25th March 2004, 11:57 PM
No, not 'which sport is better' (because we all know what one is). Hockey and football are the only two major (North American) sports in which body contact is allowed. Moreso, encouraged. Emotions run very high in both sports, and punches to the head, fights, cheapshots etc. are very common in hockey. Why? Hockey players are willing to cross check a guy in the face, sucker punch somebody in the back of the head, spear somebody in the stomach etc. etc. (me being a hockey player I know this...I'm guilty of all of those 'cept punching a guy in the back of the head) Huge suspensions are common in the NHL. Players can get in two fights a game before they are booted. But I have never seen an NFL player throw a punch before, or do anything to warrant a 26 game suspension (Marty McSorley) or a 30+ game suspension (Todd Bertuzzi, who might also miss out on playing for Team Canada this summer).
Reasons for this:
-Football moves in stops-and-starts. Players have a chance to cool down and count to ten if somebody pisses them off.
-Hockey players carry sticks. Another weapon for them.
-A three or four game suspension in hockey is a small dent out of 82 games. An NFL player getting a suspension for 3 or 4 games as almost a quarter of a season.
-Fighting is encouraged by coaches, fans and (some) players alike in hockey. Players wanting to start a fight will do anything to disturb some shit. Example, Bertuzzi punching Steve Moore in the back of the head breaking his neck (his apology was sincere enough for me to believe that he did not, in fact, want to hurt him though)
I'd appreciate some of the football fans to give me some reasons as to why NFL players rarely, if ever, fight or do things as bad as what Todd Bertuzzi did.
Reasons for this:
-Football moves in stops-and-starts. Players have a chance to cool down and count to ten if somebody pisses them off.
-Hockey players carry sticks. Another weapon for them.
-A three or four game suspension in hockey is a small dent out of 82 games. An NFL player getting a suspension for 3 or 4 games as almost a quarter of a season.
-Fighting is encouraged by coaches, fans and (some) players alike in hockey. Players wanting to start a fight will do anything to disturb some shit. Example, Bertuzzi punching Steve Moore in the back of the head breaking his neck (his apology was sincere enough for me to believe that he did not, in fact, want to hurt him though)
I'd appreciate some of the football fans to give me some reasons as to why NFL players rarely, if ever, fight or do things as bad as what Todd Bertuzzi did.