In a quiet night in the NBA, we saw the Miami heat and San Antonio Spurs send a message to the rest of the league. That message was: Watch out because here we come! Last night the Spurs handily beat the Los Angeles Clippers on the road by 26 points! The Clippers, like the Knicks, might have physically been on the court last night but mentally they were still on vacation. Both the Spurs and the Heat are hitting their stride at the right time. There is just under two months left in the season, and it is the perfect time to gain some momentum and carry it into the playoffs. The Spurs have the best record in the NBA (44-12) by four games, and they have won 16 of their last 17 games. So much for getting old huh? The Spurs always seem to quietly plug along and put up consistently good numbers. At this point, I think we can all agree that Gregg Popovich is the best coach of this era. Was this a statement game or did the Clippers just take a night off? Will the Spurs hold up come playoff time (unlike last year)? I believe the Spurs are great, but I think they will meet a different Clippers team come playoff time. And let’s not forget how impressive of a season Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are having. Durant’s season is spectacular and is being wildly overshadowed by Lebron James’ performances. When you get a chance, take a look at Durant’s numbers so far this season, and then take a look at a guy’s statistics in his prime that you may have heard of (A Mr. Larry Bird). Eerily similar aren’t they? With that being said, the Miami Heat certainly look like a championship caliber team, again. Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and the Heat made the Chicago Bulls look like a Junior Varsity squad last night. The Bulls only scored 32 points in the 2nd half of a very sloppy performance. The heat did what they had to do and cruised to an 86-67 victory. The Heat are playing great basketball right now (winners of their last nine games). I believe if Dwayne Wade can remain healthy that the Heat will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals this season. Will they win the championship again this year? At this point, I think they will (even though I hope they don’t), however only time will tell. We are heading towards the best time of the year in sports. Sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Author: Dave Ettinger
Dave is a Trending News Sports Writer for Athlon Sports, covering breaking and trending news across major sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, college football and basketball. With over 10 years of experience in sports media, Dave’s versatility extends to television, radio, and journalism.
In addition to his role at Athlon Sports, Dave works in TV Production at ESPN, where he manages the production, editing, and processing of shows and events that re-air across ESPN's network of channels. Prior to joining ESPN, Dave served as an Executive Producer at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, further solidifying his expertise in sports media.
Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Communications from SUNY College at Old Westbury, bringing both his education and extensive industry experience to his roles across various platforms.
Sooooo….That Didn’t Go As Planned Did It??
WOW!!!! Just when everyone thought it couldn’t get any worse, it did. I am not going to break down last nights game because I don’t want to make anyone sick to their stomach. In case you missed it the Knicks lost to the Pacers by a score of 125-91, and have now lost four of their last five games. Let’s just say it was ugly, pathetic, and the Knicks looked like they didn’t want to be out on the court. After a nice week off for the All Star break, the Knicks looked like they were still on vacation. With that being said, last night the New York Knicks looked like, well the New York Knicks. As Knicks fans, we are used to this by now aren’t we? I know I am. They toy with your emotions. They trick you into believing they are a complete team and they’ve put their woes behind them. And then what happens? They go through horrid stretches that make you wonder what’s next. It may sound like I’m jumping ship, but I’m not. Let me explain to you what’s happening with the New York Knicks. They are a jump shooting team that has an affinity for three pointers, they play next to no defense, and they have a confused lineup. Earlier on in the season the Knicks weren’t good, they were great. This is because the three’s and jumpers were falling. Jump shooting teams are streaky. They lose games they have no business losing, and sometimes they win games they have no business winning. Don’t be surprised if the Knicks turn this ship around and go on a nice little stretch in March. Let me tell you something, that would leave everyone scratching their heads saying, who are the real Knicks? This is because the Knicks, in March, play ten of their first fifteen games on the road. I know you all feel like I did two months ago (as a Jets fan), and you believe Murphy’s Law is in affect. However, it’s not time to give up, yet. Like I said, they are a jump shooting team, and they will start falling again real soon (right Jason?). Jason Kidd can talk about how rejuvenated he is after his week off, but I think he left his jump shot in Cabo along with his sunscreen. All the Knicks need to do (besides trade for a power forward who can play defense and rebound) is stop playing one on one, get some ball movement, and play team defense. I know that is easier said then done, but that’s what was happening at the start of the season. And hey, guess what? The more you move the ball the more open shots you’ll get. The more open shots you get the more shots you will probably make. More made shots = more points (I know that’s a wild concept). The defense issue is the toughest problem to solve because you only have three guys who actually want to play defense on the roster; Tyson Chandler, Iman Shumpert, and Ronnie Brewer. Brewer never sees the light of day because he is more useless on the offensive end than George W. Bush in a library. Shumpert is still not 100% and Woodson doesn’t seem to be his biggest fan. And Chandler is doing his part, but he can’t defend five guys at once. Finally, the lineup is as confused as Andy Dick (not that there’s anything wrong with that). This falls on Coach Woodson. I understand that Woodson needs to shuffle around the lineup when things aren’t going well, but he needs to find some continuity for the team to thrive. It’s certainly not looking good right now, but it ain’t over til the fat lady sings, and I don’t see Rosie O’ Donnell anywhere so I think they have some time to figure this out.
