Violence in Sports

[Montcalm]

Of all the sports Hockey is the one with the most senseless violence,players beating the shit out of each other for no reason at all,and the spectators cheering them while if you kick someone`s ass in the street you`ll be arrested by the cops,so do you think the hockey players or any other sports where there may be fights between players,should there be any criminal accusation against them.

EDIT: I should have been clear,wrestling boxing football and other contact sports is ok,but when like in hockey they punch another player for no reason or if they use the stick like a battleaxe then,go to jail don`t pass go and don`t collect $200.

[Lord Pounder]

I say mostly yes but it depends on the severity of the situation. Some years ago over in the English FA Premiership a french player called Eric Cantona stamped on a rival player as he lay on the ground, this same player also jumped feet first into a crowd some years later. If a player had to face the consequences of violent actions he might avoid a more serrious incident like the one Eric Cantona was involved in.

[KhyronTheBackstabber]

It's all just part of the game. Some times emotions run high, and so do tempers. I say leave the disciplinary actions in the hands of the league.

[Sir Sirius]

I have no problems with violence in sports like boxing where the main point is to kick the crap out of your opponent. If two (or more) willing adults want to step in to a ring and proceed to beat each other to pulp why should I object?

As for sports where the violence isn't (or at least shouldn't be) the main attraction, e.g. hockey, I don't much care for it. This isn't due to any moral consideration, but I simply enjoy watching hockey more when the game is played "cleanly".

[General Zod]

it depends on the sport. in football, (the american style), for example, of course there's bound to be some violence as tackles are apart of the game. as are wrestling (WWE's not really a sport, as it's scripted, but close enough), and boxing. But in sports that violence isn't really called for i don't think it needs to be present. It's not like it's an essential function of alot of sports.

[YT300000]

Violence is completely unacceptable in games. It degrades the entire concept of competition, reducing it to some pathetic outlet of anger that only moronic redneck conservatives could find amusing. It is just as disgusting as firearms.

[Master of Ossus]

Thing is, in hockey and football there's so much contact involved that it's almost impossible to stop all violence all together in the sport. Realistically, even if you imposed such tough sanctions that there was literally NO fighting in hockey or football, the players would still be out to hurt each other. In hockey, 90+% of the time when two people square up, it's two enforcers who are on the team specifically for the purpose. Hardly any of the elite players fight, and instead count on the enforcers to do it for them. Todd Bertuzzi was one of the VERY few superstars that actually fought his own battles. Not even the big, strong stars like Rob Blake are usually seen with their gloves off.

That being said, there's a surprising amount of violence in almost any sport. Even baseball has a ridiculous amount of violence that goes completely unpunished by the league, and in that respect it's MUCH worse than in hockey, where teams that consistently fight are sanctioned and players who subvert the rules to fight or attack opponents face very stiff penalties. As a case in point, when Roger Clemens threw at Mike Piazza he was hardly punished AT ALL by the league. He was given a slap on the wrist. Baseball apologists jumped in to say it was part of the game, and the incident disappeared from the public radar.

Clemens throwing at Piazza was an incident involving a superstar trying to injure another superstar. By contrast, when Todd Bertuzzi recently threw a punch at Steve Moore (a role-player) he was given the toughest sanction that the NHL has ever given out. When Owen Nolan punched out a role player, he was similarly suspended for 11 games--an eternity in the hockey world. When Ty Domi knocked out Niedermeyer he was suspended for the duration of the playoffs. Hockey is one of the VERY few sports out there that, when faced with a violent incident, actually goes out of its way to punish the perps, even if it means a reduction in ticket sales. When you compare that to sports like Basketball, Baseball, and Football, hockey's disciplinary proceedings are fair and very strict.

While I agree that there should be reduced violence in all sports, to single out football or hockey for their disciplinary "problems" is to totally ignore equally violent, and often unpunished or unreported incidents of violence in other sports.

[YT300000]

Violence is completely unacceptable in games. It degrades the entire concept of competition, reducing it to some pathetic outlet of anger that only moronic redneck conservatives could find amusing. It is just as disgusting as firearms.

You all DO know that I'm kidding, right? April Fools and all.

That said, I think violence is okay, as long as it's not too extreme (Bertuzzi). Because then it reduces the number of people playing the sport.

[General Zod]

Thing is, in hockey and football there's so much contact involved that it's almost impossible to stop all violence all together in the sport. Realistically, even if you imposed such tough sanctions that there was literally NO fighting in hockey or football, the players would still be out to hurt each other. In hockey, 90+% of the time when two people square up, it's two enforcers who are on the team specifically for the purpose. Hardly any of the elite players fight, and instead count on the enforcers to do it for them. Todd Bertuzzi was one of the VERY few superstars that actually fought his own battles. Not even the big, strong stars like Rob Blake are usually seen with their gloves off.

That being said, there's a surprising amount of violence in almost any sport. Even baseball has a ridiculous amount of violence that goes completely unpunished by the league, and in that respect it's MUCH worse than in hockey, where teams that consistently fight are sanctioned and players who subvert the rules to fight or attack opponents face very stiff penalties. As a case in point, when Roger Clemens threw at Mike Piazza he was hardly punished AT ALL by the league. He was given a slap on the wrist. Baseball apologists jumped in to say it was part of the game, and the incident disappeared from the public radar.

Clemens throwing at Piazza was an incident involving a superstar trying to injure another superstar. By contrast, when Todd Bertuzzi recently threw a punch at Steve Moore (a role-player) he was given the toughest sanction that the NHL has ever given out. When Owen Nolan punched out a role player, he was similarly suspended for 11 games--an eternity in the hockey world. When Ty Domi knocked out Niedermeyer he was suspended for the duration of the playoffs. Hockey is one of the VERY few sports out there that, when faced with a violent incident, actually goes out of its way to punish the perps, even if it means a reduction in ticket sales. When you compare that to sports like Basketball, Baseball, and Football, hockey's disciplinary proceedings are fair and very strict.

While I agree that there should be reduced violence in all sports, to single out football or hockey for their disciplinary "problems" is to totally ignore equally violent, and often unpunished or unreported incidents of violence in other sports.

wasn't trying to single those out, they were just the best examples that came to mind. i definitely agree that some violence is necessary due to the nature of the sports in question, but going out of your way to curb-stomp some athlete when there is no need isn't called for.

[Lord Pounder]

it depends on the sport. in football, (the american style), for example, of course there's bound to be some violence as tackles are apart of the game. as are wrestling (WWE's not really a sport, as it's scripted, but close enough), and boxing. But in sports that violence isn't really called for i don't think it needs to be present. It's not like it's an essential function of alot of sports.

Not to be splitting hairs but WWE is not scripted. The only thing pre-determined is the result. The whole match is ad-libbed in the ring.

[General Zod]

it depends on the sport. in football, (the american style), for example, of course there's bound to be some violence as tackles are apart of the game. as are wrestling (WWE's not really a sport, as it's scripted, but close enough), and boxing. But in sports that violence isn't really called for i don't think it needs to be present. It's not like it's an essential function of alot of sports.

Not to be splitting hairs but WWE is not scripted. The only thing pre-determined is the result. The whole match is ad-libbed in the ring.

i meant pre-determined when i said scripted. shoulda been more clear when i said that.