An Open Letter to All Soccer Fans

MikeK said:

...and if Paros takes yet another concussion because he has the worst balance of any fighter in the league or dies like Boogaard or Rypien, no biggie because at least he entertained us. That Junior Seau and Dave Duerson and Mohamed Ali and Jim McMahon and hundreds of others were robbed of a decent life by brain damage that came as a direct result of their careers doesn't matter because we had fun watching them. I could no longer, as a pro-life person, contribute to that machine in good conscience. If others can, great.

I post solely from my phone, and only in down moments at work or play, in the freestanding or on the boat, and oh yes, during pooping time.

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Let’s do some more math.

Shall we.

Lets see... average typing words per minute for most = less than 50(I’m guessing but I’m sure on a phone it’s even lower)...

Your two posts in this thread app. 130 words per post...

Add in some pondering/thinking time pre-posting...

Conservative estimate... 5 – 10 minutes per post.

Do that every half hour...

= 15 minutes of every waking hour posting on a web forum.

That’s a lot of ‘down time’.

Kudos to you.


As for your demonizing of sport fans...

The majority of these sport figures grew up playing sports they enjoyed and feel blessed that they reached their dream of doing something they loved for a living... and made a nice salary for it to boot. I’ve known, know and will know more, athletes who dedicate their lives to their ‘craft’... excelled at it, gave of themselves to charities and all the other good stuff that goes along with it.... with no regrets. And I got to enjoy watching them. All good stuff – if you ask me.

Anywho... like I said. Too each his own.

Oh... I almost forgot. That ‘as a pro-life person’ statement there.

I suppose it’s safe to assume, as a ‘pro-life person’, and in good conscience wanting to not contribute to such a ‘life taking machine’... you do not own a motor vehicle. Safe assumption eh? You know, since motor vehicles are one of the major life takers world wide.

Very impressive. Once again. Kudos to you.

I operate my motor vehicle as a means to an end. It gets me to work and back and yes, also to play. I take reasonable precautions with it. I consider crash safety when making a purchase and we use safety belts and appropriate child restraints. Appropriate safety measures are not taken into account in a bare-knuckle, helmet-less fistfight on ice between two men for the primary purpose of entertaining people. No honest argument can be made for the roll of the hockey enforcer in an era that has seen the Red Wings (among others) be so successful without one.

Of course, your math is broken. I type as I think. That's why I ramble. Does anyone actually sit and think for 5 or 10 minutes before posting on a webforum? Use your same factors and consider a Michie-type poster. She would have, by your logic, spent more time posting then existed. I am not surprised that your response to an argument against what you do is a "but you....." rather than thoughtful reflection. It is exactly what I expect I appreciate the deep interest you've taken in me.

.

S.ilvio said:

Seriously...? The dutch reached two World Cup Finals in the 1970's. created Total Football (google it), In the 90's brought us Gullit and Van Basten. Clubs like Ajax and Feyernoord have graced European finals.

Seriuosly...

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means nothing if you don't win it all. it would be like talking about how great the dream team was but they still lost to venezuela.

S.ilvio said:

Please, do not mention Rugby in the same post as sports that have more bodily protections than a Knight of the Roundtable...

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when rugby players get sandwiched or hit along the boards:




when the thing they use to score points is coming at them like a howitzer:



that they play a sport on these sharp things called skates. [I'd post an image but these forums have rules for such things, so you go on ahead and just check out clint malarchuk for yourself]. it's pretty silly to suggest that just because of what they have on it's less intense sport. take out the protection and you'd see players maimed and killed.

MikeK said:

...and if Paros takes yet another concussion because he has the worst balance of any fighter in the league or dies like Boogaard or Rypien, no biggie because at least he entertained us. That Junior Seau and Dave Duerson and Mohamed Ali and Jim McMahon and hundreds of others were robbed of a decent life by brain damage that came as a direct result of their careers doesn't matter because we had fun watching them. I could no longer, as a pro-life person, contribute to that machine in good conscience. If others can, great.

I post solely from my phone, and only in down moments at work or play, in the freestanding or on the boat, and oh yes, during pooping time.

