Something I don't get about hockey...

[The_Grinder]

Ok now dont get me wrong. I love a good hockey fight. It is the best part of the game. (Or the least boring part, same thing) But what the fuck is the point sometimes? I mean, I get it, these are tough guys, but they just fight for the fuck of it. Sometimes it just seems so blatenly obvious they are doing it because no one would watch if they didn't. I saw this fight on Sportscenter and noticed something about it, so i looked it up on Youtube. Good fight and all, but watch the video at 44 seconds when they show the replay. There is no altercation, talking or anything. As soon as the game clock starts, they don't even care about the game. They are just ho-hum, ok time to fight. Like I said, the fighting can be exciting, but to me this is part of what makes hockey a joke. They'd rather fight then try and win the game.

YouTube - Laraque vs Cote Jan 24, 2008

[Shibby]

I'm sure hitman will give a better view, but I think it's part of keeping the culture.

[mindstar]

Often fights with what seems little to no provocation are the result of prior incidents either in the game or in games before. They can also be the result of shit talking in the face off. They are also a way for a player to energise his teammates who might otherwise be lagging, and so, players will sometimes pick fights. Among the tough guys in the league, it is also expected that they fight each other; i've seen players wish each other good luck before kicking the snot out of one another.

[hitmansb]

There are different reasons for fighting:

1. Sticking up for a teammate after he takes a cheapshot.
2. Sending a message to the other team if they are taking liberties in general.
3. To get your teammates fired up if they come out 'flat'.
4. To get the crowd back into it to build some momentum.
5. Two tough guys just want to see who's tougher that night.
6. To avenge something that happened in the previous game between the two teams.
7. A heat of the monment type situation that results from something that just happened on the ice.

It's a part of the game, and I'd hate to see it go. Don Cherry, Canada's most popular hockey personality, is often called a dinosaur and a barbarian by the liberal assholes...but he does know the game and what he says is true: every since the league started to discourage fighting with rule changes, there is more dirty stickwork and general cheap-shotting going on. The odds of getting hurt badly in a hockey fight are far lower than when you get high-sticked or hit from behind.

[hitmansb]

As Don Cherry like to say..."These idiots talk about how people don't want fighting in the game, but everyone is on their feet and cheering when it happens. Nobody gets up to go to the bathroom or to get a snack when a fight's going on"

[The_Grinder]

Yeah like I said, don't get me wrong, I love the hockey fights. It was just this one in particular and other ones like it, where as soon as the puck is dropped, its like, oh time to fight. But I think this one was an example of number 5.

[ROCKETW19]

sorry but fights in hocky games are gay. but it is better than gettin blasted in the back or a stick to the face like hitman said. Hockey is fun to watch in person not fun at all on TV and I could care less if they fight or not.

[The_Grinder]

Well, I wouldnt say they are gay, but it is definately getting to the point where I can't take hockey seriously because it is becoming more of a show than a sport. Starting to remind me of professional wrestling.

I mean, as soon as the fights start, the announcers turn into fight commentators. They start giving the players' fighting records. They start giving their predictions. Hell, after this one that I posted up the announcer was like, "Thats why he's the undisputed champion of the NHL." Is he a good hockey player? Who knows and who cares.

Imagine a baseball, football, or basketball team that pays multi-million dollars for a player simply because he could win a lot of fights. That is why I struggle to take hockey seriously.

[Gecko1980]

Yeah like I said, don't get me wrong, I love the hockey fights. It was just this one in particular

This one in particular was a long time coming people were hyped for it and it brought a lot of emotion into the game.. and Laraque is far from high payed on the sports scale.. Now if Crosby fought all the time and didn't play that would be a diff story.

[Bouncer]

notice the guys defending hockey are from Canada. :D

i have tried to watch it, i just dont get it or why i would want to watch it. i respect the sport and the players though.

[Gecko1980]

Haha nice..

[mindstar]

notice the guys defending hockey are from Canada. :D

i have tried to watch it, i just dont get it or why i would want to watch it. i respect the sport and the players though.

fair enough, that's how I feel about baseball.

[SonofBone]

fair enough, that's how I feel about baseball.

Baseball is a game of skill. I'm sure Hockey is as well. Baseball is boring as hell, for me, to watch on TV, but I lived and breathed it growing up. I loved nothing more than going to every practice & game.

I'm sure Hockey players feel the same way & I'm sure I would too if I'd had the opportunity to play growing up.

[Bouncer]

Baseball is a game of skill. I'm sure Hockey is as well. Baseball is boring as hell, for me, to watch on TV, but I lived and breathed it growing up. I loved nothing more than going to every practice & game.

I'm sure Hockey players feel the same way & I'm sure I would too if I'd had the opportunity to play growing up.

not sure i get your point. lol, every sport is a game of skill. i cant help but feel like you are saying that baseball players have more skill then hockey players. if that is the case, i disagree 100%. each sports has its own set of skills and each are equally challenging.

[mindstar]

I respect baseball and the players, they clearly do things that I could not. I'm just not really into watching them do stuff that I can't. A live game every once in a while is ok, but it's less about the sport at that point and more about the atmosphere for me.