Bettman Defends Fighting: Say it ain't so!

[KiddYidd]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey...port-1.3688029


Also, Hockeyfights.com gets a mention and an off the cuff remark by the writer.



Fighting has diminished somewhat in recent years -- 0.44 per game this season, compared to 0.64 in 2003-04, according to the website hockeyfights.com, which meanwhile serves to glorify that aspect of the game. And a study by the Sports Analytics Institute concluded that fighting has "no effect on winning."

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

"Pucks to the head probably cause more concussions," Bettman said, "but I don't think anybody's advocating going to foam-rubber pucks."

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I like Gary Bettman more than Brendan Shanahan now.

[ovechkinFTW]

Originally Posted by BROKEN*ORBITAL

I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I like Gary Bettman more than Brendan Shanahan now.

Keep in mind, this asshole is a bussinessman. I have no doubt he knows the uproar everyone would go into if he advocated against fighting.

[BobNystromOwnsU]

He's always been pro-fighting. He knows taking it out of the game equals:

Less dollars.

[nyrgoal]

Originally Posted by ovechkinFTW

Keep in mind, this asshole is a bussinessman. I have no doubt he knows the uproar everyone would go into if he advocated against fighting.

If he really was totally against fighting then he couldve just said listen we are in discussions and doing everything we can to work on players safety and avoided the whole situation. But he chose to defend it. Business man or not, the way he defended it actually made me actually respect him a little and its good to see him actually standing up for the sport instead of just dodging questions like that. (which can be so easily done)


Plus less face it, what grown man doesnt like to see a couple guys duke it out every once and a while, especially in a game where emotions are running high and the fighting is somewhat controllable. Even the dam reporters who bash fighting all the time cant honestly say they dont like to watch a scrap in a heated hockey game. Everything is about money and the NHL makes money from fighting, look how many people bought Boogy jerseys, Parros jerseys, Orr jerseys etc etc. The fighters are usually one of the most popular guys on the ice with fans and off the ice with teammates, fans, and charities.

Same goes for the reporters. They have a job to do and right now the topic of concussions is high so why not bring in something like fighting and try to write some articles and make a few bucks.