OT: Jourdan Lewis commenting on fighting in hockey

Submitted by Dennis on
Jourdan Lewis recently tweeted Check out @JourdanJD’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/JourdanJD/status/950430102172655617?s=09 about fighting in hockey, implying that fighting is only allowed in hockey because it's a predominantly white-athlete sport... regardless of how incorrect his assumptions are, what are your thoughts on fighting in hockey? IMO, enforcers are essential to slowing the game down and preventing nasty injuries. If you come at Gretzky, Semenko is gonna beat your ass!
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clarkiefromcanada

January 8th, 2018 at 11:07 PM ^

I don't think this is accurate. A generation ago fighting was far more prevalent and every team had a legit enforcer. Not a guy who could play hockey a bit and fight effectively like Probert, Kocur, Domi or McSorley but legit badass tough guys. Hell, the 70s Flyers won a cup with that philosophy.

As a Canadian, and a guy who's played hockey and had some fights I would never want to see it taken out of the game. Sometimes a guy crosses the line and you have to go. The game polices itself. You see the counter to this in the more recent World Juniors where the game devolves to nothing more than cheap stick work, uncalled slashing and a bunch of shoving/cheap shots on every whistle. Sad.

 

Joined: 11/20/2008

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Blau

January 8th, 2018 at 8:26 PM ^

Most hockey fights I've seen usually dwindle down to 1-on-1 fights... on ice skates with referees within 5 feet once a lull has been reached. When I've watched fights break out in NFL games it usually turns into an all out brawl (multiple players, sideline clearing) and players throwing sucker punches or even helmets. I think fighting should be a last resort and quite honestly should be fined to the fullest extant to prevent it but it's much easier to control as a whole minus the Avs vs Red Wing games of 20 years ago.

Joined: 01/23/2014

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The Fugitive

January 8th, 2018 at 7:25 PM ^

Is he implying that there should be fighting in football? Because that would be a terrible idea. Their brains and bodies go thru enough trauma as it is. Taylor Lewan wants fighting in football so that should tell you all you need to know about ol door blocker.

Joined: 01/26/2016

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DenverRob

January 8th, 2018 at 7:26 PM ^

You said enforcers are essential to slowing the game down and preventing nasty injuries...

That might be the worst point ever.

First, why slow the game down? 

Second, nasty injuries from/to enforcers happen all the time.

My opinion is to eliminate fighting. This will get more quality players and less goons. Clearing up roster spots and making an almost olympic level of speed and creativity on the ice.

I find people getting excited about fighting in hockey ridiculous.

This is my favorite sport in the world and still play to this day. The time has come for a change.

 

Joined: 08/05/2010

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Dennis

January 8th, 2018 at 7:31 PM ^

My take is on the following basis: most folks cite CTE as the main reason to eliminate fighting, yet few recorded concussions were the result of fights... Most come from high speed collisions into the boards, and larger players crashing into scorers in order to injure them and remove em from the game. Tie Domi would beg to differ with you... And he's the sole reason I started watching hockey.

Joined: 10/08/2017

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Wolverinefan84

January 8th, 2018 at 7:44 PM ^

If you look at the % of enforcers that are worse off in the brain because of their role compared to other members of a team, I'm sure you're correct. But I think the person you replied to was just saying that the majority of bad head injuries come from non-fighting incidents, like open ice collisions or big hits into the boards. And without the enforcers in the sport, isn't it logical to believe that those more dangerous hits would increase significantly?

Joined: 04/05/2011

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Wolverinefan84

January 8th, 2018 at 7:40 PM ^

Less than 5% of concussions in the NHL are due to fighting. You're really arguing to make hockey safer, yet the first thing you say is "why slow the game down?"? The speed of the game is causing the major injuries, not fighting. Equipment innovations are allowing players to go so much faster causing much bigger collisions. I'm not advocating for slowing the game down at all, but one thing enforcers do offer is hindrance to players purposefully taking out the stars.

Joined: 04/05/2011

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Free Beer And …

January 9th, 2018 at 1:53 AM ^

Everyone in the league including the players want to keep fights in the game dude. Guys who fight are mainly there to protect guys like Crosby, Stamkos, Matthews, ect. Your quality players wont be protected. Literally Every disagrees with you and if the players want it why take it away? Its about the players not you

Joined: 04/25/2016

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Ghost of Fritz…

January 9th, 2018 at 8:58 AM ^

explain all of the other hickey leagues around the world.  They do not tolerate fighting the way the NHL does.

Please explain why fighting is not tolerated on other U.S. pro team sport leagues.

If fighting can be motly eliminated from other hockey leagues and from other U.S. pro leagues, it can be eliminted from the NHL, right?

They have reducced it.  But they really have not taken steps to eliminate from the NHL.  If they really wanted to, they could do it.

Joined: 10/04/2014

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Ghost of Fritz…

January 9th, 2018 at 7:14 AM ^

Jordan's point has nothing to do with whether fighting exists in a given team sport. 

His point is about how society perceives the phenomenon of fighting in different team sports. 

Does he have a point?   Debatable.  But you should debate his point, and not some other point that he isn't even talking about. 

Joined: 10/04/2014

MGoPoints: 23880

uferfan

January 8th, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^

These crazy guys can't stop fighting. I mean have you ever watched bowling, curling, darts, beach volleyball, yachting, polo, swimming, frisbee, snowboarding, skiing or horseshoes? I mean, all those idiots ever want to do is throw down....

Joined: 02/04/2015

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MGoStretch

January 8th, 2018 at 9:59 PM ^

You ever been to a quidditch match? I'm always having to yell, "quit dropping your gloves to fight and hold your brooms instead, the snitch isn't going to catch itself!".

Joined: 03/20/2015

MGoPoints: 8630

GRBluefan

January 8th, 2018 at 7:43 PM ^

Hockey needs enforcers to protect Gretzky. Come at him and get beat up. But then shouldn’t football need enforcers the protect Brady? Your point makes no sense, much like fighting in hockey.

Joined: 02/13/2009

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Rico

January 8th, 2018 at 9:10 PM ^

with elbow pads and what not inhibiting your swing takes some of the power out of a punch, something to consider. News flash, hockey and football are different sports. Different athletes, gameplay, and rules.

You see, hitting (checking) in hockey is OPTIONAL to stop players. In football, hitting is NECESSARY to stop the ball-carriers progress. You didn't need to check Gretzky into the boards, yeah you could legally do it, but with a retaliatory body check or a fight hanging over your head, you had better think twice.

Of course then there are dirty hits, and when that happens in football, you DO often see players protect their own - that is when fights usually occur, with discipline handed out by the league (same thing happens in the NHL with post-dirty hit brawls with penalties/fines/suspensions).

Joined: 03/06/2017

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