Fights in Professional Sports?

[CDN_Merlin]

This happens every year in Hockey. Lots of players getting injured because of fighting. Should it be banned from professional sports?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[CUDA]

I like how the NBA handles it. you leave the bench suspension.

baseball on the other hand act like a bunch of third graders. they should suspend anyone that was not on field at the time of the incident. there is no need for them to come in from the center field dugout. hell they couldn't run that fast to participate if they tried. those fights only last a few seconds

[Foil]

Banned how?

...By the federal government?
...By the league?
...By some other sporting governing body?

I like how the NBA handles it. you leave the bench suspension.

Agreed.

[callmeslick]

I like the way college hockey handles it........out for the game, and out for next. Repeat offenders can potentially get season suspensions, I think, but can't remember that one ever coming down.

[Heretic]

Back in the day it was called unsportsmanlike conduct. Get into many fights you were off the team.

[Top Gun]

I don't think it has a place in most sports, but it's part of the fabric of hockey, and I love me a good fight there.

[callmeslick]

it's only part of the 'fabric' of professional hockey.

[callmeslick]

fights would, perhaps, add something to Polo.

[CUDA]

and rhythmic gymnastics..... with cooking oil

[CDN_Merlin]

To me there is to much potential for serious injury. And who wants to end someone's career because of a fight? Crosby almost ended his career because someone thought elbowing him in the head was what hockey is about.

[Top Gun]

I was personally fine with that, because Crosby is a total ★■◆●.

[DoTheGeek]

Of course they should. They're the only thing worth watching.

[callmeslick]

the Crosby example is interesting........actually, old-school fighting may have prevented that, because the person who threw an elbow at Sid the Kid would have been likely hospitalized by the team goon within 5 minutes of play, and when those are the unwritten rules, folks think twice about cheap hits.

[CDN_Merlin]

I see the point of the old school ways. I'm just not a violence type of person and it's very hard for me to sit and watch as people continue to get severely injured because some guy wants to get the ans in the game.

These people are paid millions a year and there job is to play hockey and not fight. If all you want to do is fight and show off that part of you, join MMA or boxing.

[Heretic]

I see the point of the old school ways. I'm just not a violence type of person and it's very hard for me to sit and watch as people continue to get severely injured because some guy wants to get the ans in the game.

These people are paid millions a year and there job is to play hockey and not fight. If all you want to do is fight and show off that part of you, join MMA or boxing.

Actually they higher some just because they like to fight they call them enforcers

[snoopy]

I voted no. I'm also a big hockey fan.

I'm curious what you guys think of the Kessel approach in the pre season?

[CDN_Merlin]

I didn't see it but from what I read it was uncalled for. I really don't believe that fighting has any business in professional sports unless that sports main function is fighting.

[callmeslick]

by the way, Merlin, as a Canadian, you surely must realize that the bulk of the danger in ice hockey is not the fights but the nature of the game. Folks are skating at full speed, swinging wooden sticks and careening into wooden side boards, metal goal posts and the ice itself. The game is a concussion or fracture waiting to happen, and always has been. Heck, when I was in college, I went to school with a fellow(Bob Miller) who was the last player in the NHL to resist wearing a helmet. For years before, NO ONE wore a helmet. Damn, goalies didn't start wearing facial protection until in 1960s.....think about that. Fighting can be curtailed, but you still have yourself a violent sport there.

[CDN_Merlin]

I understand that point. That is part of the game. But fighting is not.

[snoopy]

I didn't see it but from what I read it was uncalled for. I really don't believe that fighting has any business in professional sports unless that sports main function is fighting.

Go watch it... it's on youtube. My first reaction was "that's about what I'd do." He may have gone a bit far, but he let the guy know in no uncertain terms that he didn't want a fight.

If I was in the NHL... I wouldn't be interested in fighting anyone, but you sure can believe that I'd be looking to line people up for a big hit.

[Isaac]

If medical tech got better, football would be between two armed forces that try to move a ticking time bomb to the enemy end zone.