Let's watch hockey fights

[Gentle Giant]

Better than watching hockey games.

Bruins go into the Ranger stands

Wensink challenges the North Stars bench

[patricia]

GG I'm a bit of a hockey fiend and I think, for contrast, you might want to check out my post on the NHL thread about an early hockey fight in 1927 between players from the Montreal Maroons and the New York Rangers.
The difference between then and what we see now is chalk and cheese.

Larry and Mone' and the other fiends on that thread will tell you that I am totally against fighting in hockey, although I do understand the motivation of the players.
What distresses me is that some who don't understand how beautiful fightless hockey is to watch quite often think that the fighting is hockey.
These days it seems so sometimes.
But, good, pure hockey is comparable, at least to me, to chess, for it's mathematical, complicated moves, or ballet for it's beauty.

But, that's just me, perhaps.

[Weizen]

Excellent! let's watch the Islanders & Flyers in '78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhcom...elated&search=

[Enforcer]

Probert-Domi round 1. Domi celebrating the win with the "championship belt" gesture after the fight.

Probert-Domi round 2. Probert reclaims the belt and Yzerman and the rest of the Red Wings bench mock Domi in return.

[Gentle Giant]

GG I'm a bit of a hockey fiend and I think, for contrast, you might want to check out my post on the NHL thread about an early hockey fight in 1927 between players from the Montreal Maroons and the New York Rangers.
The difference between then and what we see now is chalk and cheese.

Larry and Mone' and the other fiends on that thread will tell you that I am totally against fighting in hockey, although I do understand the motivation of the players.
What distresses me is that some who don't understand how beautiful fightless hockey is to watch quite often think that the fighting is hockey.
These days it seems so sometimes.
But, good, pure hockey is comparable, at least to me, to chess, for it's mathematical, complicated moves, or ballet for it's beauty.

But, that's just me, perhaps.

I was a Bruins fan as a kid but when they traded my favorite player, Phil Esposito, away I lost interest. In those days I didn't like the fighting at all. If I wanted to see people killing each other I could watch the Three Stooges. I wanted to see people scoring goals, not hitting each other.

Then several years ago I was in a mall and there was a sports memorabilia store I went into. They were playing a tape of classic Bruins hockey fights and I was oddly fascinated by them. There's something quite comical about hockey fights. First of all, you're doing it on a slippery surface, which is why they hang on to each other with one hand while punching with the other. Otherwise, the physics of the situation would push both fighters apart with each punch. Then there's the inevitable striptease; as with female strippers, it starts with the gloves coming off. Then the shirt. I think the end of Slap Shop is rather insightful when Michael Ontkean goes out onto the ice where a ll the other players are locked in mortal combat and strips down to his jock. It's all the same thing, really.

And nothing's funnier than when the goalies fight each other. It's kind of like the Monty Python skit where they torture people with soft cushions.

There's also a bit of honor among the fighters. You don't see any kicking or tripping or smashing of heads into the ice, no sticks, no skates, just bare knuckles.

That said, I prefer tough guys who can play the game, like Cam Neely over idiot goons.

[Enforcer]

If you guys should ever get the urge to spend entirely too much time watching and discussing hockey fights and hockey fighters, you could visit www.hockeyfights.com. I hear it's a great resource for the hockey fight fan. Of course, I wouldn't know, because I don't spend my day chatting and arguing about stuff like that. And I'm certainly not a registered user there. It's not like I have hundreds of hockey fight downloads I've saved over the years. And I most definitely haven't made it my homepage.

Just so we're clear.

[patricia]

GG and Larry, of course I understand.
But, remember, both of you know the game of hockey, unlike some people who are disappointed if there are no fights in a game they are watching.
They don't know how hockey is meant to be played. They don't understand the tremendous teamwork involved with all the players either.
I suspect that the need to protect a "brother" is at the root of almost all the retaliatory pushing and shoving and punching.
But the game itself is such a fast, beautiful example of teamwork and stategy that I am never disappointed if nobody gets to fightin'.
But, I must admit that there is something weird about two players flailing at each other on skates, on ice, in cumbersome gear.
That said, there are still terrible injuries that can result and being afraid that my guys will be the victim of a terrible, life-changing injury always makes me apprehensive.

[Gentle Giant]

"I'm listening to the !@#$% song!" (Slap Shot)

[jesus marion joseph]

Stan Jonathan was always good for a bloody interlude or two.

[Enforcer]

Hahaha. We could do Slapshot quotes for days.

"Tiger" Williams vs. Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. Schultz holds his nose as he skates off the ice, basically saying Toronto "stinks." Hehehehehe.

[BayviewSax]

Better than watching hockey games.

