National Hockey League (NHL) general managers think some fighting in their league needs to be eliminated, or at least reduced.
They’re recommending a rule change that would give a 10-minute misconduct penalty to players who fight immediately after a faceoff.
The 10-minute misconduct could also be applied to any other fight a referee believes was staged.
“I’m kind of offended by the fact that it’s a staged fight,” said Minnesota Wild general manager Doug Risebrough, a 13-year NHL veteran. “The idea is that players have to be involved in the game.”
In staged fights, there is an unspoken understanding between teams allowing players to tangle with each other, usually during inconsequential parts of the game.
“I’ve never really thought of the strategy because I thought it was a dumb idea,” Risebrough said.
The general managers spoke during the second day of their annual meetings. Their recommendations would have to be approved by the NHL’s competition committee and Board of Governors before the 2009-2010 season.
The general managers also recommended limiting fighting in response to a clean hit, by calling the instigator penalty more aggressively. The league has seen an increase in violent reactions to clean hits.
“I don’t like those fights. I don’t understand them,” said Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, former GM of the rough-and-tumble Anaheim Ducks and a longtime proponent of fighting. “Start calling the instigator penalties, and we’ll get rid of some of this nonsense.”
Fights in response to clean hits are an example of ice hockey players’ self-regulation, where referees and rules apparently aren’t trusted to regulate the game, and players take the matter into their own hands, by responding to a hit with a fight.
“Let the players police themselves? I don’t think that’s right,” league disciplinarian Colin Campbell said. “I think there’s rules in place to do that.”
League statistics cited by Campbell show that 108 (22 percent) of the first 500 fights this season occurred immediately after the faceoff.
While endorsing one rule change and more aggressive use of the instigator rule, the general managers rejected or at least postponed an NHL Players’ Association proposal from Monday to add a rule specifically banning shoulder hits to the head.
Campbell said those hits have already been punished with supplemental discipline.
“Our [general managers] didn’t have the appetite to have that called on the ice right now,” Campbell said.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely