Comments on: Tarnishing the Sport http://eternallyoptimistic.com/2008/03/24/tarnishing-the-sport/ Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:51:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Ian B, Calgary, AB http://eternallyoptimistic.com/2008/03/24/tarnishing-the-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-352 Ian B, Calgary, AB Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:56:14 +0000 http://eternaloptimist.wordpress.com/?p=259#comment-352 Even more than the mere fight was the man encouraging Jonathan Roy to go for it- yes the coach of his team is a certain Patrick Roy, winner of 4 Stanley Cups and certain Hall of Famer. Oh, and the father of young Jonathan. Who says that the era of the pushy parent is going away? Even more than the mere fight was the man encouraging Jonathan Roy to go for it- yes the coach of his team is a certain Patrick Roy, winner of 4 Stanley Cups and certain Hall of Famer. Oh, and the father of young Jonathan. Who says that the era of the pushy parent is going away?

]]> By: Paul http://eternallyoptimistic.com/2008/03/24/tarnishing-the-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-351 Paul Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:30:06 +0000 http://eternaloptimist.wordpress.com/?p=259#comment-351 Pam, I agree completely, but we have very different views of what are the appropriate 'rules of engagement' for hockey. Ban it, and attract fans through speed & skill, rather than fists & brawn. Fighting is encouraged at the highest levels, but we are shocked when we see it in lower levels (played by those who would sell their souls to be at the top level). What a surprise. paul p.s. for context, I play twice a week with a mix of kids and Dads. So I know of whence I speak wrt the highest levels :-) Pam, I agree completely, but we have very different views of what are the appropriate ‘rules of engagement’ for hockey. Ban it, and attract fans through speed & skill, rather than fists & brawn.

Fighting is encouraged at the highest levels, but we are shocked when we see it in lower levels (played by those who would sell their souls to be at the top level). What a surprise.

paul

p.s. for context, I play twice a week with a mix of kids and Dads. So I know of whence I speak wrt the highest levels :-)

]]> By: Paul C. Bryan http://eternallyoptimistic.com/2008/03/24/tarnishing-the-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-350 Paul C. Bryan Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:14:18 +0000 http://eternaloptimist.wordpress.com/?p=259#comment-350 When I saw this clip on the news, I was appauled. These days, given my TV-generation-desensitization it takes quite a bit to cause such a reaction in me. I then tried to answer my 3-year-old's question, "Why is that man hitting that other man, Daddy?" I had no answer, other than "the man in red isn't a nice man." I can't believe that Roy's allowed to continue to play, without repercussion. As far as I'm concerned, that's not hockey, that's criminal action. It wasn't a fight, it was an unprovoked, savage attack. If that happened anywhere else than the rink, he'd be up against criminal charges. For some reason, wearing goalie pads immunizes him... When I saw this clip on the news, I was appauled. These days, given my TV-generation-desensitization it takes quite a bit to cause such a reaction in me. I then tried to answer my 3-year-old’s question, “Why is that man hitting that other man, Daddy?” I had no answer, other than “the man in red isn’t a nice man.”

I can’t believe that Roy’s allowed to continue to play, without repercussion. As far as I’m concerned, that’s not hockey, that’s criminal action. It wasn’t a fight, it was an unprovoked, savage attack. If that happened anywhere else than the rink, he’d be up against criminal charges. For some reason, wearing goalie pads immunizes him…

]]> By: Pamela http://eternallyoptimistic.com/2008/03/24/tarnishing-the-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Pamela Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:56:59 +0000 http://eternaloptimist.wordpress.com/?p=259#comment-349 I see things very differently Paul. I believe that rules of engagement are the the only thing that keep us from being savages. Anyone can kill each other - we've been doing that forever and will continue forever - however, if we can try as a society, to set boundaries that acknowledge our violent heritage but apply social pressure in cases where the soldier (or the hockey player) no longer performs a job, but instead revels in bloodlust, I believe we can at least try to bring some sense of self-awareness to it all. I see things very differently Paul. I believe that rules of engagement are the the only thing that keep us from being savages. Anyone can kill each other – we’ve been doing that forever and will continue forever – however, if we can try as a society, to set boundaries that acknowledge our violent heritage but apply social pressure in cases where the soldier (or the hockey player) no longer performs a job, but instead revels in bloodlust, I believe we can at least try to bring some sense of self-awareness to it all.

]]> By: Paul http://eternallyoptimistic.com/2008/03/24/tarnishing-the-sport/comment-page-1/#comment-348 Paul Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:29:06 +0000 http://eternaloptimist.wordpress.com/?p=259#comment-348 Yes, and killing is part of war. It's only when soldiers kill each other in 'mean' ways that we think war's glorious image is tarnished. It is fighting that tarnishes hockey. But the powers that be have deemed this to be an acceptable trade-off for the eye balls it attracts (in some parts of the world, fights are the only clips that get shown on TV). I expect that Junior Roy has just helped his long term career by demonstrating 'heart' & 'gumption'. paul Yes, and killing is part of war. It’s only when soldiers kill each other in ‘mean’ ways that we think war’s glorious image is tarnished.

It is fighting that tarnishes hockey. But the powers that be have deemed this to be an acceptable trade-off for the eye balls it attracts (in some parts of the world, fights are the only clips that get shown on TV).

I expect that Junior Roy has just helped his long term career by demonstrating ‘heart’ & ‘gumption’.

paul

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