I play rugby, provincial rugby that is. Most people are surprised to hear this because I’m not built like your “typical” rugby player, and yes sometimes I pay for that on the field. But it is a huge incentive for me to run a lot faster than I normally do when a woman who is twice my size is stalking me down and is fully capable of breaking me into two pieces. I think my most basic survival instincts come into play in that particular situation. But I digress.
The reason I bring this up is because in rugby I have received numerous concussions and with the recent ongoing discussions amongst NHL GMs about a possible proposal to eliminate dangerous hits to the head, this is a matter that has often been ignored in contact sports. Some may argue that it’s just apart of the game in that you know what you’re signing up for when you step on the ice. Others will say that there is no point in putting an athlete’s health at risk, not so much for athletic performance, but when it comes to head injuries they can have life long consequences. But with a game that is struggling with popularity in an American market, sometimes the bigger the hits, the bigger the audience, and that equates to more money. Maybe Bettman is trying to save up for some procedure or miracle drug that will make him taller.
Hockey isn’t just about the physicality of the game. No contact sport is. Yes, it’s apart of the excitement, the competitiveness and a way to get your team fired up with heightened intensity. But I just don’t see how this aspect of the game would be eliminated if they banned dangerous hits that increase the likelihood of head trauma. Accidents happen, athletes are aware of the risks they take when they compete in a sport. We were all harshly reminded of this just under a month ago before the beginning of the Olympic games. But if preventative measures can be put in place that will decrease these devastating injuries than I can only see this as moving in a positive direction.
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