God loves the Toronto Maple Leafs

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Agathon
Hockey outside N America is played by effete nonces. No fighting, hardly any checking, it might as well be a girls' game.

Be nice. The Russkies play a good game. Some nice physical play.

[KrazyHorse]

Watched the Canadian juniors blank the Finns today.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

"God loves the Maple Leafs"

I think you're right

[Agathon]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Watched the Canadian juniors blank the Finns today.

Yeah, the Finns were pissed too. On their home turf and all.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
"God loves the Maple Leafs"

I think you're right

Now that's a Ted Striker moment.

[The Emperor Fabulous]

I think that's the first time I've ever even been remotely connected to Ted Striker.

[Asher]

I think you'd find most Americans would be quite upset if you were arguing making football make tackles illegal and opt for something like flag football. The same thing and talking about making Hockey more of a ***** sport.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think you'd find most Americans would be quite upset if you were arguing making football make tackles illegal and opt for something like flag football.

What a HORRIBLE analogy. Of course I expect nothing less from your Asher.

Tackling in football is akin to Checking in hockey, NOT fighting. I never called for ending Checking, just fighting... which is not allowed in football (you get kicked out of the game for that).

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
What a HORRIBLE analogy. Of course I expect nothing less from your Asher.

Tackling in football is akin to Checking in hockey, NOT fighting. I never called for ending Checking, just fighting... which is not allowed in football (you get kicked out of the game for that).

The point is not in the technicalities, but in the spirit. The spirit of hockey is a ruthless sport, and once you start making rules like no fighting it takes parts of that away into making it MORE like most American sports.

That may appeal to you, but it doesn't to me. Fighting has always been a part of hockey, and it shall remain that way as long as Canadians play it. It adds a different kind of team strategy not seen in many other sports. Take a look at Krzysztof Oliwa has done for the Flames (doens't he lead the league in penalty minutes?). The Flames haven't had an "enforcer" for years, and now that they've got one they get less **** from other teams. If there's a cheap move by another player that isn't caught by a ref (it happens ALL the time), Oliwa is there as soon as he can pounding the guy's face in. It helps keep play honest because the refs are notoriously crap.

The Americans can start their own league and prohibit fighting if they wish, but it shall never happen in the NHL.

If you want a ***** sport, watch Golf instead.

[Imran Siddiqui]

The point is not in the technicalities, but in the spirit. The spirit of hockey is a ruthless sport, and once you start making rules like no fighting it takes parts of that away into making it MORE like most American sports.

It should be more like American sports .

If hockey was REALLY ruthless, then fighting should be allowed as plays goes on. After all, they stop the game when a fight breaks out... indicating it really ain't part of the game at all. Just a freak sideshow... I guess I see where that resembles Canada .

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
It should be more like American sports .

Americans have a nasty habit of being obsessed with the most bland of sports (Baseball, Golf, etc.) Football is the only really interesting sport you guys have, although the CFL rules are definitely better because the games have more variety.

If hockey was REALLY ruthless, then fighting should be allowed as plays goes on. After all, they stop the game when a fight breaks out... indicating it really ain't part of the game at all. Just a freak sideshow... I guess I see where that resembles Canada .

Fighting is a part of hockey that requires a penalty to ensure that games don't degenerate into constant fighting. It's an important part, but it's not the only part.

(I snuck the following into the last post in a stealth edit but you responded before I was done )
Take a look at Krzysztof Oliwa has done for the Flames (doens't he lead the league in penalty minutes?). The Flames haven't had an "enforcer" for years, and now that they've got one they get less **** from other teams. If there's a cheap move by another player that isn't caught by a ref (it happens ALL the time), Oliwa is there as soon as he can pounding the guy's face in. It helps keep play honest because the refs are notoriously crap.

[reismark]

All I have to say is this: If God loves the dirty scumbags known as the Toronto Maple Leafs, then there is no God.

~reismark, who isn't a hockey fan but still remembers the Darcy Tucker incident very vividly

[Imran Siddiqui]

Americans have a nasty habit of being obsessed with the most bland of sports (Baseball, Golf, etc.)

Just because you are not familiar with the nuances and greatness of baseball doesn't mean you have to demean it .

Fighting is a part of hockey that requires a penalty to ensure that games don't degenerate into constant fighting.

So are you saying that fighting is a part of... say basketball, because there is a penalty (technical foul and player being kicked out) to ensure that the game doesn't get out of hand?

Take a look at Krzysztof Oliwa has done for the Flames (doens't he lead the league in penalty minutes?). The Flames haven't had an "enforcer" for years, and now that they've got one they get less **** from other teams. If there's a cheap move by another player that isn't caught by a ref (it happens ALL the time), Oliwa is there as soon as he can pounding the guy's face in. It helps keep play honest because the refs are notoriously crap.

Can't that be done WITHOUT fighting? Taking runs at the player that did the dirty dead, etc.

[Asher]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Just because you are not familiar with the nuances and greatness of baseball doesn't mean you have to demean it .

All of the numbers and statistics involved doesn't make it interesting. It's a terribly boring game from virtually any standpoint you look at it, which is why it's not very popular internationally. Hockey is more popular overseas than Baseball.

They're slow games, there's WAY too much standing around doing nothing, and the games are just dull.

So are you saying that fighting is a part of... say basketball, because there is a penalty (technical foul and player being kicked out) to ensure that the game doesn't get out of hand?

Being kicked out of the game? Hardly the same as a Hockey penalty. Basketball has evolved without it, Hockey has evolved with it. Fighting has always been a part of hockey, and it will remain so despite the cries of ***** Americans who prefer to bomb third-world countries rather than watch two people fight on TV.

Can't that be done WITHOUT fighting? Taking runs at the player that did the dirty dead, etc.

Couldn't you get rid of Saddam WITHOUT fighting?

[Imran Siddiqui]

It's a terribly boring game from virtually any standpoint you look at it, which is why it's not very popular internationally.

*looks at Japan and Latin America*

They're slow games, there's WAY too much standing around doing nothing, and the games are just dull.

If you consider the chess match of the pitcher/batter matchup dull... then again, I guess all you want is hitting, hitting, hitting. Strategy.. 'What's that' says Asher .

Fighting has always been a part of hockey

That doesn't mean it is best for it. The red line has always been a part of hockey, but there is serious talk of getting rid of it (for two line passes).