If you're a hockey fan, you probably hate the old "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out" joke. But watching New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro and the Penguins' goalie, Brent Johnson, go at it on the ice last night reminded me exactly why I think more ladies need to give hockey a try.
DiPietro gave the Pens' Matt Cooke a shove to the chest as he skated by around the end of last night's game. While eyes were on the downed Cooke, Johnson came charging out of the net, shucking his gloves to meet DiPietro at the blue line, and have it out in a rare goalie-on-goalie brawl. It was awesome!
Wasn't that beautiful? One punch. TKO!
I'm not a violent person by nature. I don't spank my kid. I don't hit my husband. But I love a good clean fight as much as I love a spectacular crash in NASCAR. Some would describe it as the "girly way" of watching sports. Ironic, isn't it? We're called the "more gentle" sex, but we like our sports bloody.
I'm going to admit it. At the only hockey game I've seen in the flesh (well, in an arena, the chill in the air kept all flesh covered up, thank you very much), I couldn't wait for my first fight. The back and forth of the regular play has a beautiful rhythm to it, but after awhile, too much of that rhythm puts me to sleep. Swish, swish. Swish, swish. Pass. Swish, swish. Swish, swish.
When it finally happened, the competitive part of me kicked in. I picked my favorite, and I backed him until the end. OK, maybe I do have a teeny tiny violent streak. I studied karate in high school. But I only used it in self defense! And no matter how hard the most complicated sports rules are (Why do they have to vary from high school to college to the pros? Seriously, that's just cruel to a newlywed getting her first SportsCenter fix!), you know the rules of a fight. Pick one guy, hope he knocks the other one out.
The way I see it, the fights snap me back into the real world, get my heart racing, and make me excited once again to be watching a hockey game! And when you've got a 3-0 game involving the Islanders of all teams (I'm betraying my preference for the Rangers, I know, but come on ... can you blame me?), you need a little boost of energy to keep you feeling like there's even a game going on.
It may not make you a diehard fan, but it will broaden your TV-watching options when there's nothing good on cable. So what do you say? Willing to give hockey a try? The Islanders could use some fans.
Image via YouTube
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Comments 8
This completely made my night last night. Amazing.
I have been a hockey fan since Mario Lemuix was part of the Penguins and he was the main reason I got into hockey because he was a good player but seeing a good fight here and there is always good. I have seen plenty of fights epscailly up close when I have gone to couple of games.
spectacular! I love me some hockey and a good hockey fight!
Nope. Sorry. I've been to hockey games and been extremely irritated when a fight breaks out. I think it's absolutely stupid that they allow for it in the rules. I think it's absolutely WRONG that kids are taught to fight as part of their hockey lessons.
If you can't play fair, get off the ice.
OMG I LOVE hockey. And PonyChaser, you're such a kill-joy, if you get irritated then don't watch hockey. I have been to two NHL games (both in San Jose, CA) and the first game, the ref got a puck in the head and was down on the ice for like 10 minutes, he later skated off. But man was that game awesome. And then when I was watching the Ducks vs Sharks (go Ducks!) they are HUGE rivals, when they were in the playoffs in early 2008, there were 3 fights in the first period and 2 in the second. Greatest game ever! I love the fights in hockey, but I don't like watching boxing or fighting matches. Besides I would love to see those boxers try to do that on ice with a ton of padding on ice skates.
My neighbor pulled her grandson out of hockey because the coach was giving the team fighting lessons. Said it was "all part of the game", and "they had to learn to do it if they ever wanted to play like the big boys". So yes, some hockey coaches DO teach the boys to fight.
And PButtercup... I DON'T watch hockey. I don't care if you do or not. I used to play it, though, and I really like the game. I think it's a shame that it's become all about the fights. In my opinion, if you want to see a fight, go to a boxing match, or an Ultimate Fighting Event. But I am in the extreme minority, so, sad to say, a really great sport has been ruined for me. And for my son, because as much as I love the game, I'll never allow him to play it, as long as the fight is the main attraction.