Brooklyn’s Finest
If you missed that game in Brooklyn last night, you missed a thriller. The Brooklyn Nets pulled out an overtime victory over the Milwaukee Bucks thanks to Joe Johnson’s heroics. Let us rewind to the last two minutes of regulation. The score had been stuck on 101-100 (Milwaukee) since there was two minutes and nine seconds left in the 4th quarter. With just under thirty seconds left, Deron Williams drove to his left, drew two defenders at about five feet from the basket, and found Andray Blatche under the hoop. Blatche threw two pump fakes up before he got fouled going up to the basket. Blatche stepped to the free throw line and knocked down both free throws, giving New Jersey a 102-101 lead with twenty seconds left (Blatche came up huge in the 4th quarter scoring 10 points). Coming out of a twenty second timeout, Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings (Jennings had a great game with 34 points) took the ball to the basket and missed a right handed lay-up, but Larry Sanders was there for the put back right at the rim. This gave Milwaukee a 103-102 lead with ten seconds left. After a twenty second timeout, the Nets inbounded to Deron Williams at half court. The ball was inbounded off a defenders leg and should have been a kick ball, however it went unnoticed. With Monta Ellis well within Williams’ three feet of personal space, Williams swung the ball past Ellis’ face and inadvertently struck him in the jaw with his elbow. The referee made an insanely late call, not blowing the whistle until Williams had passed the three point line. Now, I am in the minority that believes that fouls are fouls no matter when they occur. A foul in the first ten seconds of a game should also be a foul in the last ten seconds of the game. However, this call on Williams was a HORRIBLE CALL!! And on top of it, the call was made two hours late. This gave Milwaukee two early Christmas Presents, ahem, I mean free throws. Ellis knocked down both free throws, and put the Bucks up 105-102 with six seconds left. After another twenty second timeout by the Nets, the ball was advanced to half court. They inbounded to Deron Williams who quickly swung the ball to Joe Johnson at the top of the key, who caught the ball in stride, stepped up, and knocked down a three with one second left on the clock!! The crowd in the Barclays Center erupted!! With the Nets in celebration mode, the Bucks inbounded the ball and heaved up a three-quarter court shot that banged off the side of the rim nearly stealing an improbable victory. Off to overtime they went. It was a back and forth overtime, and Keith Bogans of the Nets kept them in the game with two huge three pointers in the extra frame. We’ll fast forward to a tie ball game (111-111) with five seconds left. Even though everyone and their mother knew Joe Johnson was going to take the last shot, the Bucks still allowed him to get the ball off the inbounds. Johnson drove the ball to the right, put a crossover through his legs back to the left, and off of one dribble he rose from 17 feet and drained a jumper right at the buzzer!! The crowd went wild, and the New Jersey Nets won a thriller over the Milwaukee Bucks 113-111.
Lakers Owner Jerry Buss Passes Away, at 80
I wanted to take time out of my day to pay respects to the late Jerry Buss. Jerry passed away yesterday, February 18th. He was 80 years old. Buss hadn’t been able to attend any Lakers games this season due to health complications. It turns out that he had been battling an undisclosed type of cancer since early 2012. My condolences goes out to the entire Buss family, as I know how difficult losing a loved one can be. Jerry Buss had been the Owner of the Los Angeles Lakers since 1979. During his tenure with The Lakers, they made 16 trips to the NBA Finals winning 10 Championships. His winning ways spanned across five decades, and his teams included some of basketball’s all-time greats. Most notably: Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’ Neal. Jerry Buss was a great owner and was an innovator in the sports world. Rest In Peace Jerry Buss. The Lakers will play in your honor for years to come.