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no one forced those athletes to do what they did, and regarding hockey players, no one asked that they only fight. one of the great things about the lockout was that it was the beginning of the end for players who brought nothing to the table outside of fighting. the game became more up tempo and players needed to meet certain criteria for skating, playing abilities. you still had a few nuggets here and there but gone were the days of teams requiring to do two things in the off season. acquire skill and acquire a brawler to protect that skill player or to turn things around for the team by throwing a few fists.

for all sports, they're all going through an evolution when it comes to players' safety. no one really understood the real side effects of head trauma in the 70s and 80s as they do today. moving forward, I see more safety measures, rule changes to limit the amount of serious injuries. to my love that is hockey, there are things that I still think they can do better when it comes to safety. I still don't understand why players use those types of helmets when dome shaped helmets are better at reducing concussions. every player should wear visors and kevlar socks. the elbow pads are as hard as rock and there have been players who have thrown the elbow to an unsuspecting player. the league could be harsher and certainly more consistent in handing out punishments to repeat offenders.

This video says it all. No 80's shoulder pads or bullet proof vests. Mano-a-Mano...:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1A06stpydY

no one forced those athletes to do what they did, and regarding hockey players, no one asked that they only fight. one of the great things about the lockout was that it was the beginning of the end for players who brought nothing to the table outside of fighting. the game became more up tempo and players needed to meet certain criteria for skating, playing abilities. you still had a few nuggets here and there but gone were the days of teams requiring to do two things in the off season. acquire skill and acquire a brawler to protect that skill player or to turn things around for the team by throwing a few fists.

for all sports, they're all going through an evolution when it comes to players' safety. no one really understood the real side effects of head trauma in the 70s and 80s as they do today. moving forward, I see more safety measures, rule changes to limit the amount of serious injuries. to my love that is hockey, there are things that I still think they can do better when it comes to safety. I still don't understand why players use those types of helmets when dome shaped helmets are better at reducing concussions. every player should wear visors and kevlar socks. the elbow pads are as hard as rock and there have been players who have thrown the elbow to an unsuspecting player. the league could be harsher and certainly more consistent in handing out punishments to repeat offenders.

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I submit the Calgary Flames, 2014

I disagree with the suggestion that it is okay to be entertained by human beings who are putting their health at grave risk so long as the know the odds. In the last 5 years there have been what, 60 NHL enforcers, of which at least 3 are dead, all of them having tested positive for brain damage. That's 1-in-20. I submit that watching a person play Russian roulette with a revolver with a 100 shot cylinder (quite the machining task!) loaded with one cartridge for entertainment would be barbaric. I favor gross misconduct penalties for fighting and increasing suspensions each time a player drops their gloves, now. If people are afraid sticks will come up or checking from behind will become more common, stiffen those penalties too and start fining and suspending reckless players (I think Shanahan has done a pretty good job there).

I agree with your thoughts on gear. Shoulder and elbow pads should be soft, no hard armoured cups. Full face cages or shields mandetory, ditto the Kevlar. Wireless accelerometers now can be had for $200 or less, they belong in every NHL and NFL helmet. Players who are on the bubble know that reporting head injuries will cost them money, maybe their job. We should monitor the forces they receive.

S.ilvio said:

This video says it all. No 80's shoulder pads or bullet proof vests. Mano-a-Mano...:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1A06stpydY

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most of those hits are simple tackles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5xkMNIt-5k

really of the two which consists of more velocity and impact and then come back and say how wussified the sport is for having to wear gear.

one more to drill to the point home:






the only reason that player didn't suffer any facial fractures, serious contusions was because he was wearing one of these:



that shot still had enough power behind it to shatter the visor, and they're pretty versatile to begin with.

MikeK said:

I submit the Calgary Flames, 2014

I disagree with the suggestion that it is okay to be entertained by human beings who are putting their health at grave risk so long as the know the odds. In the last 5 years there have been what, 60 NHL enforcers, of which at least 3 are dead, all of them having tested positive for brain damage. That's 1-in-20. I submit that watching a person play Russian roulette with a revolver with a 100 shot cylinder (quite the machining task!) loaded with one cartridge for entertainment would be barbaric. I favor gross misconduct penalties for fighting and increasing suspensions each time a player drops their gloves, now. If people are afraid sticks will come up or checking from behind will become more common, stiffen those penalties too and start fining and suspending reckless players (I think Shanahan has done a pretty good job there).

I agree with your thoughts on gear. Shoulder and elbow pads should be soft, no hard armoured cups. Full face cages or shields mandetory, ditto the Kevlar. Wireless accelerometers now can be had for $200 or less, they belong in every NHL and NFL helmet. Players who are on the bubble know that reporting head injuries will cost them money, maybe their job. We should monitor the forces they receive.

