Maybe the higher-ups of the NFL should take some lessons from the NHL, a role model in terms of unbiasedly suspending players and handing out punishment for reckless play.In suspending Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan three games for a late and blindside hit to the head of Ducks forward Dan Sexton, the NHL declared it is serious about punishing dangerous hits to the head.
Sanctioning Doan, known as rugged but clean, was meant as a warning to fourth-liners and superstars that NHL justice will be blind.
Doan's open-ice, neutral-zone hit after Sexton released a pass during the third period of the Ducks' 3-2 victory Sunday wasn't penalized by the referees, but the NHL can review any play and impose supplementary discipline. Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, said he and fellow executives who monitor every game debated the hit when it was delivered. That Sexton wasn't injured was "fortunate" but beside the point.
It's good to see that someone in professional sports is taking responsibility for making these sports safer. In both ice hockey and football, players are taught to aim for the middle of the body, the numbers or logo if you will, to avoid hitting opponents in the knees or head. This also provides for more reliable hitting because a player can fake with every part of his body besides his core. That is, a player can move his arms, legs, and head, but can't move the center of his body quickly and efficiently.
The misuse of contact by professionals encourages young athletes to do the same. I think it's safe (pun intended) to say that if NHL and NFL players could return to a time of solid, fundamental hitting, both sports would be much safer to play.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-elliott-nhl-20101019,0,7024854.column
I'm gonna respuctfully disagree with this. The NHL has actually been criticized for inconsistent suspensions. Look at Mike Richards' hit on Booth, Ovechkin's hit on Campbell, and of course Cooke's hit on Savard. None of these faced suspensions even though they're all dirty hits. The NHL has a duty to protect their players, especially their stars. Instead of Cooke on Savard, imagine if Shawn Thornton made that same hit on Crosby. Thorty would be kicked out, suspended, fined, etc. It has always been inconsistent. In the offseason they made adjustments to the rules to eliminate dirty hits especially hits to the head, and I'm glad to see that a talented player like Doan is no exception to the rules. However, the season is early and only time will tell if the NHL will really change its ways. Color me unimpressed until they suspend a superstar like Ovechkin for making a dirty hit.
ReplyDeleteI see many of the points you're making, but instead of comparing the NHL to it's prior self, I'd rather compare it with the NFL. Equally dirty hits in the NFL receive no more than a fine (which the players have spent all day complaining about) and many of the hits are just as, if not more, dangerous. And the only reason is because football is considered a "tougher" sport than hockey.
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