NBA Trade Talks
The All-Star break has come and gone, and it is now time for the 2nd ” half ” of the season. With approximately 30 games left for every team, and the trade deadline looming, contenders will be looking to make a move to solidify their playoff positioning. The trade deadline is this Thursday, February 21st. There are many talented players names swirling around the trade rumor mill, and certainly some of them will be moved in the coming days. Most notably the Knicks have been in the midst of trade talks. Everyone believes that they need to make a trade prior to the deadline to become a real contender. I do believe that the Knicks are one piece away from being a true contender for a title, however they need to be careful who they trade this week. The most popular name in these trade rumors has been Iman Shumpert. He is the Knicks most valuable trading chip because of his potential and inexpensive rookie contract, but he is a valuable asset to the Knicks for the same reasons. By the way, if I have to hear how much better J.J. Reddick is than Iman Shumpert one more time I’m going to throw up. Most people are pointing to Shumpert’s knee and saying he’ll never be the same after a torn ACL last season. It is a serious injury, but how many guys have come back and succeeded after the same injury? While the Knicks are certainly in win now mode, they need to keep their bright future in mind as well. The core of their team is young. Look at their roster: Carmelo Anthony,Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton, J.R. Smith, Amar’e Stoudemire, and Iman Shumpert(none of these guys are heading out to early bird dinners). Carmelo Anthony needs to try to convince these guys to stick around for the next five years(that shouldn’t be that hard to do, I mean this is New York). The Knicks youngest player with the most room for improvement by far is Iman Shumpert. He is 6’5″ and 220 pounds with great athletic ability. He can jump out of the gym, he is a phenomenal perimeter defender, and by my opinion is an underrated offensive talent. Just because the Knicks have the oldest team in NBA history, doesn’t mean they need to dump young talent to try to win this year. The older players on their roster are all nearing the end of their careers and are simply role players on an overall young team anyway. Think about the names that we’re talking about: Marcus Camby, Rasheed Wallace, Kurt Thomas, and Jason Kidd. Everyone can stop pretending these are the guys that are going to make the difference. When was the last time these guys were on a list that mattered besides a waiting list for a nursing home? While I think Camby and/or Wallace could solve some of the teams problems, they are ancient and shouldn’t be relied on. The Knicks have obvious weaknesses and have holes on their roster that need to be filled. I believe part of the answer to the Knicks struggles is Iman Shumpert. He should be playing more than Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd has been averaging 28 minutes per game this season and 32 minutes over his past three games(the three games the Knicks have struggled in most this season), while Shumpert has only been averaging 19 minutes per game. Plus, Shumpert has only played in 13 games since returning from his injury. He needs to be given a little time to return to form. I am a Jason Kidd fan, but Mike Woodson needs to realize that Kidd is 40; not 26. If Coach Woodson can get over his man crush maybe he’ll scale back Kidd’s minutes a little bit. If Woodson flips Shumpert and Kidd’s minutes upside down, I bet he’ll be a lot happier. The bottom line is: DON’T TRADE IMAN SHUMPERT!! Also, if the Knicks are going to continue to be trigger happy from three point land, why don’t they play their best shooter, Steve Novak? I know he doesn’t play a lick of defense, but right now neither does anybody else. Right now, Kidd is out there as the Knicks shooting guard(taking up precious real estate). Also, when did we start confusing Jason Kidd with Steve Kerr? Kidd was one of the best point guards ever in his prime, but he was never a great three point shooter. Kidd needs to play less minutes which will keep his legs fresher come playoff time, and he needs to be an extension of Coach Woodson on the floor.
There have been a few other teams in the trade rumors along with the Knicks. The Jazz have an overloaded front court, and I believe Paul Millsap will be moved before the deadline. The injury prone Celtics should look to make a trade before Thursday, but it doesn’t appear that will happen. Kevin Garnett will not waive his no-trade clause and Paul Pierce is a big name still. Even though he is past his prime, the Celtics are looking for way too much in return for Pierce. Another player who’s name has been all over the news is Josh Smith. In my estimation, he is very overrated, but someone will trade away too much to get him and will be moved before the deadline. At the 23rd hour, there are always surprise moves that happen. Stay tuned to see what goes down before the trade deadline. Enjoy the rest of the NBA season.
