THE BOOK--Playing The Percentages In Baseball

Say what you will about adults teaching kids 12-14 to fight, but on their own, kids fight more at that age than any other.

I don’t remember a day in middle school where somebody wasn’t getting a beat-down.  After that age most kids seem to mature just enough that they don’t have to fight all the time.

Definitely seems to be a big difference, as there were virtually no fights at our school.  Probably helped that it was a small school (graduating class of 150-200 students), so everyone knew everyone.  I hope Rally’s experience was location-biased, not country-biased.

I’m sure this camp will lead the kids to a very fulfilling minor league hockey career, making lousy money and getting their faces cut to pieces because that’s what 90% of the crowd wants to see.

To some extent, I hold the NHL accountable.  The camp organizers are correct, that fighting is basically “allowed” in the NHL.  If there are legitimate penalties for intending to injure someone, this garbage will go away.  Sure, the NHL will lose some viewers due to less fighting (as it has recently, I’d bet).  But there are other ways to draw fans in.  I personally think they should make it 4 on 4, or widen the nets or something.  3-2 games don’t take advantage of the exciting, fast-paced nature of the sport.  If every game was 9-7, or 7-5, you’d be able to go to a game and have a good chance of seeing your favorite player score.