What should the NLL and NALL do about fighting? How important is it to the game? Today I challenge the fighting issue, and talk about the negatives and positives that come from fighting in lacrosse. Its become a hot topic, and one that has caused a huge rift between traditionalist outdoor fans and indoor fans. Before I go any further, I should probably explain each side's argument.
Box lacrosse fans love their sport. They are proud of the toughness required to play box lacrosse. They love hard hits and huge fights just as much as big goals. One of my favorite players to ever suit up for the Bandits is Pat McCready, not only because he was so "speedy" but because he could toss with the best of them. Outdoor fans usually see it a little differently. Many view indoor lacrosse as a "thugush" sport that takes real lacrosse and slows it down. Most give little respect to the indoor form of the game.
Can professional lacrosse succeed when it is divided like this, indoor and outdoor? Is fighting that important to the game that it couldn't be erased to serve as a compromise between the two versions of the sport?
This summer, the NALL was formed. Details were slow early on, but one rule change from NLL lacrosse came out early. There would be no fighting in the NALL. This made sense to me, as all the teams would be playing in the United States, where outdoor lacrosse is more popular. With places like Charlotte (ironically where Pat McCready started his career) where college lacrosse is really popular, fans may not want to see their favorite players drop the gloves and start beating on the other team. This did cause quite a stir among lacrosse fans, who thought this would not be like real box lacrosse. Does getting rid of fighting make box lacrosse soft?
I do love fighting, it is one of my favorite parts of box lacrosse. That being said, the NALL may be on to something. Maybe for the sport to become more popular, fighting can't be a part of the game. Most of America does not like "thugish" sports. The other day I was watching a hockey line brawl from Finland on a prominent news/mail site. Personally I thought the fight was incredibly exciting. I went to read the comments, to realize I was in the minority. Most people think these factors that hockey fans and box lacrosse fans think as "exciting" are turn-offs to the sports. The NALL will gain fans who are interested in a fast moving and exciting sport, not fans who are looking to watch a tough and gritty sport. When it comes down to it, there are more fans who like sports with no fighting (like football and baseball) than UFC fighting or hockey.
If it comes down to it, I am willing to give up on fighting in order to grow the sport. I know, some may feel that the sport would lose its toughness because of this. But think of it this way, there would still be hitting and pushing after the play. I'm assuming most people think football is a tough hard-hitting sport. Do they ever really fight? The furthest football fights normally go is a bunch of guys just pushing each other around. Fans can still watch Billy Dee Smith plaster a forward to the boards, they just wouldn't see Brandon Francis drop the gloves.
Do I want to see fighting banned in the NLL, or NHL for that matter? No, I'd be upset about it. But in the grand scheme of things, if it helps the sport how can I be against it? What do you think about fighting in lacrosse? Do you think its essential to the game experience, or do you think its an expendable factor? Comment below as always about your opinions. Remember to check out my first show on the Lacrosse Radio Network, Goods On Lacrosse, at 6 p.m. eastern tomorrow night. My guest will be former NLL commissioner and current Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Shamrocks owner Jim Jennings. Follow me on twitter @GoodsOnSabres for all the latest news.
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