If you enjoy my writing here please go check out more of my work @ intheneutralzone.com. I am a contributing author there. Thanks and enjoy!
NBA All-Star Weekend(best by default)
The entire All-Star weekend can be summed up in one word, Blah. It is the best All-Star festivities of all the major sports, but it’s the best by default. The game itself is what it is, and I don’t expect that to change much in the future. It is a fun way for the NBA’s best to showcase their skills. The rest of the world had the pleasure of learning what some of us have known for about a year now, that Kyrie Irving is an exceptional talent. In two or three years, we will all be talking about Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving as the top point guards in the NBA. On a side note, everyone can stop talking about Lebron returning to Cleveland to team up with Kyrie, it’s not going to happen. I watched most of the events this weekend, but I watched simply because it was the only thing on television. I understand that All-Star weekend is meant for fun, but it needs to be revamped. It needs to regain it’s oomph. Yeah, I used the word oomph. The event with the most room for improvement is definitely the Slam Dunk Contest. I hope someone from the NBA catches wind of this article and takes the advice I’m about to give (for free). I spoke to this issue in my preview of the All-Star weekend, but the Slam Dunk Contest needs to be changed drastically. Literally the only part they’ve gotten right is that the players compete for a charity. Other than that, the event is a disaster. I think we can all agree we want to see the premier leapers and dunkers in the game in the contest. Everyone knows who I’m talking about (cough, Lebron, cough). The question is how do we get these Superstars to enter the dunk contest? We all know that money isn’t the answer(lord knows Lebron makes enough of that). Apparently it isn’t enough of an honor for them to do it willingly. So, how do we get the best players in the NBA to compete in the lowly dunk contest? The answer is to call them out; plain and simple. All the commentators and former players who have transformed into media personnel can joke about how scared Lebron is to fail, but what eats away at a self conscience Superstar like “King” James more than anything else? You need to tell him he can’t do it. What inspires athletes to succeed more than adversity? The answer to that would be nothing. You must also convince him that it really matters. You must convince him that it’s another notch that must be added to his belt of career achievements. And who must implore him and the other great leapers of the world to compete? None other than the man they all idolized as a kid, Michael “Air” Jordan. You all saw how quickly Lebron reacted when MJ told everyone he’d take Kobe over him any day of the week. I think it’s that simple. All the fans want is a better show. They want the guys they know can come up with new and innovative dunks to show off on the big stage. With a new and improved approach to All-Star Weekend, the NBA’s superstars are the only ones who can revive this special event. By the way, they really need to put a limit on the number of dunk attempts each contestant gets. A minute and a half is way too long to watch some no name try the same dunk over and over and over again (and they don’t get penalized for missing 1, 789 attempts before finally throwing it down). As the panel of Shaq, Charles, Kenny the Jet, and C Webb said, “We’ll call it the Birdman Rule.” All we want to see is the dunk contest come back to it’s original form. Will there be a savior or will it head toward extinction like the Pro Bowl?
Why can’t we all be a little more like Derek Jeter?
There are plenty of players throughout the years that have “slipped up” in front of the media. These comments and one liners are usually spoken out of true emotion. The latest blunder was made by New York Yankees newest acquisition Kevin Youkilis. It is still tough for me personally, as a lifetime Yankees fan, to imagine Youkilis in Yankee Pinstripes. Well, unfortunately that imagination will become a reality this April. Upon his arrival to spring training, Youkilis made it very clear where his heart still lies. Youkilis said, “I’ll always be a Red Sock.” My initial reaction was woahhh buddy what are you saying, but when I took the time to think about it, I realized that no one ever confused Youkilis with a rocket scientist. Listen Kevin(I’m not calling you Yoouuukkk), in reality you might feel that way in your heart, but you’ve been in the league long enough to know how this works. You need to talk to writers, reporters, and fans as if you are a politician. You need to answer questions without really saying anything. Reporters and fans alike love guys who are honest and speak the truth. It’s like giving them free ammunition for an empty gun. However, it usually ends poorly when a player says what’s really on his mind. Now, I know it’s a catch twenty-two when it comes to talking to the media, but Kevin needs to be smarter.
