From: kdc@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Ken De Cruyenaere)
Subject: War on Violence a Joke (Scott Taylor)
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1993 03:51:41 GMT


 Its first intermission in Calgary (Jets are up 1-0 :-) )  and Scott Taylor
column in today's Wpg Free Press is another one of fairly general appeal
so here goes:
------------------------------------ 
 Could Gary Bettman please start work on Monday?  Do we have to wait another
week before the new NHL commisioner takes office ?
 The National Hockey League not only needs a visionary with ability to
negotiate a collective bargaining agreement, but somebody with guts and a clue.
 At the start of the 1992-93 season, the NHL's general managers were convinced
the game would change.
They were going to cut down on fighting and unnecessary stickwork and it was
going to happen immediately.
  In the preseason, the league's referees called the "adjusted" rules with vigor. High sticking, checking from behind, cross checking, interference, holding
and hooking were attacked, often with major penalties.  Instigator penalties
for players who obvioulsy started fights were called as often as a determination
of guilt could be made.
  There were complaints that the game was slowed down considerably by all the
penalty calls but proponents said the players would adapt.
   Wrong.
  It wasn't a matter of adaptation.  The fact is, the minute the season started
the "new" rules were abandoned.
  It's now reached a point where the only infraction that will result in a
penalty call requires a transfusion.
  And to make matters worse, the guy who doles out subsequent penalties
for serious infractions has decided that money is significantly more 
important than fair play.
  Gil Stein is a typical American.
  He doesn't believe for one second that guys play hockey for any reason but
money.  Instead of fining and suspending players, stein's policy is to suspend
players on "working days".  It costs them a lot of money but they don't miss
any games so it doesn't "hurt the fans" who would be deprived of having good
players in the lineup.
  What a crock.
  When Doug Gilmour broke Thomas Sandstrom's arm with an intentional slash, the
L.A. KINGS lost one of their best players for what is now going on 2 months.  
Gilmour, meanwhile, has played every game and is being touted by the Toronto
Sports Network as an MVP candidate.
  Wednesday, Kris King said "I've never seen so many players cut," when asked
his impression of the JETS' 5-2 victory over Chicago.
  Meanwhile, Chicago's Jeremy Roenick slashed Winnipeg's Phil Housley so hard
that it nearly broke his wrist and as a result, one of the best players in the
NHL will miss at least one game and possibly more.
  Unfotunately, referee Mark Faucette missed it (like he missed most of the
game) and the JETS have been forced to send the league a tape and grovel for
justice.  Sadly, even if Goofy Gil Stein decides the slash warranted some
punishment, the Blackhawks won't ever be without Roenick.
The NHL still fuctions like the World Wrestling Federation. It has no rules.
  The NHL still has no will.
  It mumbles about cleaning up its game but it won't act on its tough talk.
Sticks are still gruesomely high (ask Mike Lalor who nearly lost his left
eye
 on Wednesday) despite claims that the league was going to make an effort
to bring them down.
  Fights are still an integral part of hockey and while the number of fights 
might be down, they are still being used as a tactic to get good players out
of games.
  As ridiculous as this sounds, what the NHL might want to do is put 3
linesman on the ice and then stick the referee in the press box with a horn,
a microphone and a TV monitor so he can watch replays.  That way, if he misses
what he usually misses (or ignores) on the ice, then he can have a second look.
  Its ounds dumb, but it's no more ludicrous than the nerve of the NHL brass
 trying to suggest it is making an effort to eliminate unnecessary 
violence in hockey.
                     Scott Taylor  Winnipeg Free Press
               reprinted _with_ permission
  ----------------------------
 
  Ken D.   U of Manitoba

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