THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Maybe that’s how the tolerance started, but tow things--both of which we have discussed here before--argue against it today:
1. A fight between two players in the heat of a scrum is one thing, and may well act as a safety valve, though other hockey leagues seem to exist without it. Two designated fighters dropping their gloves during a faceoff does not.
2. Fights are rare in the playoffs, where emotions are highest.

Right, the NHL playoffs is the best argument against fighting.  You don’t see increased stick play, you don’t see senseless violence.  Basically, everyone is on their best behaviour, because no one wants to be the guy that puts his team down 0-1, in a best 4 of 7.

But, the 82-game NHL season offers alot of margin of error for players to take a bigger risk.

As for the other leagues, those leagues may show decrease in fights, but they likely will show an increase in stick fouls, the very thing players don’t like, and what led, according to the article, to the self-policing.  Basically, the officials are not well-equipped to handle the chippy play.

It’s basically the red-light district of prostitution, but about fighting instead. 

What we need is alot of research before we come to any conclusion.  There are alot of considerations, which is why I keep bringing this up.