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I think it's a faulty argument to compare nhl fights with russian roulette. a player doesn't have to fight just because the other player wants to. he can do what subban does and that's curl in the fetal position to draw the penalty. there are plentiful fights where both players go at it and still have enough sportsmanship that they pat each other for a good fight. serious injuries from fights have declined. it's hits to the head [shoulder, unsuspecting player without the puck, elbow, boarding, hits from behind] that are problematic and all those do result in penalties. even five minute majors.

Sumwear said:

he can do what subban does and that's curl in the fetal position to draw the penalty.

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Nah... I take it you're a bruins fan?

That deal with Ference wasn't a turtle... Ference suckered him and he went down... his helmet came off and he protected himself.

PK's job is not to fight. He's more valuable on the ice... not in the box. That said... he's had his share of fights and holds his own pretty good.

When he's on the ice not only can he create offense but he can do things like this...

PK Subban Destroys Brad Marchand (December 16 2010) - YouTube

Sumwear said:

there are plentiful fights where both players go at it and still have enough sportsmanship that they pat each other for a good fight. serious injuries from fights have declined. it's hits to the head [shoulder, unsuspecting player without the puck, elbow, boarding, hits from behind] that are problematic and all those do result in penalties. even five minute majors.

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That's right. As a matter of fact, since they brought in the instigator rule high sticking and head and other serious injuries have gone up. No accountability. The 'pinkos'(learned that word from Grapes) don't know what the heck their talking about when it comes to this stuff. They're better off on their couch focusing on painting their toe nails.

Sumwear said:

I think it's a faulty argument to compare nhl fights with russian roulette. a player doesn't have to fight just because the other player wants to. he can do what subban does and that's curl in the fetal position to draw the penalty. there are plentiful fights where both players go at it and still have enough sportsmanship that they pat each other for a good fight. serious injuries from fights have declined. it's hits to the head [shoulder, unsuspecting player without the puck, elbow, boarding, hits from behind] that are problematic and all those do result in penalties. even five minute majors.

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Russian roulette is optional too. I don't think it's morally acceptable to watch people engage in it, even if they know the risks and even if they are partaking voluntarily and even if the are well-compensated adults. I suspect you agree with that much. I don't think Boogaard, Belak, Rypien or Probert's brain damage came primarily from non-fight-related injuries. Taking bare knuckle punches to the head from professional athletes just isn't good for your brain. I grew up cheering for Kocur and Probert and Gallant and Semenko and the Kordics and Brown and all those guys. It was absolutely entertaining. I just don't feel right about it anymore. You can, I'm not calling for it to be outlawed, I just personally don't feel right about it anymore. I would not want my sons doing it, so I can't watch someone else's son do it.

hsilgne said:

That's right. As a matter of fact, since they brought in the instigator rule high sticking and head and other serious injuries have gone up. No accountability. The 'pinkos'(learned that word from Grapes) don't know what the heck their talking about when it comes to this stuff. They're better off on their couch focusing on painting their toe nails.

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Yes, people who have a moral opposition to gratuitous violence are feminine.

How did you determine that head injuries are up since 1992? For certain, awareness of the seriousness of head injuries is up, and people who can afford to are taking a more reasonable, more cautious road after concussions, but are you certain head injuries happen at a higher rate post '92 than previously?

MikeK said:

I operate my motor vehicle as a means to an end. It gets me to work and back and yes, also to play. I take reasonable precautions with it. I consider crash safety when making a purchase and we use safety belts and appropriate child restraints. Appropriate safety measures are not taken into account in a bare-knuckle, helmet-less fistfight on ice between two men for the primary purpose of entertaining people. No honest argument can be made for the roll of the hockey enforcer in an era that has seen the Red Wings (among others) be so successful without one.

Of course, your math is broken. I type as I think. That's why I ramble. Does anyone actually sit and think for 5 or 10 minutes before posting on a web forum? Use your same factors and consider a Michie-type poster. She would have, by your logic, spent more time posting then existed. I am not surprised that your response to an argument against what you do is a "but you....." rather than thoughtful reflection. It is exactly what I expect I appreciate the deep interest you've taken in me.

Click to expand...

I choose to think all the time that I am consciously awake. If I am at a forum, I do not turn off the thinking...

In fact, there are times that I research what I will post by checking facts and finding support to provide in a post and this thinking and work can take longer than 10 minutes. However, I am not at web forums every day and in the last couple years, my life has been filled with much higher priorities that chatting online.