A Gentleman's Game

If you didn't see it, it's here. Clifton Smith got hit so hard his girlfriend died. Dante Wesley did a bad bad thing. It was dirty, it was brutal and it appeared to be committed with intent to injure. So of course, pushes were exchanged, names were called, and honours were defended. But no punches were thrown and thanks in part to player's restraint, the official's prudence, and even coach's boldness, the situation on the field calmed down as fast as it had flared up, save for Wesley's temper tantrum on the sidelines for the half minute it took for the ref to eject him. Smith got up and walked off the field under his own power, mumbling something that sounded like Cantonese and calling Coach Morris "Professor Buttonsworth". Wesley is suspended for next Sunday, a punishment everybody except Clifton's mom thinks is adequate. Cased closed, on to week 7.

I was born and raised on hockey, to me this is fucking amazing.

One: The minute the cheap shot happened, everyone and their dog with a level head went right to work making sure nothing escalated, no fist fights, no retribution, serendipity baby. The NFL is so vehemently against fighting because they have made the decision that it doesn't wash with their image and they stick by it. The NHL has hummed and hawed about fighting like it was abortion legislation for as long as I've been alive, and they're no closer than when they started. All they know is that they don't like the game the way it is. I don't have anything against emotions spilling over, but the staged stuff is consensual ridiculousness and I can't be the only person that feels that way. So make the former acceptable and stop condoning the latter right? Nope. The league that regularly eats the PA for breakfast kowtows to the goons. Whaaa?

Two: The aftermath was; there was no aftermath. One game suspension and on with the show. The NFL doesn't have to pontificate for a year and a half on the nature of violence in society, press criminal charges, or cry in Barbara Walter's lap. The NFL is as pleased as punch with the way their game has evolved, everybody from the owners to the commentators will tell you that same thing.

This is very good, because I'm a sports fan and the only off field drama I want is cheerleaders gone wild and the odd dog fight. I don't want to see fucking Kelly Hrudy weigh in on how children are going to react to bloody noses, I want to see sports being played and the men playing them composed, honoured and pleased to be doing so.

So, maybe the NHL is more unsure of it's identity because of its place in the sports pecking order. It's a mite easier to be content when half your owners are billionaires. Maybe it's a function of it's history to always be in flux, after all, the NFL never had a Maurice Richard, never had a summit series, never had a miracle on ice, never had a Todd Bertuzzi (although they've had a few Sean Averys). What ever the reason, I'm not concerned that the two leagues are so very different, I just think the NHL could learn something about cohesion from it's big brother, and a thing or two about composure from a Sunday afternoon cheap shot.