Hockey Fights

I love hockey. I'm from Minnesota, what do you expect. It's fast paced, there are exciting goals and saves, big hits, and plenty of action. But one thing stands out, even if you aren't a hockey fan: fights. Everyone likes hockey fights. Well, not everyone. Some of the purists think its a cheap entertainment that takes away from the game. Some of the hockey haters think its barbaric. I don't care. I think its great. Its not like players fight just to fight, or because they think someone was hitting on their wife. A lot of times its to protect their teammates. I'm not going to stop a guy from sticking up for his teammates to the full extent of the rule book. Without fighting, there would be a lot of skill players and smaller guys getting beat on and taking cheap shots. Enforcers make sure that if someone takes a cheap shot at their guy, you better be ready to trade punches. Not a lot of people could tell you who Marcel Dionne is (number 6 on the all time points list) or Vladislav Tretiak (starting goaltender for the 1980 USSR Olympic team). I bet more people could tell you who Tie Domi is or Ulf Samuelson. Enforcers are needed to take care of stars. If Samuelson thought someone was going to make him swallow some teeth after the hit he put on Cam Neely's thigh, maybe he wouldn't have taken so many cheap shots at players. Besides, I like watching guys fight without having to break it up or worry about being involved in it. And when its bare knuckle and lasts for about ten seconds, its the closest you'll come to a bar fight without hanging out with a bunch of drunk ROTC kids. Its sudden, exciting, and over quickly. Then, when its over, the game continues. Its like the little kids who run onto the court during middle school basketball games. Its fun to watch for a little bit, and sometimes you take pleasure in watching a kid fall or get knocked over. Then the real game starts. And if you really don't like it, go get another beer during fights. I mean, you're watching hockey, so you should probably be drinking some beers. And if not? What are you doing watching hockey? Hockey without beer or fights? It just doesn't seem right. Just go back to Dallas and cheer for the team formerly known as the North Stars while sipping on tang.