On fighting ...
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The Penguins Matthew Barnaby takes a right cross from Flyers Adam Burt in an undated photo. -
The Philadelphia Flyers' Dan Carcillo and Penguins' Maxime Talbot fight during game six of the 2008-09 Eastern Conference playoffs. Talbot lost the fight, but by taking on the Flyers top goon, he is credited with inspiring his teammates to come back from a three-goal deficit to win that game and clinch that playoff series en route to a Stanley Cup championship. -
The Carolina Hurricanes' Wade Brookbank (28) and former Penguin Georges Laraque fight during a 2008 game.
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Because of the strong response to Bill Ratay's Mellon Arena memories printed in the Q&A recently, similar submissions from other readers interested in sharing their recollections will be posted in the Penguins area of PG-Plus. Those pieces can be sent via the Q&A submission form or to DMolinari@Post-Gazette.com
Q: Does anybody look at a game like (Team USA's 5-3 victory against Canada Sunday) and ask why fighting is necessary in the NHL? I wish they would (eliminate it). It discourages me because I love the game, but I really believe that as long as the NHL allows fighting, it will be relegated to a fringe sport in the U.S., a curiosity. The first thing many non-fans think of when they hear the word "hockey" is fighting, and a lot of people can't get past the caveman aspects of the game to appreciate its real beauty. As far as changing momentum, that happens in the Olympics without fighting.
Dave, Altoona
MOLINARI: OK, this would be a good time for everyone to duck, because opinions and arguments (and probably the occasional epithet) from the pro- and anti-fighting factions should start flying around here any second now.
Fighting has been the most polarizing issue in the NHL for decades, and after a particularly compelling game at the international or collegiate level, where fighting effectively is outlawed, issues like those posed in the submission above tend to surface.
For every fan who believes that fighting detracts from the game and reduces its entertainment value because roster spots that could be filled by skilled players are taken by guys whose primary (or only) job is to fight, there is one who feels that two guys trading punches is as much a part of the game as slap shots and body checks, and that there's really nothing wrong with the odd bench-clearing brawl, for that matter.
People on both sides are passionate about their positions and, while some fans undoubtedly have been persuaded to move into the opposing camp, that doesn't seem to happen very often. Frankly, you'd probably have better luck recruiting Barack Obama volunteers at the Conservative Political Action Conference than you would persuading a pro-pugilism fan that fights should be banned, or a fighting opponent that the game is enhanced when two guys drop their gloves and have at it.
First Published February 25, 2010 12:00 am
