How often do you watch a sporting event and witness a fight break out? I see it all the time and I think it’s been going on for far too long and the penalties are not severe enough. And what is it teaching our children? The reason most people get their kids into sports is to teach them discipline and good sportsmanship and give them a fun activity to do outside of school and home. I’ve heard the side that says sports aren’t good for kids and that competition is bad. Personally I don’t believe that. However, there are schools around the country that will play a game but refuse to have a “winner” and a “loser” for fear of the losers getting their “feelings hurt”. This type of super-extreme political correctness has gone completely too far in my opinion but it’s happening all over the country. You can’t do or say much of anything these days without hurting somebody’s feelings. The point is life is one big competition imo. We compete in everything, in school, in the workplace etc etc. If you’re not letting your child compete in sports for fear of them getting their feelings hurt if they lose, you’re only doing more harm than good imo. We learn and we grown from our defeats in life and on the field. Many schools have stopped having physical education altogether. Our children aren’t even allowed to play dodge ball anymore for fear of somebody getting hurt. Things sure have changed since I was in school, but I’m veering off course here and the point of this article is to discuss fighting in sports. I don’t know about you, but I was embarrassed to see our own Chukars get in a fight with the opposing team a few weeks ago. Over what? An errant throw ball? Granted, I know that some pitchers will get up on the mound and throw the ball with the intent of zinging it by the batters head or body in order to intimidate them and that’s wrong imo and those types of players should be reprimanded the very first time it happens, and if it happens a second time they should kicked off the team. It’s bad sportsmanship imo, but many coaches encourage it. The point is, many times when a baseball player gets hit with a ball it was just an accident, a bad throw. The player is rewarded with that hit by getting to take first base, so what’s the point in throwing a tantrum and starting a fight? I mean really, the person that gets hit with the ball doesn’t have to run out there swinging and it’s only teaching our children bad habits and bad sportsmanship. Some of the games I’ve watched over the years it looks like players are just waiting to get hit so they can run out onto the mound and start a fight and before you know it both teams are out on the field in a big brawl.
In ice hockey fights are just a part of the game and most of the time the referees let the guys duke it out for awhile before attempting to break it up. For hockey players it’s supposedly a badge of honor to be missing a few teeth from getting into a brawl on the ice. What kind of mentality is that? I think it’s wrong and I think it’s time this sort of thing is stopped. I like a good fight as much as the next guy but that’s what boxing and the UFC is for. We’re teaching our children that when you don’t get your way on the playing field that it’s ok to fight and we’re grooming a generation of sore losers. Until the fans and the parents speak up and put a stop to this nonsense, nothing is going to change. And lets not forget the parents out there who go psycho over their kids game and end up getting into fights with other parents in the stands or yelling obscenities at the coaches?
What are your thoughts on this issue? Do you have children that play sports and if so have you spoken to them about or do you teach them good sportsmanship?
What do you think the penalties should be for the players and/or the fans when they get into a fight during a game? Should they be fined, charged with assault, banned from some or all of the games? Should players be thrown off the team for starting and/or participating in a fight? How do we put an end to this foolishness?
Just a side note: I know somebody wrote an article about this awhile back but I wasn’t able to find it. The Chukars fight got me thinking about this issue again and when I went to find that post it was gone, so I apologize if I’ve stolen someone’s original topic.
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Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
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Speaking of the Chukars, someone told me that Chukars General Manager Kevin Green recently brought a UFC cage fight to Melaluca Field within the last 10 days. If so, I think that was irresponsible. I don’t want city facilities being used to promote that kind of violence. Can you imagine if we allowed the Civic Auditorium to be used by white supremacists? Now, I know some will say that if a group wants to rent it out they should be allowed. I know that Hillcrest High School promotes the “Smoker” Boxer series. I am not too fond of that one either, but UFC seems crass and overly violent. It appears like a real life version of no holds barred fighting and cheap shots that bring out the worst in people. If the UFC wants to hold their events, they should find another outlet. Too many kids are exposed to violence and rage and respond in kind. Many organized sports have seen a decline in sportsmanship and instead breed the mentality of win at all costs. This is not what we should be teaching our kids……or allowing others to teach in our absence.
As far as hockey goes there is a good reason the refs allow the fights to go on so long as both skaters are standing. Have you ever tried to punch someone while on ice skates? You don’t get much power. The fights look bad but really its like two kittens fighting. As soon as the fight hits the ground though they break it up because now the fighters can actually get some force behind their punches.
But, I can hear you asking, why do they even allow the fighting that does happen? Its because if they don’t let the hostility vent this way the fear is that players might use their sticks as weapons and if that happens someone might actually get hurt. By letting them blow off steam with mostly harmless fighting they figure they are alleviating a bigger problem.
Hockey players do lose teeth and I don’t have and stats to back this up but I’d say its safe to say most of that happens during normal play and checking, not fighting.
I’ve never played hockey but I am a fan. I don’t know that the rationale I just gave works like they hope but thats the reason given by those who do play hockey.
CR67, nice article. I really enjoyed it.
I have often wondered why some of these clowns aren’t charged criminally: remember that whole Ron Artest (sp??) mess in the NBA, which involved players entering the stands and punching fans??? I think sports figures should be treated the same as any random citizen and accordingly charged with battery if fights occur at any time, with anyone. It truly does not have to be “part of the game” in any sport, although I completely agree with comment #2 about hockey. I would add, as an avid hockey fan, there is almost a fan-based expectation of some good hitting and a brawl here and there in pro hockey, which is sad but true.
I totally hate seeing fights break out in games I am watching.
I hated watching children’s sports games when the parents showed poor sportsmanship and yelled at the opposing team players and the coaches and the referees. Parents weren’t being good role models for their children…is it any wonder the children end up fighting during their games as young adults?
