OK United States, tell Queenzone who beat you at Olympic qualifying soccer

The funny thing is that for all that beating each other about there was only ONE of those fights that drew five minute majors for fighting! The rest were minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and virtually everybody that could be seen leaving the game was only doing so because their minor two minute penalties exceeded the remaining time onthe clock. I think the only people that ultimately actually got ejected were the two from the coaching staff! LOL  The head coach of the Flyers got a $10,000 fine as well, and the assistant on the other side a $2,500 fine.

Normally every one of those fights that happened would have been assessed five minute majors had they occurred singly in a game.  A fight that players both engage in will so rarely directly result in a game misconduct (ejection from the game) that I almost want to say never. They escalate to ejection from the game and possible fines and suspensions if they resume after they've been separated and stopped, or if players disregard or disrespect the referees in some other way related to the incident.  They also must drop their sticks and gloves to reduce the likelihood of serious injury.

Probably seems base and even barbaric that a sport so openly tolerates and even encourages fistfights, but there is a code that makes it's own sense given the particular features and rhythms of the game. I don't personally enjoy the fighting and just treat it as I would a boring commerical - something I just have to get through to get back to the game. That said, this brawl was of unusual proportions and duration and had some interesting dynamics which made it somewhat noteworthy and worth watching.

Perhaps in some contrast to rugby, contact to the head or other know-or-ought-to-know injurious actions [i]during play[/i] are zero tolerance. A player will be booted, suspended, fined and humiliated if he irresponsibly endangers another player in fact or in theory. Player reputations can be mud for ages and if the incident is serious or costly enough they can literally be pariahs of the game and the league for the remainder of their careers. Todd Bertuzzi ended Steve Moore's career with one sucker punch to the back of the head nearing a decade ago and he changed his own life as much as he changed Moore's. Maybe even more.

[QUOTE]Perhaps in some contrast to rugby, contact to the head or other know-or-ought-to-know injurious actions during play are zero tolerance.[/QUOTE]

I'm surprised this issue hasn't been a topic until just recently.  The NFL has made some drastic changes torules and penalties, yet hasn't this happened ever since each sport came about?  They (Am. Football) had leather helmets in the 50s!  Hockey players used to never wear helmets!  

[QUOTE]Then I guess people in 190 countries are wrong and you must be right.[/QUOTE]

Side note for Bob:  And to think, for a sport played by "190 other countries" it took them this long to start doing something about it?   Those "190 other countries" were WRONG!!!!  Thanks to the NFL, they're scrutinizing head injuries at all levels and all sports... finally.

[QUOTE] [b]GratefulFan wrote:[/b]
The funny thing is that for all that beating each other about there was only ONE of those fights that drew five minute majors for fighting! The rest were minor unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and virtually everybody that could be seen leaving the game was only doing so because their minor two minute penalties exceeded the remaining time onthe clock. I think the only people that ultimately actually got ejected were the two from the coaching staff! LOL  The head coach of the Flyers got a $10,000 fine as well, and the assistant on the other side a $2,500 fine.Normally every one of those fights that happened would have been assessed five minute majors had they occurred singly in a game.  A fight that players both engage in will so rarely directly result in a game misconduct (ejection from the game) that I almost want to say never. They escalate to ejection from the game and possible fines and suspensions if they resume after they've been separated and stopped, or if players disregard or disrespect the referees in some other way related to the incident.  They also must drop their sticks and gloves to reduce the likelihood of serious injury.Probably seems base and even barbaric that a sport so openly tolerates and even encourages fistfights, but there is a code that makes it's own sense given the particular features and rhythms of the game. I don't personally enjoy the fighting and just treat it as I would a boring commerical - something I just have to get through to get back to the game. That said, this brawl was of unusual proportions and duration and had some interesting dynamics which made it somewhat noteworthy and worth watching.Perhaps in some contrast to rugby, contact to the head or other know-or-ought-to-know injurious actions [i]during play[/i] are zero tolerance. A player will be booted, suspended, fined and humiliated if he irresponsibly endangers another player in fact or in theory. Player reputations can be mud for ages and if the incident is serious or costly enough they can literally be pariahs of the game and the league for the remainder of their careers. Todd Bertuzzi ended Steve Moore's career with one sucker punch to the back of the head nearing a decade ago and he changed his own life as much as he changed Moore's. Maybe even more.[/QUOTE]

Perhaps ice hockey or sport in general should be given ratings like movies. I would suggest ice hockey be given a 15 certificate, which is described by the British Board of Film Classification as follows (slightly modifed by me):

Suitable only for 15 years and over
No one younger than 15 may attend ice hockey. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated ice hockey video.

