Hockey 101

Being a fan of hockey is one of life's little added bonuses as far as I'm concerned. If you think about it, among our major professional sports, it is the least politically correct sport out there. In a world that strives to avoid confrontation and struggle, the NHL revels in it. What red-blooded American male could not appreciate a good brouhaha when some gloves hit the ice? What strategist would not enjoy the mini-chess matches that go on with line changes? The NHL has true-blue bad guys (Pronger) and good guys (Lidstrom). Some of the greatest rivalries in sports are in the NHL.

There are so many things about the sport alone that appeals to my nature. The contact aspect of the game, the speeds at which objects travel, including a small circular piece of galvanized rubber traveling at a maximum of 105 mph. People who complain about the fighting because they don't understand that the motivation behind fighting is to eliminate goon squad tactics of other teams  or to (protect your money guys). Then there is the thrill of a power play, or a penalty shot, and the nearly 3 month long "2nd season", which ends at the culmination of raising the Stanley Cup, the oldest sports trophy in all major sports. The NHL or hockey to me is one of the standards for true athleticism and competition though eclipsed in popularity by other professional sports. 

Today's NBA definitely has some high caliber athletes who exaggeratedly act as if they have been mauled by a mountain lion when nudged by an opponent and proceed to writhe on the court in freakish agony only to get right back up and play the next possession seemingly unscathed from the vicious attack. 

Then you have the NFL who has designated staff on the sidelines ready and waiting to squeeze a bottle of water into some over-paid athletes mouth, cause they are to spoiled to do it themselves, who own three mansions in three states, and declare bankruptcy 2 years after being out of the NFL.

And lets not forget the mega-money to be made in the steroid laced MLB. Not to mention the outrageous  salaries handed out with ease during the so-called "recession". It's hard to even follow someones career anymore without wondering if he is tainted with juice as well.

In this reality which is professional sports, it's refreshing to have the NHL. A bunch average, hardened men who still play with injuries and blood. It's almost enjoyable to watch a player pick up his own water bottle and quench his own thirst. And then seeing a man like Paul Kariya get absolutely smashed in the 2003 playoffs by Scott Stevens, and then he comes back into the game and scores the game winner. Or Jiri Hudler this year get viciously blindsided at an expense of 10 stitches and was back on the ice in 10 minutes. 

Playing on through broken noses, busted teeth, gashes, fractures, pulled muscles, broken ankles (Yzerman), intense pain and more. If many NBA stars felt that impact of a clean visceral Scott Stevens, or a more current Nikalas Kronwall check, they would have gladly enjoyed drawing their salary for about a month.

The NHL has men who take enormous pay cuts just for a chance to play on a team who has a chance to compete and win the Stanley Cup. Your average "grinder" with the NHL is pulling in maybe $500,000 to $800,000 a year, which is a modest income in the NHL and considered to be poverty in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. These guys love to play, and it shows. You have men in the MLB making $29 million a year and they rarely produce the numbers they are paid for. How much was Ocho Cinco paid last year and what were his numbers?

I can find enjoyment in the sporting and competition aspect of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, ping-pong and pretty much any competitive sport. But knowing the financial burdens of friends and families, and then to hear some of these NFL guys get fined $100,000 and say, "that's nothing to me", really makes it hard to respect them. A guy gets fined in the NHL, he rarely discusses it or takes responsibility for it without making excuses even if he disagrees.

All and all, in the end an individual will find a sport that most accommodates their interest and frame of mind. I just thought I would give my 2 cents, for what it is worth. I know my opinion is biased of course. I was bored, and it is, however a free country...