That being said, if UFC is a real sport (just as some folks like boxing, which I do not) then it seems it’s legitimate to have it in a local sports venue. I’m certainly not going to watch it because I don’t enjoy seeing human beings beat the ever-lovin’ crap out of each other with no other purpose in mind than pure enjoyment of violence.
In fact, it took me many years to realize there is an underlying strategy to football and it’s not just an excuse for violence, it’s a finely tuned strategic display of power that can be violent at times.
If the leagues are truly serious about ending these breakouts they would impose serious penalties on the persons AND the teams. But they don’t, and the sad truth is that it probably entices some element of fan-dom out there, and increases ticket sales/ratings etc.
I noticed the start of the Chukars brawl was when a Chuc would hit one of the other players from behind…Real Brave Guys. Maybe the Chuks should of got lessons from the cage fighters?. then they could atleast face the other team Face to Face before getting their clocks cleaned…whap, bonk, smack, owe.
Let’s not forget that any of the players involved in a fight can press charges against one another. The players could put a stop to this easily, yet they don’t want to be called a baby, or other bad names, nor risk that their teams may also turn against them. Too many athletes feel they would be deemed babies, and or, not real athletes if they sought legal action.
I highly doubt that. The “bigger” man wouldn’t let such petty things bother him (like being called a “baby”) and would show his professionalism on the field imo.
I went to a fight one time and a hockey game broke out
Hey Buzz! Thanks for the chuckle.
Bundy, smokers and MMA and two different events. I do not have to know you to realize that you know absolutely nothing about the sport. Two unskilled guys fighting out of anger promotes violence. MMA is a sport and these guys do not fight out of anger. MMA is simply a sport that incorporates wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and submission grappling. The amount of work that is involved in becoming an mma competitor is humbling. Contrary to your belief, MMA has a strict set of rules established by a sanctioning body and such cheep shots you mention result in suspension. Statistically, MMA has less life threating injuries than the majority of approved athletic events. I have been involved with the sport for over 10 years now and some of the best people I know I met while competing or attending mma events. Am I a violent persons? No, and neither is my wife and three daughters who know and understand the sport! Do I take them to these so called violent events? You better believe I do. They know that this is a sport and actually see the strategies involved in the competition.
“submission grappling”?
is that what was going on in the comments in the “Obama Goes to Europe” post?
or is that what occurs after a fight over the remote control breaks out?
MMA, I am not making fun of your sport; I just got a kick out of the phrase “submission grappling”.
And then they play pattycake and shake hands in the ring to play nice.
MMA can call it submission grappling…..how about we call it what it is: putting a chokehold on the opponent until he slaps out or passes out. That’s not violent, no way.
I am sure that they do train pretty heavily. Nazi storm troopers trained pretty hard too. Alot of prisoners work out hard in the joint and lift weights. The fact that somebody works hard to get their body in prime condition does not legitimize the activity. Nuff said on that point.
IMO, it is a violent sport that the City of Idaho Falls should not be supporting by allowing use of city owned venues. That is all. I am not saying outlaw it….I am simply stating that I don’t want my tax dollars going to support this type of “sport”.
Bundy, your comments legitimize the fact that you do not know or understand the sport of mma. Don’t worry about the fact that your tax dollars support mma because I am sure they don’t get to rent the venue for free and the company pays taxes to the state too.
What’s mma? And does Idaho Falls have mma events?
I wouldn’t care about the taxes being paid. I wouldn’t want rental fees from skinheads or white supremacists either. The money recovered is not the point. It is about supporting a violent clash on city property and city facilities.
I am not defending MMA. To me it’s like dog fights or other types of animal fights, and I’m not interested in it at all. It reeks of Roman coliseum bloody slave fights and I just think we’re hitting a new low for our society to enjoy this level of violence as entertainment.
It is repugnant to me, but apparently not to others, and I think we either have to outlaw it or allow it altogether, no fair allowing it but “not in a public venue”.
So as far as the examples you gave, skinheads or white supremacists, if the venue is open for organizations to rent for activities, it should be open to all legal organizations, even if we don’t like their activities.
Or shall we make a law that legislates against this type of behavior, the type that we don’t like? Whereas, we really don’t like it when others make laws to legislate against other types of behavior, decrying government intervention and attempted control of behaviors that we think should be a matter of personal responsibility….???
Two words to best describe this topic. “POOR SPORTS”. They all need to grow up and act like adults, if they ARE such.
Cooking channels promote obesity and high cholesterol (being sarcastic but you get my point). MMA is not tuff man and does not resemble dog fights. Statistically, there are more life threatening injuries in high schools sports with cheer leading having the highest probability of injury. Do you guys like the Olympics or do they promote violence? Wrestling, boxing, and judo make up all of the aspects of MMA so don’t watch them if you find them offensive. By the way, did you know that Bringham Young was an avid submission wrestler who choked and submitted his opponents on a daily basis? Did he do it out of violence? No, it is the oldest and most recognized sport in the world!!
Well, you missed me all around, MMA. I don’t watch the Olympics. I don’t care for high school cheerleaders, statistically.
And Brigham Young’s antics are not my cup of Postum, either.
You also may have missed the main point from my posts. While I don’t approve of this “sport” I think it qualifies in our society as a legal sport so should enjoy the same privileges (including the right to rent the city venues such as the ball park) as other legal sports.
okay, the image of Brigham Young doing “submission grappling”. . . . .
disturbing. . . yet funny, all at once.
Was it on his many wives? Oops, sorry. My bad, lol :
LOL… you guys are too much!!
Thanks for the chuckle!
Find humor, I swear, I was just about to post something about that. . . . how having 20 wives might involve lots o’ submission grappling. . . .
ROFL
Nemisis, I did miss your your point! I appreciate and respect your comments.