Discrimination
The game as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but ice hockey as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. Except painkillers: take as many as you like. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons, like hockey sticks, should not be glamorised. No attacks on team managers or fans (unless they really deserve it)

Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable. "Go home Yankee fuckheads!" is fine.

Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context. Chicks only.

Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, especially "yo mamma" references, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds. And French Canadians,.

Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable, except in the Olympics wehen anything goes. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification. But two chicks kissing in the audience is fine.

Ah hahahahah! I could be here for 10 minutes quoting the best parts for special lols, but in the interest of time just let me highlight "Except painkillers. Take as many as you like".

However, I need to request that hockey be downgraded to a 12. I was 12 when I fell in love with it, all by myself, no dads or brothers required. It's all mine, and this is important to me. If this means that the naked chicks in the audience can only kiss behind "Go Home Yankees fuckheads" signs, I can grudgingly live with that.

I bit of trivia I forgot yesterday evening: I'm going to gamble that somewhere in the inverse of the Venn intersection of "I already know", "I don't care" and "Who the hell is John Ondrasik" there might be some soul interested in the fact that the solo artist that goes by "Five For Fighting" (100 years, Superman Song) is a huge hockey fan and the name is in fact a reference to the standard five minute penalty issued for fighting in the NHL.

[QUOTE]

[b]GratefulFan wrote: [/b] If this means that the naked chicks in the audience can only kiss behind "Go Home Yankees fuckheads" signs, I can grudgingly live with that.[/QUOTE]
LOL. Re-reading this just now it occurs to me that I might want to clarify that I hold no special affinity for naked women kissing. Much the same is true for Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato sandwiches.  So it's the same thing.  Well the same thing If a sandwich could hold a trash talk sign at a hockey game, which it actually can't.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[QUOTE][b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b] Think before imposing your myopic views and complete ignorance of cultural anthropology on everyone who doesn't see the world as you do. Soccer is the world's most popular sport, and money has little to do with it. Cricket is in secondplace. Field hockey is third.[/QUOTE]

Not only did I think about it before "imposing my myopic views" I did a little science experiment as well.  Right after the "Your Favorite Football Team" thread was started...  I started a "Your Favorite NFL Football Team".  Guess which one had more response?  ON A SITE PRIMARLY FREQUENTED BY NON US FANS!!! 

If it were such the "Most Popular Sport" as you suggest, pinhead, then why didn't the NFL thread get pushed to page 3 and more than 5 people respond to the Football thread?

Now go get your shinebox, Bob.  It is a boring sport and no one really cares.  Except children.

All you football fans be nice to Microwave. His hockey team lost it's seed in the Western conference and lost enough late season games in a weak division to ensure the playoffs slipped away. Forgive him for his charming illogic as he's sensitive just now.

Fricking Stars!!!

[QUOTE] [b]Micrówave wrote:[/b]
Right after the "Your Favorite Football Team" thread was started...  I started a "Your Favorite NFL Football Team".  Guess which one had more response?  ON A SITE PRIMARLY FREQUENTED BY NON US FANS!!!  If it were such the "Most Popular Sport" as you suggest, pinhead, then why didn't the NFL thread get pushed to page 3 and more than 5 people respond to the Football thread?Now go get your shinebox, Bob.  It is a boring sport and no one really cares.  Except children.[/QUOTE]
Then it`s settled. A few dozen responses in a forum thread about football have clarified that soccer is no longer the world`s most popular sport. So are you going to send the memo to 190 countries about their new favourite sport, or shall I?

That`s what you call science? No wonder teaching evolution has been banned from several states in your country..

No, those people from the 190 countries you reference can't afford a fax machine... let alone a professional sports team.

Amazing how Science displaced your ignorant comments. Keep 'em coming...

The xenophobia strikes again.

Do you honestly think entire populations of most countries are that uncivilized?

Books ... you should read one some time.

Sports.

You should watch some some time. Not just dudes jogging.  (even if you like that sort of thing)

By the way, I didn't know owning a Fax Machine made you "civilized". Keep the ignorant comments coming... you're a GOLD MINE!!!

Faxist comments are very un-PC.

[QUOTE] [b]Micrówave wrote:[/b]
By the way, I didn't know owning a Fax Machine made you "civilized".[/QUOTE]
What else did you mean when you made a blanket statement about 190 of the world's countries then?