Monday, January 12, 2004
Amateur Hockey Violence:
Why is it that people associated with sports get away with committing crimes that the rest of us get punished for. CTV reports on an incident that happened in B.C. A player was involved in a fight, when a referee intervened he too was assaulted. As the refs were trying to get the player off the ice, his coach got involved and also assaulted the ref. It was reported that in this particular organization the number of refs dropped in one year from 33 to 12, any wonder. The offending player was suspended for 2 months, the coach for 3. Thankfully, they will both be back in time for the playoffs. This is virtually no deterrent at all. As well it does not address the fact that criminal acts were committed by both. Advances have been made along these lines but nowhere near enough as is demonstrated by this incident.
I would definitely not allow my kids to participate in a sport where assaults are committed without concern, often with a weapon ( a stick). Assault with a weapon is a serious crime and demands much more appropriate a response, yet we witness it at the professional level all the time. When I played hockey I accepted the risks involved with the sport. However I don't feel that being assaulted with a weapon should ever be one of these acceptable risks.
Insane Facts:
In the U.S. before they execute you by lethal injection, they swab your arm with alcohol.
George Carlin
Why is it that people associated with sports get away with committing crimes that the rest of us get punished for. CTV reports on an incident that happened in B.C. A player was involved in a fight, when a referee intervened he too was assaulted. As the refs were trying to get the player off the ice, his coach got involved and also assaulted the ref. It was reported that in this particular organization the number of refs dropped in one year from 33 to 12, any wonder. The offending player was suspended for 2 months, the coach for 3. Thankfully, they will both be back in time for the playoffs. This is virtually no deterrent at all. As well it does not address the fact that criminal acts were committed by both. Advances have been made along these lines but nowhere near enough as is demonstrated by this incident.
I would definitely not allow my kids to participate in a sport where assaults are committed without concern, often with a weapon ( a stick). Assault with a weapon is a serious crime and demands much more appropriate a response, yet we witness it at the professional level all the time. When I played hockey I accepted the risks involved with the sport. However I don't feel that being assaulted with a weapon should ever be one of these acceptable risks.
Insane Facts:
In the U.S. before they execute you by lethal injection, they swab your arm with alcohol.
George Carlin
# posted by Wil Smith : 10:08 a.m.
