From: allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan)
Subject: Re: What the world needs now is an AMERICAN TV CONTRACT.
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 1992 06:31:42 GMT

ARBOGASTW@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu (Warren Arbogast) writes:

>In article <allan.702803291@kitscoty> allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan) writes:
>>ARBOGASTW@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu (Warren Arbogast) writes:
>>>In article <allan.702679696@kitscoty> allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan) writes:
>>>>ARBOGASTW@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu (Warren Arbogast) writes:
>>>>>In article <allan.702362807@so-heart-rv> allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan) writes:
>>>If 560 players can get together on this strike thing, why in the world, as 
>>>some of the best athletes in the world, can't they get together and protect 
>>>their bodies? 
>>Well, for one, the strike vote wasn't unanimous; there were 4 people
>>who voted against it. 
>That's why I said if 560 players can get together on this strike thing and 
>not 564. The vote was 560-4.  But you dodged my point, if all but four 
>players can get together on issues, why in the world don't you think they 
>can get together, as athletes, and protect and respect their bodies?

Because, like I said, the vote WASN'T UNANIMOUS. If all players
except 4 decided to try extra hard not to break the rules, the
remaining 4 can still do lots of damage.

Besides, the threat of 'If you play dirty, you will get beaten up'
probably carries a lot more weight than 'If you play dirty, the
league president MAY give you a slap on the wrist, assuming that
the incident was captured on video tape.'.

>>And in the case of fighting, all you need is
>>one 'goof' (like Ulf Samuelson) who is careless with the stick,
>>or throws dirty checks. (Ulfie would thrive in a no fighting
>>league... He doesn't fight, he just plays dirty.)

>>With most fights, its usually two 'heavy-weights' who are going
>>at it. (I doubt any team would send a Probert or a Crowder
>>to beat up on Gretzky). And they are rarely hurt.
>>(There's sort of a 'code of honour' among the 'goons'.)

>So even the goons can get together an establish a code of "honor" (now 
>that's an ironic choice of words) as to respect and disrespect of the body.
>I believe, perhaps unkowingly, you are agreeing with me.

No, I am not agreeing with you... there IS a code of honour among
'goons'. For instance, you will rarely see someone like Probert or
Manson trying to poke out someone's eye with a stick. And they have
a little more respect for the referees. (Compare with someone like
Jagr, who got suspended for running into a referee... )

I'll tell you what, YOU come up with a list of players who have
been seriously injured in FIGHTS, and I'll come up with a list
of players who have been injured from sticks, kicks, careless
checks, etc. THEN we'll see what the greater danger is.

You know, I can compare this whole thread with someone who
owns a house, and someone comes to the door and says, "Hey, I'm
going to come into your house, and I'm going to bring my friends
along, but first you must paint the walls pink and install green
shag carpeting." In other words, people are saying "Hey, get
rid of fighting so we can get more viewers and expand into
areas of the U.S. where people don't really give a damn."

If people like hockey the way it is, fine. (That probably
includes 99% of Canada, and many of the American cities with
teams.)
If people don't like hockey because of some factor, then I don't
think we should change the game just to satisfy them.


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   \  \                   |Allan Sullivan (allan@cs.ualberta.ca)
    \  \                  |Department of Computing Science,
     \  \_______          |University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
      \    ###  \     _   |---------------------------------------------------
       \___###___\   (_)  |My opinions are mine and mine alone.
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"It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the
 credit..."          - U. of A. Golden Bears Hockey Motto (C. Drake)
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey