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[lloydr04]

I'm lost??

A guy on this thread said that people in other sports commit, legit crimes .. such as drugs.. robbery and violence.. same happens in hockey, why aren't they thugs?

[habsheaven]

I have heard of hockey players getting into trouble as posted above. Plus they have had their share of on ice issues similar or worse than the Artest elbow.

also, would enforcers not be considered thugs? I'd say they could be since a lot of times these guys are on rosters because they are good at fighting. Sure they are there due to the nature of the game, which is a little different than most sports that don't allow fighting to any degree.

Obviously athletes from all sports (hockey included) get in trouble on and off the ice. My contention was that hockey players are (generally-speaking) well-known for being good human beings OFF the ice. And most of those "THUG" enforcers are the nicest of them all. Those "thugs" can trade punches and go out for a beer a couple of hours later.

[habsheaven]

A guy on this thread said that people in other sports commit, legit crimes .. such as drugs.. robbery and violence.. same happens in hockey, why aren't they thugs?

Okay, I understand what you are saying now. He probably didn't mean to state it as an absolute. Sure it happens with hockey players too, just a lot less often.

[pghin08]

A guy on this thread said that people in other sports commit, legit crimes .. such as drugs.. robbery and violence.. same happens in hockey, why aren't they thugs?

It doesn't happen to NEARLY the same extent. You picked out Patrick Kane, which is about the only example of a hockey player committing a violent crime in the the last several years. Let's just look at football ( and this is all stuff that has happened since just the 2011 year end!):

April 28, 2012 Vikings RB Caleb King is arrested for assault.
April 26, 2012 Redskins S Brandon Meriweather is arrested for DUI.
April 3, 2012 Lions DT Nick Fairley is arrested for marijuana possession.
April 2, 2012 Ryan Leaf was arrested again on Monday and accused of committing a burglary shortly after he posted bail and got out of jail after an arrest on Friday.
April 2, 2012 Detroit Lions Running Back Mikel Leshoure doesn’t show up for arraignment on Marijuana charge.
March 30, 2012 Dolphins LB Koa Misi is arrested on battery charges.
March 17, 2012 Free-agent C Samson Satele is arrested for disorderly conduct.
February 25, 2012 Seahawks LB Leroy Hill is arrested for possession of marijuana.
February 24, 2012 Former Falcon Glenn Sharpe arrested for Murder
February 23, 2012 Jaguars DT Nate Collins is arrested for possession of marijuana.
February 13, 2012 Bears LB J.T. Thomas is arrested for possession of marijuana.
February 10, 2012 Bengals LB Rey Maualuga is charged with misdemeanor assault.
February 8, 2012 49ers DE Ray McDonald is arrested on an outstanding warrant.
February 1, 2012 Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno is arrested for DUI.
January 27, 2012 49ers LB Aldon Smith is arrested for DUI.
January 23, 2012 Lions OL Johnny Culbreath is arrested for marijuana possession.
December 30, 2011 Vikings CB Benny Sapp is charged with fifth-degree assault and careless driving, both misdemeanors.

(from http://nflcrimes.blogspot.com/)

[BGT Masters]

That is a lot, it should be factored in there has to be 2-3x as many NFL players are NHL. I don't know the specific number. Out of what you listed though only 2 of those would be considered a violent crime. I'm not a huge hockey fan so I might not understand, but I never liked how you could flat out assault someone and just because you're in a game its legal? If I am playing against you, and kicking your butt, and you take a cheap shot punch knocking my teeth out or whatever and I do nothing to provoke it, to me that's assault, by the law that's assault. I don't get pumped up by fighting in hockey just like I don't by car wrecks in nascar.

[Star_Cards]

Obviously athletes from all sports (hockey included) get in trouble on and off the ice. My contention was that hockey players are (generally-speaking) well-known for being good human beings OFF the ice. And most of those "THUG" enforcers are the nicest of them all. Those "thugs" can trade punches and go out for a beer a couple of hours later.

I'd agree with that. I still say that there are more good human beings off the court in the NBA than the ones that get into trouble off and on the court.

[mrveggieman]

Bottom line is that their are idiots in all walks of life and it is wrong to single out anyone for being more prone to violence because of their occupation....unless they work for the police dept.

[pghin08]

That is a lot, it should be factored in there has to be 2-3x as many NFL players are NHL. I don't know the specific number. Out of what you listed though only 2 of those would be considered a violent crime. I'm not a huge hockey fan so I might not understand, but I never liked how you could flat out assault someone and just because you're in a game its legal? If I am playing against you, and kicking your butt, and you take a cheap shot punch knocking my teeth out or whatever and I do nothing to provoke it, to me that's assault, by the law that's assault. I don't get pumped up by fighting in hockey just like I don't by car wrecks in nascar.

Absolutely. And yes, only two of what I listed were violent crimes, but we're only talking about a four month period.

[pghin08]

Bottom line is that their are idiots in all walks of life and it is wrong to single out anyone for being more prone to violence because of the occupation....unless they work for the police dept.

I'll agree to that.

[duwal]

best thing to show would be to look at a league and see what percentage of players have a criminal record. Simple as that, which league has the most players that have broken laws and been arrested for it. The one member Lloyd I believe brought up Patrick Kane as well as the assault charges brought on Marty McSorley for what he did to my favorite player Donald Brashear. The incident between McSorley and Brashear and the incident with Patrick Kane were more than 10 years apart. Outside trouble still happens in NHL but it is very sporadic and in some cases years apart between incidents. You don't hear anything about them causing trouble in the early am hours at nightclubs, none would be dumb enough to bring a bag of guns into the locker room like Gilbert Arenas. I mean look at how many players in the NBA and NFL have been arrested of gun charges