ICE HOCKEY FIGHTING

I watched the Toronto Maple Leafs get their butts kicked tonight by the Philadelphia Flyers (by a score of 4 to 1).

Don Cherry does his "Coach's Corner" thing between the first and second periods on the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts. The issue of fighting in ice hockey came up with side-kick Ron MacLean pointing out that many people feel that when players duke it out on the ice they should be automatically ejected from the game. My short and long answer to that is "yes". Cherry, of course, tried to explain his way around the argument -- which for him is a "no" answer to the proposal -- and capped off by stating that fighting will always be a part of the game. Hey, I do not argue with that. But fighting players should be told to leave the game after they settle down. "Get out of here, now!" That easy. But hard for some, Cherry included, to understand. A very simple concept it is and one even the average hockey player can grasp.

There was a match up between the loser Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens a few nights ago. I did not see the show but I heard the next day -- including from a non fan friend of mine -- that the Leafs were always trying to start, and did, a scrap. To make things worse, the Toronto coach said something about being proud that his boys are being more physical. My answer to that? Fine the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club a few tens of thousands of dollars and administer this prize with a public statement that a conscious attempt to mar the NHL with fisticuffs will not be tolerated.

You see, the above is direct, succinct, and easy to understand; even for the average Leafs coach.