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nhl to ko boxing?

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jimotis4heisman

jimotis4heisman

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http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/195289
NHL to K.O. fighting?

Colin Campbell: Time to address scary violence
Mar 23, 2007 04:30 AM
Pierre LeBrun
Canadian Press

It's time to look at the issue of fighting in the NHL, says the league's disciplinarian.
"I think it's time to ask the question," says Colin Campbell. "I think you have to ask the question because of what's happening out there. It's incumbent on me, because of my position, to ask the question."
The latest evidence in the case against fighting was Todd Fedoruk being stretchered off the ice Wednesday night.
Campbell is no namby-pamby. He used to drop the gloves in his day as an NHL player.
But the NHL's director of hockey operations worries about what could happen today.
"I'm not afraid now to talk about the fact that we should look at fighting in hockey," said Campbell. "I think if you discussed this even three or four years ago you would have got pooh-poohed out of the game.
"But now I think because of the size of our players, where we're at in sports and in life, I think we have to look at it."
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what few casual hockey fans are left would stop watching hockey altogether if they outlawed fighting. (note that i said casual fans) this guy is probably right, but with the state of the NHL right now I highly doubt the league will change anything.
 
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fourteenandoh;792861; said:
what few casual hockey fans are left would stop watching hockey altogether if they outlawed fighting. (note that i said casual fans) this guy is probably right, but with the state of the NHL right now I highly doubt the league will change anything.
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I disagree. There is no doubt that the fighting does attract a percentage of the current casual NHL fans. But I think it keeps away an even greater amount sports fans than it attracts and is one of the reasons hockey is still a niche sport. I am a hockey who can't stand to watch the NHL because of the muggings and "enforcer" players that can barely skate. Until the NHL does something I'll continue to say no thank you to the NHL and stick with Olympic and NCAA hockey.
 
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DaytonBuck;1403926; said:
Getting rid of fighting, moving to an Olympic size rink and adding no touch icing would make this the sport of kings
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Correct.

The old timers running the NHL fail to realize fighting is one of the reasons the NHL remains a notch below other mainstream sports. That, and the neutral zone trap. Sure, it appeals to hard core fans but it limits the target audience. I watch hockey in spite of fighting, not because of it.

The Olympic rink, with the larger neutral zone and more room behind the nets, allows the players to show their hockey skills. NHL players don't fight in the Olympics because the penalties are too harsh, and the game is much better with more speed and less buffoonery. The NHL could implement those changes tomorrow, and they might be able to get a real TV contract.
 
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Jake;1403997; said:
The Olympic rink, with the larger neutral zone and more room behind the nets, allows the players to show their hockey skills. NHL players don't fight in the Olympics because the penalties are too harsh, and the game is much better with more speed and less buffoonery. The NHL could implement those changes tomorrow, and they might be able to get a real TV contract.
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myth. olympic (euro sized) ice does not actually increase the scoring areas. the game is actually less exciting, less physical and more boring... its even more like soccer.

they dont fight in the olympics because 1-no one wants to get hurt, 2-its the highest skill level in the world for the medal rounds. and its a complete myth that harsher penalties for fighting decrease the fights, have you ever seen a euro game? filled with hacks, cheap shots etc...

tv contract? heck i like having versus. having a network that plays 4 or so games a week is better than a weekly hockey night on espn 2... and they dont have a sunday game everyweek on nbc?
 
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