Bruins go into the Ranger stands

Wensink challenges the North Stars bench

Aw, man! Thanks for posting that! Two of my favorite childhood moments and I still freak out talking about them every time! Jonathan was a little brother to Taz, and when that idiot grabbed Jonathan's stick and started hitting him, Taz when positively fucking apeshit! One of the few times McNabb didn't act like a total pussy, too. I'm absolutely giddy just watching it.

Another great one was in the playoffs against the Islanders. After Terry got his ass handed to him multiple times by Clark Gilles (a rare happening back then but Gilles was Larry Robinson tough), both had gotten 10-minute misconducts. A huge fight broke out and Secord (still my favorite Bruin) squared off with classic goon Gordy Lane. He beat his ass and Gordy hit the ice. Secord backed off (because tradition dictates the linesmen pile in at that point) and nothing happened. He looked over his shoulder and saw the ref and linesmen all tied up with the rest of the scrum. He got on top of Lane just like Wensink does in the video you posted, and beat him into a bowl of oatmeal. It was awesome!!! Gordy missed the next game trying to remember who or what he was, and Secord got an immediate suspension. Sadly, the Islanders took the series (friggin' Trottier).

Incidentally, in that Rangers' game you posted, Espo left the ice just a few seconds before that. He was pissed (maybe about the Davidson incident) and smashed his stick on the glass and stormed off the ice before the game was finished.

[Enforcer]

One of the few times McNabb didn't act like a total pussy, too.

Just in case his assault on the fans at MSG wasn't enough, he's brutalized hockey audiences everywhere from the broadcast booth since he retired.

[patricia]

And we're off!!!
Holy Man, are the Preds' jerseys UGLY. Yellow is SO difficult to wear.

First PP for the Flames just seconds into the game. Looked like a strange penalty for the Preds, but we'll take it.

A couple of chances for Iggy, but no score.
I see Godard is in the lineup tonight. Makes me wonder who is up for some pummelling.

[BayviewSax]

Just found the Secord video. At the time, WBZ had footage that focused on Secord on the 11PM news. Let's just say he earned that suspension. Any clues on what he's up to these days?

Islanders vs. Bruins 1980

[Enforcer]

Just found the Secord video. At the time, WBZ had footage that focused on Secord on the 11PM news. Let's just say he earned that suspension. Any clues on what he's up to these days?

Islanders vs. Bruins 1980

He has a kid at MSU, Ryan. I'm not positive about this, but I think he became a pilot. Been a long time since I've heard anything about him.

[Enforcer]

Yep, he did indeed earn his pilot's license.

Secord The Pilot: Secord earned a pilot's license during his playing days, and after his retirement he became licensed to fly commuter jets in both the United States and Canada. After working as commercial pilot for United Express during the mid-1990s, he moved to the Dallas area and began work for American Airlines in 1998. Secord specialized in flying a Fokker 100, 79-seat aircraft on commuter flights. His second wife, Tracy, also worked as a pilot for American Airlines, and the two met during their job training.

[Gentle Giant]

Just found the Secord video. At the time, WBZ had footage that focused on Secord on the 11PM news. Let's just say he earned that suspension. Any clues on what he's up to these days?

Islanders vs. Bruins 1980

Cashman did pretty well for an old man!

[GoodSpeak]

Ice Boxing/Hockey enjoys the same draw as NASCAR: Everybody wants to see the crashes and ensuing mayhem.

And all this time I thought hockey was all about putting the puck in the net, you know, to score a point and, uh...win. Apparently, it is all about who slugs who and how many punches a player can throw relative to how much blood he can draw.



Pssssh.



Who knew?

[patricia]

Not so, Tim, in hockey as I like to see it played.
Hockey is about teamwork and strategy and very complicated, beautiful to watch plays.
But, unfortunately, there are so many people who don't understand what the game is, or how skillfully it can be played, are only interested in the fights, which are, in NO way a part of classic hockey skills.

But, you're right. The NASCAR crowd don't care about the beauty of the game well-played, or the skills and finesse involved in really exciting hockey.
Apparently, they would rather pay good money to see what they could see for free, if they hang around a low class, rowdy bar at closing.
Stupid, but, what do I know?? I'm just a Canadian.

[GoodSpeak]

Not so, Tim, in hockey as I like to see it played.
Hockey is about teamwork and strategy and very complicated, beautiful to watch plays.
But, unfortunately, there are so many people who don't understand what the game is, or how skillfully it can be played, are only interested in the fights, which are, in NO way a part of classic hockey skills.

Hm.


That's not what the local Fresno Falcons fans tell me.....


Besides, what do all the sportscasts show whenever they report on a hockey match?

[patricia]

Hm.


That's not what the local Fresno Falcons fans tell me.....


Besides, what do all the sportscasts show whenever they report on a hockey match?

Do you mean that the Fresno Falcons fans like to see fights? Or do they want to see hockey played?

