Sunday evening, my wife took me to a Hershey Bears game as a Christmas gift. I used to go to Bears games with my dad and uncle when I was in high school and college, but I haven't been back since then. No reason, just never got around to it. In fact, I've never seen the Bears play at Giant Center - the last game I saw was at "The Old Barn."
Anyway, on to my story...
The game kicked off at 5pm and the Bears took an early lead against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring 3 goals in the first 5 or so minutes of the 1st Period. In fact, the Bears dominated the 1st Period, having about 15 shots on goal. The Penguins scored 1 goal in the 2nd and the Bears clinched the game in the 3rd with a 4th goal.
But, it wasnt the Bears winning game that I left Giant Center thinking, it was the "other" action that I saw on the ice - FIGHTING.
Now, I've been to plenty of hockey games in my life, and I know that a lot of fans would be dissapointed if they dont see at least one helment & gloves-off boxing match, but why does it go on?
I'm not talking about a little shoving after a cross-check. I'm talking about the gloves coming off, the 2 players moving to center-ice, everyone else moving to the edges of the ice (including the refs), and these 2 guys circling each other for a good 30-seconds, before a guy threw the 1st punch. Then, the fighting going on or a good 30 sec before the refs even batted an eyelid. I never remember seeing anything like that before.
Now, during this fight, the crowd roared - including the 3 kids (maybe 8 to 12 years old) - that were sitting in front of me with their father. This is what I hear from them... "yeah, go...knock his block off." "Smash his face in." "Come on, you can do better than that." And, the father was encouraging their cheers.
Is this what we should be encouraging our children to cheer on? The Bears do such a great job having family-friendly contests, etc. during the periods and at some points even during the periods, but then this kind of stuff happens. What are kids going to remember, the fight or the other contests, etc.?
I'm not trying to judge anyone, but I enjoyed everything about the game, but that. Yes, hockey is a VERY contact-sport. But, so is football, and you dont see that happening to often, do you?
What do you think?
