Commentary on Patrice Cormier illegal hit

Sports and violence as a rule go hand in hand. It’s only that way because we allow it to be. We say things like "it’s a part of the game" or "well, things got heated and its hockey, it happens".

I want to make a couple points. One is that hockey is a game. We play because it’s fun to skate and shoot and it builds teamwork and camaraderie. We enjoy the competition and the challenge of winning but also feel good when we gave our all but lost.

From a man who has played hockey at high levels since he was 5 years old and as a man who encountered violence due to hits and fights, what Cormier did was dirty hockey. He suckered an unsuspecting opponent in a game that is supposed to be all those items I previously mentioned but which is unfortunately also a business. Business dictates rules and regulations in competitions such as hockey. These rules are made to make the game more attractive to the fan

so they spend money.

Patrice Cormier’s attitude and society’s hockey expectations have a lot to do with Cormier’s actions. Cormier is sitting on the ice and is thinking "I’m going to give the crowd something to cheer about, I’m going to get that guy back for what he did in the first period and I’m going to be cool and loved by my home town fans and teammates".

Ask any good hardnosed hockey player about those feelings and thoughts and I guarantee 9 out of 10 will admit having those thoughts. It’s the smart ones that don’t execute it on the ice and calm down. Cormier's actions are not a part of the game; they are selfish and dangerous and go against everything sport is suppose to be.

The people in power have got to understand this and stand up to simple schoolyard peer pressure and stop allowing it. If they allow it due to pressure then let is pressure them to change the rules to no tolerance and bring back the "for the love of the game" aspect and general respect.

What Cormier did was assault. Something beyond the rules, beyond respect and even beyond typical street fighting codes. Generally a street fight is one on one and is agreed upon by both parties; somewhat like fighting in hockey.

This type of violence is mildly more acceptable by some then the sneak attack that Cormier used. So that being said, if I was in a business meeting with several people, its big money involved, people around the business world are watching, I am trying to land a million dollar deal for my company, it gets heated because both sides want the best deal possible and it gets to the point where its personalities clashing and words are exchanged and I decide I want this deal so bad, I am so angry that I hit the opposition business man and knock him out; I lose my job, I’m going to jail or at best, paying a fine and paying some debt to society.

Sport is a game, something done for fun. It can be hard hitting, intense and exciting all within the rules. Assaults are not within the rules. But because this was done in a modern day game and in an atmosphere that it has been accepted for a 100 years, it makes it acceptable and what little attention it gets, is not enough to change it.

I am amazed that the powers in charge are that naive to right and wrong in this situation. These powers have children, have friends and have morals and I assume they know right from wrong. They know it’s wrong to allow it but do nothing about it. I believe these powers are gutless to say "NO, we won’t tolerate it in our arenas, in our society and you are banned from our league". Amazing.

I have been involved in violence before, either by choice or not by choice. I have seen the eyes glaring at me wanting to hurt me. Although I thought what that man was about to pursue was wrong, I at least honored his belief. I knew what he was doing was right in his eyes and wrong in mine but I also knew I had to defend myself if provoked.

For the most part, people know the difference between right and wrong. For those who do not, they should be and are punished for their actions. There is one person who should be punished for his actions and not based upon the rules of the game but the rules of society because what he did was beyond the rules of the simple game.

There is also a group that should be held accountable for their reaction to this. This group leading the way needs to step up and make people understand the difference between right and wrong, not only within their league but within our world. People of the world have to stop asking for violence. It’s an endless circle that is only endless because we allow it.

Steve Betts is a regular guest on Haligonia Sports episodes and colour commentator for Dalhousie Tigers hockey on ssncanada.ca

A Year In Jeju, Korea, playing baseball and teaching

DRAGONS BASEBALL

A Year In Jeju, Korea
by: Steve Betts

JUNE 4, 2006I was asking Dave to hook me up with a baseball team as I knew he knew a lot of people. I wasn’t expecting much from him because its not easy communicating here in Korea when you don’t know Korean. So finding a baseball player in the city was not going to be easy. I was doing my own thing too and was going to the field to try and meet people but it wasn’t working. I kept bugging Dave and on a Thursday night I got a call asking me to come meet a team.

Since that Thursday night about a month and a half ago, I have been the first foreigner in Jeju history to play baseball. That means I have been the first to do many things. I am first to play on that field, first to get a hit, first to get an out, first to hit a homerun, a triple blah blah blah. I had to mention those last two hits. Actually I have two HR and two triples but whatever…I am liking the idea of all that too as it sure is something I can tell my friends and kids about when I get older.The Jeju Dragons is a team of real nice guys that have been operating for ten years this summer. They are very similar to our rec hockey teams back home as they have leaders and guys that do most of the work and keep the things running. They are relatively the same age (mid 30’s so I fit in) and are typical Koreans. What that means is they work and drink and play hard. I fit right in. The team is a serious club. Uniforms are tailored and you have to have a uniform to play. I am having problems right now as I don’t have cleats but cross trainers and they wont let me play without an argument. The field is astro turf and my shoes are fine for it but it’s the way they do things here and I cant argue with it. There are lot of things I don’t agree with but my job isn’t to argue about tradition its to hit bombs and catch balls. I am doing that so far and loving it.

The leagues they play are tiered. Meaning that the have short seasons and then you are placed in a higher or lower league according to your performance. Its much the same as football in the U.K.. We have played many games so far but not in the league we are currently in. We have played one game in that season and we lost big time. Not sure why but might had something to do with the 5 errors (or 7 in my opinion) we had and the 5 measly hits we had and I had two of those. Well it should be an interesting summer.

There is much to tell about the differences in the game, the team atmosphere and the culture. I have had nothing but a good experiences other than the shoe issue but its early and Koreans are good at changing things in a hurry. I sound negative but its more cautious than anything. Wait till I tell ya about what the ump said to me. Wow...

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