Let's Go Rangers

I've really struggled with American sports. Baseball, yawnsville, and this was in Japan too, not just here in America. Not a lot happens, it's hardly ever tense, it goes on and on, and many of the players are, well, fat. How can that be a sport?

American football is also in the same league, although I think that's because there are too many rules. It just doesn't make all that much sense.

Now hockey, that's a game I like. It's fast, complete in three periods of 20 minutes and is super glitzy. If you google the rules, the Wikipedia entry is done in three paragraphs. What's there not to like?

Well, the fighting is a bit strange. For my English friends who aren't avid followers of the NHL or any other ice hockey league, you're allowed to body check opponents if they have the puck. Yes, that means slamming into them or slamming against them when they're up against the wall.

The other thing that is condoned and indeed, used as part of the tactics is fighting. When two players take they're gloves off, it's a sign that they're ready to duke it out and the referees actually stand back and leave them to it. How weird is that? There are actually players on teams that are brought in as enforcers, who do most of the fighting. Their primary role is to protect the start players. What a surreal concept.

Anyway, I love it, though I'm unsure whether it's because of the fighting or in spite of the fighting. Here's the million-man brawl in 2004 between the Senators and the Flyers. I'm glad my team won last night; Let's Go Rangers!