Every athlete in the world, not just baseball players, should take lessons from Derek Jeter. Think about it, have you ever heard Derek Jeter say something out of bounds? Has Mr. November ever been in hot water over a controversial comment? The answer is an emphatic NO. The other day, I heard a fan call-in to a radio show and suggest that Derek Jeter would have said the same exact thing if he signed with the Boston Red Sox. The host of the show quickly interjected and needless to say that was the end of that phone call. People like that anger me so much that I actually had to pull over to the side of the road while I was driving. Derek Jeter will NEVER wear any other uniform besides a Yankees uniform. For argument’s sake though, let’s just say that he got traded to or signed with the Red Sox. That doesn’t mean he is all of a sudden going to start talking out of his rear end. Everyone knows Derek Jeter is a Yankee for life, that goes without saying. But if somehow he found himself wearing the enemy’s colors, he wouldn’t be so brainless as to say that in his heart he’ll always bleed Yankees blue and white. He’s too smart. He’s too savvy. We should all take lessons from Derek. Another thing I love about Derek Jeter is his loyalty to his team. It is rare to see a ball player stay with the same team throughout their entire career. I think baseball needs more of that. Baseball needs more of the Barry Larkin’s, the Craig Biggio’s, and the Cal Ripken Jr’s. Free agency and the growth of players’ salaries has caused players to chase money rather than stay loyal to the team that drafted them. It’s really a shame that baseball is strictly a business, but it makes you appreciate the Derek Jeter’s and Mariano Rivera’s of the world even more. Now, in Youkilis’ situation he was traded and then signed with a team that had a need for him. It’s not like he chose to leave Boston to sign with the Yankees(only Johnny Damon was smart enough to do that). Youkilis is still not off the hook for putting his foot in his mouth, but at least we know he’s not a traitor. From a strictly baseball perspective Youkilis fills a need for the Yankees. With Alex Rodriguez caught up in whatever it is he’s caught up in and his injury, Youkilis should serve the Yankees well at 3rd base. His offensive production has slipped since the end of the 2010 season, but we all saw what a change of scenery did for him last season. I think he’ll give it his all out there on the diamond, but I’m still not calling him Yoouuukkk.
Check Out My Work
I am now a contributing author @ intheneutralzone.com. I have posted two articles on there so far. My first article was posted at the beginning of this week and it is entitled NBA Mid-Season Awards. There is a copy of that article on this site as well, but feel free to check out their website. I posted my 2nd article with them today, and that is entitled BREAKING NEWS: Adrian Peterson is a Robot. Go check out their site, and follow my work there just as you hopefully do here. Thank you very much everyone.
The ugliest thing on TV since Sarah Jessica Parker
What an ugly game!! This game was sloppy to say the least. NO check that, this was literally the ugliest basketball game I’ve ever watched. Even when the Knicks got to the basket they forgot how to make layups!! I’ve never seen a professional basketball team miss so many layups. It was embarrassing. This was by far the Knicks worst loss of the season. In case you missed the game, they lost to the Toronto Raptors 92-88 on their own court. On top of the horrid performance, the officials in this game were horrible!! Do you want to know how you can tell the officials had an off night? When there are FIVE technical fouls given out in one quarter, that’s how. See, what happens when you let the “players play” is the game gets physical. And when the game gets too physical, it gets out of hand. That’s what took place in the 3rd quarter of this game. Frustration also set in with Carmelo Anthony. Melo became upset in the 1st quarter when he took the ball to the hole on two separate occasions looking to attack the basket. The defender attacked his arm instead, but the refs let each play go. From then on Melo became his own worst enemy. He proceeded to pick up a technical foul(his 10th if the season), and his rhythm and shooting stroke were both negatively effected. Do you know what Melo blamed for his worst game of the year(5-24 from the field)?!?!? He said he was playing with a dead arm. What the hell does that mean?? Everyone has been talking about his maturity, and is overall improvement this season. I have to be honest I don’t see a difference between 2013 Melo and 2008 Melo. He is still making excuses for his poor play. And if he really had a legitimate injury, then he shouldn’t have taken so many damn shots. He could have tried this thing, it’s a new concept called relying on your teammates. I know, that sounds wild. The bottom line is if he has really changed he would have stood up to the microphone and said, “I stunk it up tonight. This is my team so I put the blame for this loss totally on my shoulders. If I play better, we win, period.” That’s what I want to hear from the “new and improved” Carmelo Anthony. On a quick side note, where did Jason Kidd go and who is this guy wearing his jersey? This guy has been awful! I haven’t seen shooting this bad since Shaq at a free throw line. If there is one positive that can be taken away from this game it is that Iman Shumpert’s intensity seemed to be sky high. He played solid defense, attacked the boards(grabbing 7 rebounds in only 21 minutes), and pushed the ball nicely up the floor. The only question is why Mike Woodson isn’t playing him more than Jason Kidd??