If you watch the games between the original six up to expansion, yes, there were fights.
But they were not usually shown on television, or talked about, admiringly by the commentators.
I'm not saying there were no fights.
But, that was not what fans expected to see and they resented the time taken up by them when they did happen.
I say again.
Hockey is not about fighting.
It's about hockey.
I hate to pull rank but my three brothers all played hockey up to the junior level and players who got into fights were not just penalized.
They were thrown out of the game and sometimes off the team.
But, I guess if the public, who doesn't know from hockey, or care to study the object of the game, wants fights, that's what they will be given.
Sad really, because I know good hockey when I see it played.

[GoodSpeak]

Do you mean that the Fresno Falcons fans like to see fights? Or do they want to see hockey played?

Fights....hands down.


My Canadian colleague [Vancouver, British Columbia] will concur.

If you watch the games between the original six up to expansion, yes, there were fights.
But they were not usually shown on television, or talked about, admiringly by the commentators.
I'm not saying there were no fights.
But, that was not what fans expected to see and they resented the time taken up by them when they did happen.
I say again.
Hockey is not about fighting.
It's about hockey.
I hate to pull rank but my three brothers all played hockey up to the junior level and players who got into fights were not just penalized.
They were thrown out of the game and sometimes off the team.
But, I guess if the public, who doesn't know from hockey, or care to study the object of the game, wants fights, that's what they will be given.
Sad really, because I know good hockey when I see it played.

Hockey is not about fighting any more than NASCAR is about auto accidents....the fan draw, however, is.


That was my point, Patricia.


It is what we are force-fed on the highlight reels night after night after endless night on ESPN, FOXSportsNet and on any local, national or cable sportscast you care to name.


Tell me I'm wrong.

[patricia]

I'm not saying you're wrong, Tim.
What I'm saying is that hockey is a beautiful sport to play and to watch being played.
I have been around hockey since I was a little kid and I have always understood the game itself.
It has a lot of aggression that is part of the game.
Even playing classic hockey is not for the faint of heart.
But, the expectation of a fight, more at home between drunks at a bar, is not what hockey is.
It saddens me that those who are too lazy to demand hockey when they pay good bucks to see hockey are as much to blame for what hockey has devolved into are as the players who fight are to blame.

Same thing with basketball and soccer.
The game should be the thing.
I'm a lonely voice crying in the wilderness, unfortunately.

[GoodSpeak]

I never seriously claimed otherwise, Patricia.



Sarcasm is not a point of reference....it is simply, a point.











Methinks thou dost protest too much.

[patricia]

I know Tim. It just burns my buttocks when people who don't understand how hockey is supposed to be played think that it's about thugism.
It's not.
Good hockey is a thing of beauty and I wish I could see more of that.
I still follow the game but despair at the way that the NASCAR crowd encourage the fights by treating them like an alley brawl and behaving like the ring of drunks that gather around one.

Rant over. I love my hockey.

Sometimes I think that it comes close to being a characature of what it was meant to be.
If you can find it, check out the Goofy short, Hockey Homicide. It was made decades ago as a spoof.
Now it seems like a cartoon version of some of the games that people who think they like hockey would like.

[BayviewSax]

Uuuuuhhh.... this thread is entitled, "Let's watch hockey fights"

I've watched and played for many years, and appreciate Adam Oates, Jean Ratelle, Rick Middleton, Butch Goring and later Stan Makita as much as I appreciate Taz, Clark Gillies, Secord, and young Stan Makita. It *is* a huge part of the game (how much, I think you can only truly appreciate if you've played) and an equally huge part of the strategy.

Is it any coincidence that the style of play turns so much more chippy in the playoffs? Either way, the title should serve as a disclaimer. Now go to YouTube and type in "P.J. Stock"!

[Enforcer]

I almost posted some Stock fights! Heck, I'll post my favorite.

[GoodSpeak]

I know Tim. It just burns my buttocks when people who don't understand how hockey is supposed to be played think that it's about thugism.
It's not.
Good hockey is a thing of beauty and I wish I could see more of that.
I still follow the game but despair at the way that the NASCAR crowd encourage the fights by treating them like an alley brawl and behaving like the ring of drunks that gather around one.

Rant over. I love my hockey.

Sometimes I think that it comes close to being a characature of what it was meant to be.
If you can find it, check out the Goofy short, Hockey Homicide. It was made decades ago as a spoof.
Now it seems like a cartoon version of some of the games that people who think they like hockey would like.

Fair enough.

I'll be dead honest with you, Patricia...the only hockey I enjoy watching is college hockey.


No fights.

[BayviewSax]

I almost posted some Stock fights! Heck, I'll post my favorite.

DAMNIT! I wish we'd kept him!

[GoodSpeak]

I almost posted some Stock fights! Heck, I'll post my favorite.

Have I made my point yet?