Len Hettinga
Dear editor:
I’ve read the articles in the Fort Frances Times dealing with fighting among hockey players during a game.
I expected a massive reaction against it but when I heard that 540 hockey fans attended the last game of the Sabres, and a picture of an ongoing fight appeared to decorate the front page of the sports section earlier this month, I knew that I was a small minority.
Did nobody get up and leave the arena in protest?
In short, I believe that fighting has no place in any sport. Period!
Where do we see fair play and a display of sportsmanship in a hockey game where players are allowed, yes, even encouraged, to express their frustration, rightly or wrongly aroused, in a fistfight. What is noble in such a performance?
When a suggestion was made to have boxers wear helmets in the ring, it was voted out. The fans would stay away! So the dollar ruled again.
Is hockey the same? It seems to be.
Hockey is such a wonderful sport. It’s fast, exciting, fast-moving, and training shows off at all levels in endurance, stick, and puck handling.
Where does the fighting originate? What sets it off? Is it not anger?
Jesus talks about that, but goes a lot farther. You can read about it in Matthew 5-6 and following.
If you are against fighting in ice hockey, and the hurling against the boards and the resulting concussions (all under the excuse of a “good check”), then get up and leave. Only then would there be no more “unfortunate incidents.” Sanderson died and who is to blame? In other words, it was just part of the game!
With the increase in performance-enhancing drugs on the baseball diamonds and elsewhere, the lying and cheating, we might as well ask ourselves: “What is the legacy we leave for our children and grandchildren?”
Oh, well: “Apres nous le déluge.”
Mitch, I’m sorry that you and I have different senses of value.
Greetings from
Len Hettinga
Emo, Ont.