I’ve been telling everyone for weeks that the Knicks are not as good as their record. That certainly is coming to fruition. Nothing has gone right for the Knicks as of late, and this break couldn’t come at a better time. The Knicks need to take some time off, clear their heads, and be ready to kick up their intensity. This will get them back to their winning ways. By the way, Melo is an underrated passer I just don’t think he knows that yet. He draws a double team virtually every time he gets the ball inside 18 feet. Like I wrote in my blog weeks ago, the best play I’ve seen from the Knicks is when Melo is penetrating and dishing to wide open players. Melo is still going to get his 20 shots a night, and believe it or not when you start passing more it opens the floor up for better looks for you too, not just your teammates. Then maybe they will have a balanced attack. I put the majority of the blame though on Coach Woodson’s shoulders. If you want to play a style of basketball that calls for a collaborative effort on both ends of the floor, then you better get your players to buy into that concept real quick. Come on Mike, do you want to take a trip to the NBA Finals, to be coach of the year, and to get a nice pay raise next year?? Then you better earn it!!
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You gotta fight..for your right..to fiiiiggghht!!(Thanks Beastie Boys)
Hey hockey fans don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you. Everyone I talk to is excited to have hockey back, and I don’t blame them. The Chicago Blackhawks have started out on fire winning 10 out of their first 13 games, as they are still the only undefeated team in regulation left in the NHL. The New Jersey Devils have also gotten off to a nice start this season as they head up the Eastern Conference. And as usual, My Islanders are hanging out in the bottom of the barrel(there’s always next year). On a serious note, Islanders fans may have something to get excited about. They will be moving to Brooklyn after the 2014-2015 season. This move should give the New York franchise a badly needed fresh start. The Nets of the NBA can tell them how nice it is to call Brooklyn home. Personally, I haven’t been to The Barclays Center, but everyone can’t get over the awesome atmosphere inside the arena. This move should also help attract talented free agents. Another headline early on in the season is the Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings getting off to an extremely slow start. They have played 8 of their first 11 games on the road, so they shouldn’t be as worried as their fans are.
The story grabbing all the headlines so far in the NHL is the same issue plaguing the NFL. Of course I am talking about player safety. Hockey like football is a very physical sport, however hockey is not a violent sport by nature. Some of you, if you could see me, would probably be looking at me like I have 4 heads. Hear me out now. Fighting in hockey is a tradition. It is as much a part of the game as line changes or shoot outs. Let me be the first to say that I would stop watching hockey entirely if they banned fighting. Fighting in hockey serves a purpose. It’s not just there for the sheer entertainment of the fans(even though it is a huge part of the attraction for casual hockey fans). See, it’s kind of like a retaliation pitch in baseball. When a baseball player shows up an opposing team or player, they get thrown at in their next at bat. When done respectfully and not done out of anger, it accomplishes something important. It’s the same in hockey. This tactic is used when an opposing player does something uncalled for or out of line(in layman’s terms: when you do something dumb you get punched). This solves problems quickly, and it can be part of a teams strategy. Fighters and instigators also have their own place on NHL rosters. A fighting ban would certainly put some NHL players out of work. These guys simply make a living playing that role. It is the same as a defender or rebounder in the NBA who lacks offensive skills. A prime example is Dennis Rodman. He played to his strengths and filled an important role for his team. There are guys just like that in the NHL. Their only role is to rough people up, retaliate, or instigate. To take fighting out of hockey would be like taking charges out of basketball, it would change the culture of the sport.
When NHL players were asked about this issue, 97% of them said they’re against banning fighting. That is an astonishingly high number! I also guarantee you that if you polled hockey fans, at least 95% of them would want to keep fighting in hockey as well. I understand that player safety is a real issue that every sport should take seriously, but this is not the right issue to take a stand.
I am also a contributing author @ intheneutralzone.com. If you enjoy my writing, please check out more of my work there.
Dave Talks Sports 