
With the NHL being extra sensitive to head shots and concussions, it is understandable that fighting is now in the cross hairs, because really, you don't take many more direct shots to the head than that way. But still, enforcers know what they sign on for when they take on those roles. Many know that if it weren't for their ability to fight, they wouldn't even BE in the NHL. Though, to the NHL's credit, and player's talents, many enforcers nowadays actually CAN play the game. Gone are the days of pure goons who are basically thugs on skates (though a few remnants still remain).
Heck, if you think about it, the fact that fighters make their way on to teams suggests the NHL itself understand the necessity of these guys, and the utter chaos that would ensue should non-fighting cheap shot artists be allowed to run the show. So, it just seems a bit hypocritical to me if the NHL should pursue the removal of fighting, saying it has no place in the game. Uh huh...do that, and cowardly play by sniveling little men would rule the day. Guaranteed they steal the spotlight from the "stars" you so desperately want to give it to by removing the enforcers....
Anyways, bottom line:
I believe fighting still belongs in the NHL. Its not only a tradition, but has proven itself useful in more ways than one. It is a good thing that most enforcers do have respect for each other and the game, though regulation on the NHL's part for excessive actions resulting during and after fights most certainly is welcome.
The NHL wants their stars to be stars. Hence the many rule changes that reward more skillful play, rather than sloppy grabbing and interfering. That's fine. I am on board with that, obviously. But good enforcement by players themselves is a key component to be sure that the star players are allowed to be just that.
And back to the Aaron Asham incident: most enforcers go about their business, then march on over to the penalty box, and let the fans and their teammates exude their emotions from there. Asham didn't do that. He took things to extremes, but again, he called himself on it, and showed that enforcers can be classy and remorseful in the face of uncalled for actions.
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