Violence In Hockey When Does Essay Research

Violence In Hockey: When Does Essay, Research Paper

Violence in Hockey: When does it go to Far

How can a sport so frivolously put its talent in harm s way. Is there a need for hockey s top offensive players to skate with bull s eyes on their backs. (Smith 1) Isn t the NHL tired of sitting vigil in the hospital as doctors measure the diminishing brain activity of the players the league counts on to sell the sport. (2) How is it that football the ultimate contact sport doesn t allow for a second of the kind of headhunting that hockey does, the sort of violent play that puts the careers of Eric Lindros and Paul Kariya in jeopardy. (1) The recent establishment of the blue-ribbon injury panel has attempted to grasp the answers to these questions. (2) Basically the judicial system desperately wants the NHL to stop hurting each other. Society will no longer tolerate unnecessary violence in sports. (Heika 1) Opportunities to be aggressive are most frequent in heavy contact sports. Stimulus cues are strongest when the equipment used in the sport can be associated with violence and transformed into weapons. In conclusion violence is most likely to be a problem in certain sports. (Coakley 189) Like hockey, which we would expect a relatively high rate of violence in, where physical contacts provide opportunities, where hockey sticks can be used as weapons, and where norms among athletes and many spectators celebrate toughness and a willingness to fight, seek retribution and intimidate opponents. (Gruneau, R., &Whitson 14) Will NHL players adjust their tempers accordingly, or is this just the beginning of more aggressive behavior. (Panaccio 2) In my essay I plan to explore the use of violence in hockey and at what point it becomes unacceptable within societies standards, how violence in hockey effects the actions of its viewers, and does violence in the game cross over into the player s home lives.

The relationship between frequency of violence and aggression in competition was examined in professional hockey. Data collected from 9318 aggression incidents which occurred within 840 NHL games, found that when teams competed against each other more frequently they became more violent. (McGuire & Widmeyer) In the violent world of Professional Hockey there are hard checkers and fighters who don t achieve or sustain their tough reputations in one season or even two. It takes them many years to build up a reputation against their challengers, hundreds of stitches, dozens of broken bones, and a firm fear implanted in the opposition of there unruly hard play. (Fishler 12)

Marty McSorley has become the perfect example of an NHL player whose rough play strikes fear in those opposing him on the ice. The recent incident between the Boston Bruins enforcer, Marty McSorley, and Canucks, Donald Brashear has given rise to the issue of violence in the NHL again recently. (Smith 2) In October Judge William Kitchen found Marty McSorley guilty of assault for a two-handed hit to the head of Donald Brashear. This should send a strong lesson to all athletes who believe that sports arenas are protected from the rules of society. But does it. McSorley received 18 months conditional discharge. That means if he serves a clear sentence over the next 18 months

his record will be cleared. So why find him guilty at all. Why even bring him to trial. The judge basically took the easy way out by the guilty verdict but he obviously didn t feel strongly enough about it to give him any jail time or a fine. (Heika 1) What qualifies as serious enough assault, that we should take actions to punish players outside of the hockey arena, where is the line drawn. Should Ruslan Salei be convicted of assault for pushing an off balance Mike Modano into the Reunion Arena boards in the 1999 season. (2) Definitely a major incident of violence was addressed by the NHL in 1998, when Dino Ciccarelli, with the Minnesota North Stars, was sentenced to a day in jail and a $1,000 fine for hitting Toronto s Luke Richardson with his stick. (Smith 2)

Recently Marty McSorely has become the scapegoat for violence in hockey. Luckily for the NHL he didn t make the trial into a circus by bringing in players, Hall of Famers, coachers, and owners who would have all been able to testify to numerous acts of violence in the sport. Instead Marty maturely accepted the penalty souly for his actions.

He is 37 years old, standing 6 1 , and weighing in at 235 pounds. (Sports Illustrated) He spent the first decade of his NHL career, being Wayne Gretzky s on-ice body guard to the Edmonton Oilers and later the Los Angeles Kings. (Maclean s 2) He regularly punched out players who dared to rough up the Great One. His unwavering work ethic enabled him to develop into one of the league s better defensemen. Would he have reached the NHL without his fighting ability. He probably wouldn t have even reached Junior A. (Sports Illustrated 4) McSorley is the third most penalized player in league history with 3,280 minutes. He has had more than his share of suspensions. (Globe & Mail 2) Fighting has been his job and violence is what has allowed him to sustain his career. At the time of the incident both the Bruins and Canucks were struggling to save fading playoff hopes. (Sports illustrated 4) McSorely squared of against Brashear, Vancouver s tough guy shortly after the first face off. The 28 year-old player pulverized