Quote: vastman "Never done Ice Hockey, Aussie Rules, American Football and many other games any harm.
Nobody cares that much except you and a few busy bodies. Life isn't lived in a sanitised bubble.
If I were the Chinese or any other predatory nation I wouldn't build a big Army. I'd just wait until we become that soft we will just roll over for fear of hurting someone - 5 of them in a Nissan should be enough.
I'm no fighter, never have been - but I'm glad some are - even when on occasions it's not pretty or justified. Young men in those situations will lose it occasionally.
Only Hock is a genuine issue - mainly because of his off field activities and tendency to be snide. Even then he's hardly Hannibal Lecture. It's a hard sport and wrong doing must be punished by the authorities and that is where it ends. No need for these public examinations and outcry's every time we have a spat.'"
I disagree with the comment on other sports. Ice hockey is played by big rough thugs. General opinion as I see it is that you wouldn't want your kids playing.
Aussie rules has cleaned up its act as was also getting bad rep.
American Football you don't get brawls and as with our game it costs so much money to lose a game you don't want your players off the field.
I played both codes and was involved with plenty of biff but I never went out looking for it. When you get to that stage you need to pack the game in. You are not a useful part of the team.
Tough - yes
Be able to defend yourself and you team - hell yes
Be a thug - not in my opinion.
If you bring back thuggery you will lose the
skillful players and just have a bunch of big lads fighting. That's what UFC is for.