Ice hockey: aggressiveness makes the sport

NICK PITTS STAFF WRITER NDP722@CABRINI EDU

It is kind of like having pasta without the sauce, or the meatballs or the parmesan cheese.

I am talking about aggressiveness in the National Hockey League, or more specifically, fighting, the endangered ingredient to an otherwise perfect recipe.

It seems the NHL’s ultimate goal is to eliminate raw emotion in the sport. They will only be satisfied when every club’s resident tough guy is standing in the unemployment lines.

The year is 2004. Disputes with contracts between players and franchise owners over the summer months ended bitterly, resulting in a lockout. The hockey-less year brought many changes to the NHL.

Stricter interpretations of rules that have gone overlooked for years enable forwards to experience offensive zone freedom. These changes have turned gritty low scoring defensive battles into superstar driven five or six goal games.

Enter 2007. Fighting numbers are finally up after a huge decline since the lockout. The increase has reached 52 percent in just the first 130 games this season.

One of the main reasons? The “fighting” Ducks of Anaheim. The Ducks brawled their way to a Stanley Cup victory, beating opposing teams to the ground and reintroducing the role of the enforcer to the sport. Anaheim enforcers abided by the new rules and found their own way to open the ice for their superstars to score at will.

Fans are pleased from what one can see based on the crowd reaction to a fight. The men in Toronto however, are not.

The “hockey experts” argue that fighting is a true downfall to selling hockey in American markets, big hits leave black eyes on the sport. They claim enforcers have no real reason to be in the league and certain teams are considered out of control for their conduct thus far on the ice.

As you may have guessed, one of those teams under siege is the Philadelphia Flyers.

With three players facing suspensions, two of those being over 20 games long, the Flyers have been deemed dangerous, out of control and even compared to their infamous predecessors, the Broad Street Bullies.

Wait a second, didn’t those Broad Street Bullies win Philadelphia’s only two Stanley Cup’s in their 41 year history?

Yes, and they did that by scaring the opposing team’s goal scorers out of their defensive zone, while striking fear in opposing defensemen for even looking at past scoring legends like Bob Clark.

The Jaromir Jagrs of the game now dominate, as this new look NHL favors quick European forwards and does not leave much room for gritty older players to do what they do best. How do you play against New York’s Jagr or Washington’s Oveckhkin?

Bully style, of course. You hit them, repeatedly. You scare them. You make them paranoid out on the ice, looking for the player who will deliver that bone crushing hit.

What the NHL really did by their changes was install rules that in coming years would destroy its once aggressive aura. Or at least, try to.

It only took three seasons for the enforcer role to make its comeback to hockey. Why? Because they are necessary for success.

The Flyers suffered the worst season in league history last year. This year they went out after a new quick forward known for scoring goals. To protect him, they recruited several brutal defensemen.

The results thus far in the season have been quite triumphant.

No one wants to see Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby take a dive because he felt a hand on his back, get the man advantage for his team and than score a power play goal he didn’t deserve in the first place.

If he dares to come through the center, I expect Flyers captain Jason Smith to introduce Mr. Crosby to the cold ice that he skates on.

At the same time however, if someone dares lay a finger on Philly favorites Simon Gagne or Daniel Briere, I’d expect Ben Eager to send that guy off on a stretcher.

If a player wearing a foreign sweater dares to even breathe on net minder Marty Biron, I feel a bench clearing brawl absolutely necessary.

And that’s just it, it is this kind of passion that I watch my favorite team with.

For those of you who disagree with fighting in hockey, I propose this: Your pasta just does not seem to taste the same without the sauce and the sprinkle of parmesan cheese, does it?

The Loquitur welcomes your questions and comments on this story. Comments can be sent to: Loquitur@ googlegroups.com. The editors will review your comments and make corrections if warranted.

RYAN KIRBY STAFF WRITER RCK722@CABRINI EDU

Eagles lose to Cowboys on Sunday night football

The Philadelphia Eagles dropped to 3-5 on the season after losing to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night 38-17. The loss is devastating for the Eagles who sit in last place in their division, four games back of the 7-1 Cowboys. Former Eagle Terrell Owens caught 10 balls for 174 yards and a touchdown, leading Dallas to their conference leading seventh win.

No. 2 Boston College loses to unranked Florida State

Boston College, the second best team in college football and one of only five unbeaten teams left in the county going into this weekend lost 27-17 on Saturday night. Quarterback and Heisman Trophy front runner Matt Ryan threw three interceptions in the loss included one with less then two minutes left in the game, in which FSU returned for a touchdown. Florida State improves to 6-3 while Boston College drops to 8-1 and leaves only four unbeaten teams left going into next weekend.

Flyers out of the East basement

After finishing last in the Atlantic Division last year, the Philadelphia Flyers are off to an 8-4-0 start to this season. Led by goalie Marty Biron and his league leading .94 save percentage and center Daniel Briere’s five goals and ten assists. The Flyers play all four division opponents in their next seven contests, the Rangers, Devils, Islanders and Penguins.

Sixers off to a 1-2 start

The Philadelphia 76ers who finished third in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference last year have lost two of their first three games to the 07-08 campaign. Losing games to both the Toronto Raptors and the New Jersey Nets, the Sixers are already feeling their lack of star power in the east. Still looking to replace the points and leadership that Allen Iverson brought to the team for the past decade, the Sixers are looking to their young stars like Andre Miller and Andre Igoudala.

Patriots beat Colts on late comeback

The only two unbeaten teams left in the NFL faced off on Sunday in Indianapolis and in the end it was the Patriots over the Colts 24-20 in the game dubbed “Super Bowl 41 and a half.” For the first three and a half quarters of the game, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning seemed to have the game in hand. But Tom Brady and the powerful Patriots offense came back to score two touchdowns in the final seven minutes to take the lead and win the game. Patriots receiver Randy Moss caught his 12th touchdown, tying the Patriots all time single season record just eight games into the season.

Upcoming Games

Friday, Nov. 9

Men’s Swimming at Albright College (6 p.m.)

Women’s Swimming at Albright College (6 p.m.)

Saturday, Nov.10

Women’s Cross Country- NCAA Regionals (1:15 p.m.)

Men’s Cross Country-NCAA Regionals (2:15 p.m.)