| My TV viewing is almost exclusively comprised of | | | | Quite often, this results in the opponent receiving a |
| watching sporting events; golf, tennis, baseball, football, | | | | concussion as the helmeted head smashes into the |
| curling and hockey. I will not watch boxing or it's | | | | glass. If this is not enough, some will drop their gloves |
| facsimile that I will not spend the time finding out what | | | | and start smashing each others face. Of course, there |
| it's called, where they box, kick, maul and otherwise try | | | | are rules and penalties for doing this. Minor infractions |
| to kill each other. I do not consider this as sports. This | | | | are penalized with time in the penalty box, but there is |
| latter activity is exactly the gist of this article. | | | | no ejection for fighting. |
| The Americans call the game of baseball their national | | | | This situation can be readily remedied with the proper |
| sport and I thoroughly agree. Competition is intense and | | | | disciplinary action, but management, with the direction |
| it has the drama and suspense of the competing | | | | of the commissioner and ultimately the team owners |
| managers trying to out-think each other. What I love | | | | are disinclined to do. They fear for the possible loss of |
| about the players is that it doesn't matter if it's the ninth | | | | revenue if they lose some of the spectators. Some |
| inning of the World Series, when a batter reaches first | | | | faction of the populous still enjoy all this blood and gore, |
| base; he and the opposing first baseman stand there | | | | just as the over-fed Romans used to watch the |
| joking and laughing with each other. They do not glare | | | | Christians being mauled by lions, 2000 years ago. |
| at each other and try to sneak in a right elbow. | | | | It seems to me, that if the owners don't want to do |
| Football is a tough and physically violent game. In each | | | | anything, the players themselves, through the players |
| play from scrimmage, three and four hundred pound | | | | union, should implement a Code of Conduct for the |
| linemen pounce at each other, trying to push the other | | | | playing of this game of hockey. When millions of dollars |
| player away from the intended path of the ball carrier. | | | | in salary are involved, it is difficult to believe that one |
| However, when the play is over, the player who is | | | | player would want to injure another, to the point where |
| standing will extend his hand and help pull the fallen | | | | the injury could be a career ending one. The players |
| opponent up. More importantly, should they fight; they | | | | should just refuse to do the rough stuff, and play the |
| are ejected from the game. The players do not | | | | game as it was intended. |
| consider their opponents as enemies. Their whole | | | | Football is a prime example where, in spite of the |
| purpose is in managing the direction of the football. | | | | violence, each game is virtually sold out. The game of |
| Then we come to the winter classic called ice hockey. | | | | hockey is a great game that can be played without |
| Unfortunately, this game is played with a hockey stick | | | | the extra-curricular attempt to injure an opponent. The |
| and a small rubber disc that they propel with the stick | | | | rules permit body contact, in order to prevent the |
| at over a hundred miles per hour. The stick, however, | | | | opponent from advancing the puck but do not |
| is sometimes used as a weapon to slash the puck | | | | condone slashing and slamming opponents into |
| carrier across the ankle. One of the more serious | | | | submission. |
| infractions is running the opponent into the boards. | | | | |