ENOUGH! enough. enough enough. "ENOUGH" to mothra faulking infinity, enough.
I started this blog today to compare the Chara-Pacioretty boarding to the Claude LeMieux brutalization of Kris Draper in 1996, mainly because there are such striking similarities with the location of the hit and horrific outcomes.
But I am far too pissed about the heart of the matter: unnecessary sanctioned violence in professional hockey, to address so narrow an issue.
You can debate all you want whether Chara's (likely) career ending hit on Pacioretty was unintentionally brutal, because it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if it didn't look like a particularly bad hit. There is no need to continue to sanction and permit hits in this sport, especially because the risk of injuring or maiming a player far outweighs any misanthropic benefit.
But while we are on the subject, Do you really think Chara didn't know his "innocent check" wasn't a boarding? You think he couldn't see where -on the ice- they were as he drove his shoulder in? If so, you're a bleeding idiot. Sorry. Wait. No I am not.
Enough!
When will this league realize that the strength, grace and heart of this sport has nothing to do with hits or fighting? How many careers have to end by "innocent", "acceptable" hits from thugs?
What kind of professional sports league encourages, enjoys and sanctions willful, uncontrolled violence amongst and between its players in the course of a game?
The National Hockey League. The NHL, that is who. All the more horrific and astonishing because this sport does not need that shit to be incredible, exciting, explosive. Hockey, when played at its most skilled level is the most incredible sport on the planet. And yet year after year, the NHL pays only lip service to the cries of outrage as the preventable concussions and injuries pile up over the course of each season.
And what about the fans who continue to "fight for the right to fight"? How many "unintended" concussions to brilliant, talented players will you all continue to accept, just because you like seeing a fight or a hard check? And what kind of person are you that you want to see these things? What kind of dim Neanderthal monsters are you to seek out purposeful violence amongst players? What kind of a cretin enjoys such things, knowing each one- whether brutally crushing a guy's jaw against the boards or "unintentionally" snapping a guy's vertebra against glass edge- is more likely than not to end a career?
Why is it good gamesmanship to drive a guy into the boards,or poke your stick between his skates just because you are too damn slow to keep up?
This sport does not need the violence. These players do not deserve it. As long as it goes on in the NHL, hockey will never grow to be one of the top four professional sports in the world. Baseball, Football, Basketball, NASCAR, WWF, Soccer and Poker will continue to outrank the NHL in terms of popularity and fan base.
How, Dear Messieurs Campbell and Bettman, can we make you hear us? Why do you care more about a monstrous, demented fan base that seeks violence, than the health and safety of your players?
It needs to end now. Your priorities are woefully scrambled.
A consortium of misanthropic, persistent and sometimes brilliant hockey bloggers reconnected in the crease to observe, defend and (occasionally) offend all things on ice sporting two skates and a mouthguard.
I completely agree. I am an unabashed fan of tough, physical hockey, but it's devolved into outright brutality in the name of winning. No game is worth someone's life, and the way this "finishing your checks" culture gets instilled in young kids, the only way to change the culture of the game is for today's star players to set the example on the ice.
ReplyDeletei no longer have any interest in hockey.
ReplyDeletethe nhl is a bush league.
Are we discussing violence in hockey or fighting or hits? I grew up listening to my dad tell me 'if he's not facing you, you can't lay the check.' That alone would stop most of the damage done in hockey. What happened between Chara and Pacioretty was awful. Chara is not a dirty player, but you have to punish to offense, not the man. As for removing hits and violence from hockey, I just don't see that happening. It is a noble goal, but in my opinion, hockey will always be a blend of violence and grace. The players don't seem to want the change, as noted in the lack of support for full face masks. The owners don't seem to want it, as noted by the lack of action on hits to the head, and the fans don't seem to want it, as noted by the huge roar when two players face off and drop the gloves. I do believe there is some sort of middle ground, but I'm not smart enough to find it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mike here, in that hitting will not likely be removed from the game. It's a necessary part of the game actually. Yes, there need to be changes made to protect players (glass needs to be less rigid; padding needs to be less like armour; players need to accept that hitting from behind just isn't acceptable), and these changes require the commitment of players, coaches, general managers, owners and the league.
ReplyDeleteI watched the Sportsnet "Crisis on the Ice" special the other day. Nik Kypreos and some fellow who used to play for the Rangers were discussing a fight they had back in the day - a pre-season game where both players were essntially fighting to keep a job - Kypreos near the end of his career, the other fellow just starting out. Kypreos got knocked out cold and never played another game. The other guy though, went on tell how on at least a dozen occasion during his career he had a concussion, and he told nobody. Players won't admit to it if they think it will damage their career progression.
Change needs to start much earlier too. In the minor system - when players are just learning the game. Parents need to take responsibility for how they want their kids to play. Unfortunately, a big part of hockey culture is the special treatment kids get when chosen for rep teams, and then drafted to play in Junior hockey of some kind. They are told they are special and essentially the accountability for their on-ice behaviour is relegated to "he needs to play that way to make the team". It sucks. My nephew has been invited to a couple of Junior A development camps, one year ahead of his atual eligbility, and despite how level-headed he is, I fear this could change his approach to the game. Thankfully, he's a goalie, so less susceptible to the major violence. He's already a head-case, so he's got that going for him.