In my post we looked at what I hope was fairly convincing evidence that the NHL needs to reconsider the existence of bare knuckle boxing within the game of hockey. What I particularly wanted to emphasize--other than the fact that the NHL has not done one thing to protect their enforcers--was the idea that the choice of being an enforcer in the professional leagues is fairly complicated when one takes into account the time/money invested by parents and family, not to mention, the money and fame that a player stands to earn etc.
A better way of doing this would have been to write a six part series on the life and evolution of late NHL enforcer, Derek Boogaard. Which, conveniently, is exactly what John Branch of the New York Times has done: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-a-boy-learns-to-brawl.html
Notable and heartbreaking quotes include (but are definitely not limited to):
“Last winter, a friend said, a neurologist asked Boogaard to estimate how many times his mind went dark and he needed a moment to regain his bearings after being hit on the head, probable sings of a concussion. Four? Five? Boogaard laughed. Try hundreds, he said.”
“If you’re playing pond hockey, 6 or 7 years old, and somebody said, ‘Hey Brantt, the only way you’re going to make it to the NHL is fighting your way there,’ you think I would have done it?” No way. I would have done something else.”
As well as a statement made by former enforcer Brantt Myhres that attempts to put the daily stresses placed on enforcers into perspective:
“Imagine you go pick a guy that’s 6-4, 220 pounds, and say, ‘Why don’t we meet here on the street in two days, and we’ll slug it out and see how it goes?’ I guarantee [that during those three days] you’ll be a mess.”
Anyone, clinging to the idea that this is a necessary part of our game needs to read this series. Go do it now, please.
A better way of doing this would have been to write a six part series on the life and evolution of late NHL enforcer, Derek Boogaard. Which, conveniently, is exactly what John Branch of the New York Times has done: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/04/sports/hockey/derek-boogaard-a-boy-learns-to-brawl.html
Notable and heartbreaking quotes include (but are definitely not limited to):
“Last winter, a friend said, a neurologist asked Boogaard to estimate how many times his mind went dark and he needed a moment to regain his bearings after being hit on the head, probable sings of a concussion. Four? Five? Boogaard laughed. Try hundreds, he said.”
“If you’re playing pond hockey, 6 or 7 years old, and somebody said, ‘Hey Brantt, the only way you’re going to make it to the NHL is fighting your way there,’ you think I would have done it?” No way. I would have done something else.”
As well as a statement made by former enforcer Brantt Myhres that attempts to put the daily stresses placed on enforcers into perspective:
“Imagine you go pick a guy that’s 6-4, 220 pounds, and say, ‘Why don’t we meet here on the street in two days, and we’ll slug it out and see how it goes?’ I guarantee [that during those three days] you’ll be a mess.”
Anyone, clinging to the idea that this is a necessary part of our game needs to read this series. Go do it now, please.
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