CHRW News and Spoken Word

Beyond The Cheers

2011-03-21T15:00:00.003-04:00

Taming violence in sports

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One of the many echoes heard around the water cooler is that sports are too violent, at the risk of safety to young athletes. Violence in sports is not exclusive to any sport, as there are reported brawls in lacrosse, soccer, baseball and several other places where kids pursue their athletic goals.

Deputy NDP Leader, Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) says that police and prosecutors need to explain why so few charges are laid, following violent acts at sporting events, when the same behaviour in public would land a person in jail.

"We are heading for a situation where somebody is going to get killed," says Mulcair. New Democrats suggest that Canada needs a royal commission into sports violence in the wake of high-profile injuries that, in one case, left a hockey player convulsing on the ice.

The brain-rattling collision that leaves the recipient writhing on the playing surface, or not moving at all, seems to have become a staple of highlighted shows. It's no wonder that sports leagues, who trade on the pattern of intent to injure, have to be “guilted” into doing anything to halt it.

"It's high time this situation was taken seriously," said NDP sports critic, Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury), in a recent interview. "The violence has to stop for our kids' sake." A Star investigation into racial taunts and violence in minor hockey resulted in the Greater Toronto Hockey League imposing tough new rules to deal with the problem.

A spokesperson for Sports Minister, Gary Lunn, said that it is up to the various leagues to police themselves. "We feel it's a question best left to the leagues and the role of the federal government is to support players and athletes in their development and to support their coaches to make a good training environment for youth," said press secretary, Vanessa Schneider.

But, will government involvement just cause more problems? The real issues are coming to the surface:

> Why is the viewing public so drawn to watching sport violence?

> Why do players seem to want to maim each other on the field of play?

> Are there more “intent to injure” infractions, rather than accidents?

> Why has it taken so long for leagues to recognize the dreadful consequences of violent acts, often resulting in concussions or severe injury to players?

> How can government intervention help clean-up violence in sports?

These issues haven’t yet been resolved just because the NHL and NFL have belatedly reacted to some adverse publicity and pretended to care about their players' welfare, under pressure from government.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs owner, Conn Smythe's famous line was, "We've got to stamp out this sort of thing or people will keep buying tickets.”

Beyond The Cheers

2011-01-24T12:51:00.003-05:00

Family Balance: Life with Kids in Sports

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Do you feel you have no life outside of your kids’ sports?

Rest assured you are not alone. There are more parents than you think maintaining the hectic pace of juggling work, children, sports and family life. Many spend the majority of their spare time as a taxi service, volunteer coach or just being part of a sports organization or audience at every game or event.

Plus there are many parents that are living their dream through the sports lives of their children pushing them to excel past a point that they themselves could not achieve. Some may even be forcing their kids to compete or placing them into elite leagues where they don’t necessarily belong. Many feel that their kids need the extra edge that sports activities provide to springboard them in to college, university or a career path that matches their own desire, regardless of the child’s goal. Sure there are those who had a great time in youth sports and only wish their child to live the same experience. But many see it as an opportunity, regardless of the odds of their own child making it to the big leagues.

Team sports are great—kids can get good, healthy exercise, have fun and learn values like sportsmanship, courage, discipline and focus that will serve them later in life.
But what has become distorted in recent years?

Kids today, along with their parents, are being run ragged at the hands of organized sports. The measuring stick of normalcy has shifted from years gone by and unfortunately, not for the better. Kids are far too active and driven in sports, thus putting the core of the family unit at risk.
You have to stop and think. Where does one draw the line?

- Children are going from one activity to another with little down time.
- Constant focus is on competition.
- Parents get caught up in the competitive cycle that emphasizes win, win, win.
- Unhealthy habits are formed from skipping meals or eating “on the road”.

“Parenting has become the most competitive sport in the world,” according to
Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld. How did we get here and how do we get back?

Listen to the conversation with author Regan McMahon of Revolution in the Bleachers on BEYONDtheCheers.

Beyond The Cheers - December 2, 2010

2010-12-03T15:59:00.003-05:00

Blowing the Whistle on Biased Officiating

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Is there biased officiating in sports?

Many of us certainly think so as we sit on the sidelines watching our kids play. Officials, at times, seemingly bow to pressure from the stands when making a call - or not.
Why?

There's some pop psychology from people like Calgary Flames Coach Mike Keenan, claiming that officials are, subconsciously, influenced by the crowd. But Stephen Walkom, the NHL's director of officiating, believes that referees don't hear the crowd when they're in the zone. "I think there is more conscious pressure on the players to play better and harder in front of their home crowd than what affects the referee," said Walkom. "Players are conditioned early on that playing at home is our ice and that nobody beats us in our house."
Statistics show:

Home teams had 11.5 per cent more man advantages than did visitors.

National Hockey League teams have won 55% more points and games at home than on the road last season.

Minor Hockey organizations report over 65% more points at a home game as opposed to road game wins.

Penalties or biased calls against the home team are 55% less than those against the visiting team in soccer, football, baseball and hockey.

It is unfortunate that any grievance with respect to poor officiating, most times, falls on deaf ears due to the brotherhood of the officiating world.
How do organizations squeeze the slanted calls out of an official?

Be sure to listen to this hot conversation when we blow the whistle on biased officiating in sports with an anonymous hockey official, Jeffrey Reed and Jim Sandlak on BEYONDtheCheers.

Beyond The Cheers

2010-11-22T14:23:00.006-05:00

Originally broadcast November 18, 2010
Produced by Dave Ferguson

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Staged Fighting in Hockey - The Truth Hurts

Fighting in hockey, you condone, applaud and even cheer this type of behaviour or you deplore its very existence in the game. Regardless of which side you choose, there is an alarming trend taking place referred to as ‘staged fighting’.

There are a number of reasons why staged fighting continues in Canada’s National winter sport:
Entertainment value
Team booster
Change momentum of the game
Protection of elite or younger players
Retaliation
Encouragement from others
Self policing the game

What message does this send to young and budding hockey players with a dream of one day playing in the NHL? Should they take fighting lessons in between hockey practices and games in order to play at the highest level in the world?

“Staged fighting was not in the NHL during the 1990’s”, according to Jim Sandlak, who was called ‘The House’ during his stint in the pros. Scheduling a bout time by texting your fighting opponent goes on in jr. hockey and may even occur at the pro level.

Join Ron Wicks, retired NHL referee and masked jr. hockey player, and me as we explore Staged Fighting In Hockey on 94.9 CHRW