<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="LordKOTL" data-cid="211535" data-time="1382049826">
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Variable: it's why you have to look at the whole fighting argument as a cart/horse equation. As much as fighting/enforcers/goons didn't do jack or shit to prevent Max Lapierre's hit,
Banning fighting would not have done jack or shit to prevent it either.</p>
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One of the main reasons for fighting is the heat of the moment and retribution--like how the Sharks swarmed on Lapierre after the hit. Now, if you *really* throw the book at the cheapshot artists--like if Lapierre is out as long as Boyle is medically unfit to play as determened by a neutral doctor, and for the duration Lapierre has to pay for Boye's medical bills, salary, and the Blues are penalized the aggregate cap hit of Boyle and Lapierre's cap for the duration the Boyle is medically unfit to play, then you'll see cheapshots start to dwindle, and the ensuing fights start to dwindle--especially considring how much and how long Torres would have been shelling out the pooper for his hit on Hossa, and how it would have put the Coyotes in a hole.</p>
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It still wouldn't get rid of fighting, but the culture change would make it more rare.</p>
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In summary; fighting doesn't need to be currtailed or banned--cheapshots need to be more strictly penalised to the point where pugilistic retribution is the least of the assailing players' worries. That will bring fighting down naturally.</p>
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I didn't say it would though. That's never been the argument. My post was talking about stricter discipline by the league for dirty/cheap hits. The better argument for getting rid of fighting is simply because it doesn't do anything and you only ever have something to lose, nothing to gain. As you said it doesn't affect the dirty players in deterring them. So why would the league willingly contribute to potential further head trauma for players for no good reason while, at the same time, talk about how serious they want to take that issue? Until they disallow that from happening, they're being massive hypocrites. The amount of concussions is never going to equal what you get from hits, just because of the sheer amount of hits vs. fights, but the percentages are higher you get it from a fight rather than a hit.</p>
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Rest of the post besides the suspension being as long as the injured player is out I can agree with. Especially on the neutral doctor point. That should exist for everything, not just head injuries. Never liked the idea of team appointed doctors in any sport.</p>
rcs-buttshake:</p>
