Comments on: Elizabeth Lambert, Part 2 http://www.theglowingedge.com/elizabeth-lambert-part-2/ Boxing, rock, and laundry in the burb nest. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 11:46:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lance Bledsoe http://www.theglowingedge.com/elizabeth-lambert-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1164 Lance Bledsoe Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:01:33 +0000 http://www.theglowingedge.com/?p=2100#comment-1164 I agree that hockey is unique in the way it has actually formalized fighting as a part of its structure (take a look <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_in_ice_hockey" rel="nofollow">here</a> and <a href="http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hockeyfighting1.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> for some interesting info on the "rules" of fighting in hockey), but I also think fighting is an informal part of the structure of many, if not most, sports, or at least men's sports. The second link above has a fascinating analysis of the "enforcer" role in hockey, the players who are really on the ice primarily for their fighting skills rather than their hockey skills. The author describes two examples of teams in which the most talented player was relatively small (one was the great Wayne Gretzky), and thus an appealing target for physical play by opposing teams. The author suggests that these smaller players (and thus their teams) would not have been nearly as successful if it were not for the presence of their enforcer teammates. While the enforcer role, and the fighting culture in general, is not nearly so formal in other male sports, it's still there, and serves as a check on teams that might be tempted to gain a competitive advantage via intimidating physical play. The Lambert game offers a case study of a situation in which one of the teams didn't have an enforcer, and thus got pushed around by a physically aggressive opponent. I agree that hockey is unique in the way it has actually formalized fighting as a part of its structure (take a look here and here for some interesting info on the “rules” of fighting in hockey), but I also think fighting is an informal part of the structure of many, if not most, sports, or at least men’s sports.

The second link above has a fascinating analysis of the “enforcer” role in hockey, the players who are really on the ice primarily for their fighting skills rather than their hockey skills. The author describes two examples of teams in which the most talented player was relatively small (one was the great Wayne Gretzky), and thus an appealing target for physical play by opposing teams. The author suggests that these smaller players (and thus their teams) would not have been nearly as successful if it were not for the presence of their enforcer teammates. While the enforcer role, and the fighting culture in general, is not nearly so formal in other male sports, it’s still there, and serves as a check on teams that might be tempted to gain a competitive advantage via intimidating physical play.

The Lambert game offers a case study of a situation in which one of the teams didn’t have an enforcer, and thus got pushed around by a physically aggressive opponent.

]]> By: Lisa Creech Bledsoe http://www.theglowingedge.com/elizabeth-lambert-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1163 Lisa Creech Bledsoe Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:49:53 +0000 http://www.theglowingedge.com/?p=2100#comment-1163 Your point about the infractions happening near the ball was well made, <b>Rob.</b> And I do like the fact that some fighting is allowed in hockey. I wonder how we could begin to allow for some of that in another sport like soccer. Especially women's soccer. I can't see how that would hurt the game, do you? Your point about the infractions happening near the ball was well made, Rob. And I do like the fact that some fighting is allowed in hockey. I wonder how we could begin to allow for some of that in another sport like soccer. Especially women’s soccer. I can’t see how that would hurt the game, do you?

]]> By: Rob Miracle http://www.theglowingedge.com/elizabeth-lambert-part-2/comment-page-1/#comment-1162 Rob Miracle Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:40:17 +0000 http://www.theglowingedge.com/?p=2100#comment-1162 Thats why fighting is allowed in Hockey. Some times a 2 minute penalty for a cheap-shot isn't enough. What gets me is that most of the fouls she committed happened where the ball was. There is no excuse for the center referee to not see them. She did several yellow-card level fouls where the referee was watching. Also the linesmen can notify the referee of behind the play altercations. Had the referee done his job she would have been red-carded after her 2nd yellow and it wouldn't have escalated to this level. The refs need some suspensions out of this as well. .-= Rob Miracle´s last blog ..<a href="http://omnisports.robmiracle.com/2009/10/18/nfl-game-selection-todays-stink/" rel="nofollow">NFL Game Selection — Today’s Stink</a> =-. Thats why fighting is allowed in Hockey. Some times a 2 minute penalty for a cheap-shot isn’t enough.

What gets me is that most of the fouls she committed happened where the ball was. There is no excuse for the center referee to not see them. She did several yellow-card level fouls where the referee was watching. Also the linesmen can notify the referee of behind the play altercations. Had the referee done his job she would have been red-carded after her 2nd yellow and it wouldn’t have escalated to this level.

The refs need some suspensions out of this as well.
.-= Rob Miracle´s last blog ..NFL Game Selection — Today’s Stink =-.

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