I'm all for personal freedom, but I'm of the opinion that if you are in a position where a career ending injury can end up costing other people a LOT, the least you can do is at least take the minimum step to prevent such an injury. A visor is a minor step, and I fail to see why it's such a big deal. Or, I guess you can be selfish. Whichever.
(obviously not you personally, but "you" as a hypothetical hockey player who doesn't want to wear a visor because he thinks it will shrink his balls or something.)
I'm with you (and I mean "you" personally; not third-person indirect) on this. I like seeing a league that has a real -- not just financial -- interest in the men who play their game. Beyond that, I want to see the best players, especially on the Flyers, out there every game giving their all. And it is indeed just common sense to put on a low-hindrance, high-protection piece of equipment as a visor.
That's a little different. Head injuries are regular occurrences and with no helmets would be even more of an issue. How many people in the last 10 years have had serious injuries that could have been prevented with a visor? I can think of two.
Like I said, if this was an ongoing concern and people were dropping like flies, then ok.
You can think of two "major" injuries that resulted by not wearing a visor? What about a lot of minor injuries that would not have occurred. And, I'm pretty sure that in all of hockey that the use of a visor would have prevented a lot more than 2 serious injuries.
Muhammed Ali once said that his career choice was between boxing and playing football, and he chose boxing because no one could see his face in football. - and that's why cages aren't coming to the NHL..
And how's his health today?
That said, I'm not understanding your anology to the NFL? Last I checked the NFL is the most successful professional sports league in North America and their players wear cages.
You can think of two "major" injuries that resulted by not wearing a visor? What about a lot of minor injuries that would not have occurred. And, I'm pretty sure that in all of hockey that the use of a visor would have prevented a lot more than 2 serious injuries.
Minor injuries are not a big deal, hence the word minor. A lot of minor injuries could be prevented by adding a lot of equipment that wouldn't really affect the way the game is played or the way players function. But like I keep saying, if the players are for it then I don't care. I just don't understand why people who are not actually out there playing care about the dangers more than the people who are in fact playing.
Minor injuries are not a big deal, hence the word minor. A lot of minor injuries could be prevented by adding a lot of equipment that wouldn't really affect the way the game is played or the way players function. But like I keep saying, if the players are for it then I don't care. I just don't understand why people who are not actually out there playing care about the dangers more than the people who are in fact playing.
An injury is an injury. If a shield or cage can prevent any injury/loss of games played then it has done its job. And, we're not talking about "adding a lot of equipment", we are talking about one piece of equipment that protects a player's head.
As of your last statement, let's say Pronger's injury didn't happen until the last week of the regular season and he was lost for the playoffs. Do you still not care that such an injury could have been prevented by a simple piece of equipment? From a fan's standpoint the outcry for wearing a shield really isn't about the player's wellbeing, but the selfish reason that they don't want the players on the team that they support get hurt.
As I have posted before, players wore full cages all through mites and high school, why is it that at the highest level where there is the most potential for injury that players take them off? Since today's kids are wearing full cages, why not have a policy of players born before a certain year (current high school kids for example) must wear full cages?
Minor injuries are not a big deal, hence the word minor. A lot of minor injuries could be prevented by adding a lot of equipment that wouldn't really affect the way the game is played or the way players function. But like I keep saying, if the players are for it then I don't care. I just don't understand why people who are not actually out there playing care about the dangers more than the people who are in fact playing.
Nearly 70% of the league does wears visors so I am not sure I would say the people who are playing care any less.
The other issue is some players feel like they have a stupid macho image to live up to and aren't using any sort of logic when they choose not to wear a visor.
I don't know why you find it strange that paying customers who invest a lot of money, time, and emotions into their teams care so much. Of course fans are going to care about what happens to their players. Imagine how screwed the Flyers would be if Pronger's injury was more serious.
An injury is an injury. If a shield or cage can prevent any injury/loss of games played then it has done its job. And, we're not talking about "adding a lot of equipment", we are talking about one piece of equipment that protects a player's head.
As of your last statement, let's say Pronger's injury didn't happen until the last week of the regular season and he was lost for the playoffs. Do you still not care that such an injury could have been prevented by a simple piece of equipment? From a fan's standpoint the outcry for wearing a shield really isn't about the player's wellbeing, but the selfish reason that they don't want the players on the team that they support get hurt.
As I have posted before, players wore full cages all through mites and high school, why is it that at the highest level where there is the most potential for injury that players take them off? Since today's kids are wearing full cages, why not have a policy of players born before a certain year (current high school kids for example) must wear full cages?
I'm not saying injuries aren't a big deal and who cares if Pronger goes down. What I am saying is that Chris Pronger (or whoever else doesn't wear a visor) doesn't want to wear one for a reason. I don't know what those reasons, but it could be a number of things. Yes, wearing a visor MAY have helped prevent Pronger's injury. And yes it would have sucked if this was right before the playoffs. But why are you as a fan complaining that they are required to wear them because it is too dangerous? I guess I am just too "hands off" when it comes to stuff like this. If the players don't want to wear it, don't make 'em. If they do, then ok. But since it is not an epidemic or anything, I don't get why you and others are all up in arms about something that has very little effect on you. Yes Pronger got injured and Lappy got injured a few years ago, but like I said, these instances really are few and far between.
I'm not saying injuries aren't a big deal and who cares if Pronger goes down. What I am saying is that Chris Pronger (or whoever else doesn't wear a visor) doesn't want to wear one for a reason. I don't know what those reasons, but it could be a number of things. Yes, wearing a visor MAY have helped prevent Pronger's injury. And yes it would have sucked if this was right before the playoffs. But why are you as a fan complaining that they are required to wear them because it is too dangerous? I guess I am just too "hands off" when it comes to stuff like this. If the players don't want to wear it, don't make 'em. If they do, then ok. But since it is not an epidemic or anything, I don't get why you and others are all up in arms about something that has very little effect on you. Yes Pronger got injured and Lappy got injured a few years ago, but like I said, these instances really are few and far between.
Actually you did say injuries aren't a big deal.
As a fan I have a rooting interest in the team and don't want to see any players, let alone the team's captain, go down with an injury that could have been prevented by wearing an extra piece of equipment that has no effect on how he skates, hits, passes or shoots.
Beyond that we will simply agree to disagree here.
Nearly 70% of the league does wears visors so I am not sure I would say the people who are playing care any less.
And that's why I said if they are for it, then do it. I don't keep track of who wears visors and who doesn't, it just seemed like there were more players against this than for it. If I'm wrong I would't be surprised. If the majority likes it, then I'm sure the union and competition committee will have no problem mandating it.
Quote:
I don't know why you find it strange that paying customers who invest a lot of money, time, and emotions into their teams care so much. Of course fans are going to care about what happens to their players. Imagine how screwed the Flyers would be if Pronger's injury was more serious.
Because this is something that is player specific. You don't want them to get hurt and that is fine. But they don't want to wear the visor. They are the ones playing, why should you have a say in how they do it, let a lone a greater say? I guess we just have different opinions here.
I said minor injuries aren't a big deal. Which they are not.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion any injury, especially ones that can be avoided by adding a simple piece of equipment, are a big deal.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but in my opinion any injury, especially ones that can be avoided by adding a simple piece of equipment, are a big deal.
