GrandAmGT.com Forum - Ban Fights in the NHL

GrandAmGT.com Forum (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/index.php)

- Sports Talk (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36)

- - Ban Fights in the NHL (http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=67593)

Ban Fights in the NHL

Quote:

http://www.thestar.com/images/assets/205541_3.JPG
MARK BLINCH/REUTERS
Toronto Maple Leafs' Wade Belak (left) and New Jersey Devils' Cam Janssen fight during the first period of their NHL hockey game in Toronto last week. Commissioner Gary Bettman says fighting has a place in the NHL game.

Hockey fans cool to fight ban

April 04, 2007
Alexander Panetta
canadian press

OTTAWA – Many Canadian hockey fans might be just about angry enough to drop the gloves if the National Hockey League bans fighting, suggests a new poll.

The Decima survey found that a huge majority of people who call themselves avid fans – a whopping 76 per cent – oppose eliminating fights from NHL games.

Senior league officials have begun examining the possibility, but Decima's CEO says the idea is a non-starter among loyal fans.

"The issue of what to do about fighting in hockey is really not that controversial among hard-core fans of the game," said Bruce Anderson.

"The more you like and follow hockey, the more content you are with the way in which fighting is currently regulated."

Twenty-four per cent of Canadians are self-described avid hockey fans, 28 per cent say they're occasional fans, and 47 per cent express no interest in the game, Decima said.

Barely one-fifth of avid fans – 22 per cent – said they would support a total ban on fighting.

Those who follow the game occasionally are split more evenly, with 43 per cent saying they would support a ban and 52 per cent saying they would oppose it.

Only respondents who said they don't follow hockey expressed support for a ban, by a margin of 52 per cent to 30.

Anderson warned that the NHL shouldn't conclude from the numbers that eliminating fighting is the solution to expanding the league's fan base.

He said the numbers offer no such evidence – it's simply possible that people unfamiliar with the game are not even aware that rules to limit fighting and completely prohibit bench-clearing brawls already exist.

"The NHL needs to look at these numbers and understand the difference between fan opinion and public opinion," Anderson said.

"Fan opinion is decidedly of the view that current regulations are working well enough. . . And even though it's easy to find outrage over certain incidents from time to time, even public opinion is divided among those people who don't pay much attention to the game."

The poll was conducted last week, just after NHL vice president Colin Campbell said he was willing to discuss a ban on fisticuffs.

"No one is saying we should get rid of fighting," Campbell told Hockey Night in Canada. "I'm just saying we should ask the question, because before everyone was afraid to ask the question.

"We have a competition committee that will discuss this, and at the end of the day they will make a recommendation to the board of governors."

The poll also found that:

– Supporters of the Conservative party were nine percentage points more likely to support fighting than Liberals.

– Francophones were eight per cent more supportive of a fighting ban than anglophones.

– Younger people (aged 18 to 24) say they enjoy fighting 15 percentage points more than people aged over 55.

– Men are 15 per cent more likely than women to oppose a ban.

– Alberta is the province most opposed to a ban.

The Decima poll of 1,000 Canadians was conducted between March 30 and April 2, and has a 3.1 per cent margin of error.

:thumbsdow

Thats the best part about hockey...IMO if they ban it, they are basically throwing in the towel for the leauge.

this was that guy who reviews the dirty hits and what not only. Gary Bettman (sp?) already came out and said in an interview that this was not possible, and would not be a good idea for the most part.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrandAmGT1996 (Post 874172)

Thats the best part about hockey...IMO if they ban it, they are basically throwing in the towel for the leauge.

If they stop fights....ratings and everything are gonna drop....Your right

Its about time... no professional sport should include fighting... its just poor sportsmanship...

Quote:

Originally Posted by drumking1721

If they stop fights....ratings and everything are gonna drop....Your right

Yeah, they dont get near the amount of TV time they used to get now, imagine how little [if any] they would get without fights? NHL is turning into the NCL, no contact leauge.

that would never happen, it would never get approved

screw that, i would be so pissed if they did that. For god sakes its hockey, dont turn it into basketball. With the new rules they have already started to let less and less go, pretty soon checking will be a roughing penalty.

Yea i mean....its part of the game if you think about it....itd be like baseball without steroids!

their not going too, bettman even said that their not even considering it. As far as contact goes, I understand what their doing with the dirty hits; when they had the amount of unnecessary injuries as they had this season something probably should be done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirage85 (Post 874184)

Its about time... no professional sport should include fighting... its just poor sportsmanship...

If you think fighting in hockey is nothing but poor sportsmanship than you are obviously clueless and have lost all privileges of having your opinion mean ****.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kse73 (Post 874199)

If you think fighting in hockey is nothing but poor sportsmanship than you are obviously clueless and have lost all privileges of having your opinion mean ****.

Yeah ok... and judging by your statement its obvious you've never played a a real sport in your life... :asshat

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirage85 (Post 874203)

Yeah ok... and judging by your statement its obvious you've never played a a real sport in your life... :asshat

and judging by your statement its obvious you've never played a real sport like hockey :asshat

the guys respect each other after fights in hockey, they realize its part of the game. its different than other sports

"Only respondents who said they don't follow hockey expressed support for a ban, by a margin of 52 per cent to 30."

God I hate this. In every aspect of life. You don't even follow the damn game....keep your fockin' noses out of it.

This same thing goes for smoking too. In California (twice now), and now in Colorado, and I'm sure all over the country.... The people vote to increase taxes on cigarettes. Damnit, people who don't smoke don't have any right to raise the prices on something that has nothing to do with them.

--end rant

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleepwalkr (Post 874215)

"
God I hate this. In every aspect of life. You don't even follow the damn game....keep your fockin' noses out of it.

I love this statement. I agree that the dirty hits and stuff like that need to be called, but they are getting whistle happy on some hooks and trips that dont need to be called.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirage85 (Post 874203)

Yeah ok... and judging by your statement its obvious you've never played a a real sport in your life... :asshat

I've played hockey all my life. If you think hockey isn't a real sport, my previous statement stands even stronger now. :asshat

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrandAmGT1996 (Post 874187)

Yeah, they dont get near the amount of TV time they used to get now, imagine how little [if any] they would get without fights? NHL is turning into the NCL, no contact leauge.

They don't get any airtime because they sold their TV contract rights to stupid ass OLN. Which, a majority of US Markets don't carry unless you buy an upgraded cable/dish package.

When I found this out after the NHL returned last year, I couldn't believe it. Coming off a PR nightmare with the lockout, they then return to their fans by putting the league games on a channel most can't get or need to pay to get. Completely, and utterly, a stupid ass idea. Betteman should be kicked in the ass for making that deal.

They need to void that deal, and get back on ESPN/ABC ASAP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grreen99GT (Post 874206)

Hockey is the only organized sport where they allow fighting.... Not counting fighting sports of course, but those are different.

I watch hockey, but never played, however, I have played football and baseball my whole life. There is is no need for fighting in these sports. It is poor sportmanship and that is my opinion, whether you agree or not is your opinion.

You don't see the little kids out there taking off their gloves and going to town on each other... its not allowed at their level of play, and it certainly shouldnt be allowed in the NHL.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kse73 (Post 874277)

I've played hockey all my life. If you think hockey isn't a real sport, my previous statement stands even stronger now. :asshat

I never said hockey isnt a real sport, perhaps you need stop trying to flash around your internet penis and grow up alittle. :amraam:

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMRAAM4 (Post 874288)

Another thing I have found is that since the strike, alot of people have lost interest and respect for the the NHL.