Ralph Nader has it wrong, fighting must remain in hockey

Ralph Nader put out an open letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman today. You can read it at www.leagueoffans.org. I’ll be quick, because this issue doesn’t deserve much space. Ralph Nader has obviously never played hockey, nor studied the game. He’s comparing all the recent head injuries to fighting. Listen, if fighting was banned there would be MORE HEAD INJURIES! More players would take liberties — cheap shots, cross-checks and glove-punches to the head — because they’ll know nobody will beat them up for it, make them accountable. The NCAA lacks two major things — it requires players to wear full face cages and it basically bans fighting. Thus, the college guys turn into gladiators. I’m been covering the NCAA and NHL since 1995, and believe me, if the NHL banned fighting and forced all players to wear half-shields, or visors, the amount of head injuries would increase. Fighting is part of hockey, and it should never go away. It&#...