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Dirty hits in sports: we want great players not gladiators!

By Mike Rainone

While we are still recovering from the great glitz, thrills, and many successes of the Olympics, the National Hockey League bosses are trying to figure out how to stop the vicious hits that are causing serious injuries to many players in their ranks.

These also quite often referred to ‘cheap shots’ to the head, from behind, or with a piece of equipment that you are supposed to be scoring with, are happening more and more in most contact sports. Although most sports have the rough stuff, it is our super sport of hockey that is presently getting most of the bad publicity!

Like so many of you out there, I have been an avid hockey and fan of all sports for many years. Personally, I love the speed, the finesse, the great goals and saves, and the extreme skills; but I also enjoy the hard hitting, good checking, and of course the odd toe-to-toe scuffles and intense high spirits of keen competition! Those much often-maligned game officials are not only working hard to keep the sport going at a high calibre and fair pace, they are also having to deal with a growing menace of infractions that could possibly result in serious or permanent injury, and yes, maybe even death!

So the big question, how do they stop the trash stuff as well as keep the games going at the super speed and skill levels that make them both thrilling to play and for the millions of fans to watch? We must also remember that our kids, the future players and maybe even stars of these sports, are sitting back watching all this hacking and headhunting going on.

I have heard some officials claim that the players who administer these malicious infractions should be hit where it hurts the most, in the pocket book, or by stiff suspensions. One very verbal sports columnist even suggested that the offender, if intent is proven, should have to sit out and off the payroll until the victim is back playing again? Some will say, how do they prove that it was intent to injure someone?

With all the electronic replays and media available nowadays, and after careful observation of each incident by neutral observers, they should be able to tell the difference between the good-the bad- and the ugly hits!

The hockey gurus are even going as far as suggesting a ‘hit list’ of repeat offenders, with more serious and long term consequences going out each time an infraction occurs, also depending on the extent of the injury to the opposing player. As we head into the thrilling playoff run, I would love to hear your opinion on this ongoing sports dilemma!

For once this waitress got even!

A burly trucker came into a truck stop café and placed his order. “I want three flat tires, a pair of headlights, and a pair of running boards,” he boldly stated.

The new waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, went to the kitchen and explained to the cook, “This guy out there just ordered three flat tires, a pair of headlights, and a pair of running boards. What does he think this place is, an auto parts store?’

“Oh no,” the cook replied. “That’s just trucker’s lingo for ordering three pancakes, two eggs sunny side up, and two slices of crisp bacon.” “Okay!” said the congenial young lady, who then thought about the breakfast order for a moment, and proceeded to spoon up a heaping bowl of beans and took it out to her customer.

The trucker immediately came out with a rather brash question, “What are the beans for, Blondie?” With a delightful smile the waitress replied…. “I thought that while you were waiting for your flat tires, headlights, and running boards, you might as well gas up!”

Some of my favourite seniors’ bumper stickers!

*I asked my wife if old men wear boxers or briefs? She said Depends!

*That snap-crackle and pop in the morning isn’t my freaking Rice Krispies!

*Sometimes I wake up grumpy, and some days I let him sleep!

*Try Senior Campbell’s…. a new large type of Alphabet Soup.

*The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age!

*When I was younger, all I wanted was a nice BMW. Now, I don’t care about the W!

*I’m so old that whenever I eat out, they ask me for money up front!

*Experience is a wonderful thing…it enables you to recognize a mistake then you make it again! Never mind the March blusters…. just go ahead and have a great week, all of you!