It was on this day in 1955 that hockey took an ugly turn. “NHL president Clarence Campbell suspends Montreal Canadiens star Maurice “Rocket” Richard for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs after he attacks an opponent with his stick and slugs a referee in the head…
“Richard—who was leading the NHL with 74 points—was struck by a high stick from Boston Bruins defensemen Hal Laycoe. Laycoe was penalized, but Richard attacked him with his stick and punched referee Cliff Thompson “with two hard blows to the face” when he attempted to intervene, according to The Ottawa Citizen.
“Whether this type of conduct is the product of temperamental instability or willful defiance of authority in the games does not matter,” Campbell said of the suspension. “It is the type of conduct which cannot be tolerated by any player—star or otherwise.””1
Richard’s defiance of the suspension was the catalyst that led a hockey rebellion. The next day, Richards showed up for the game and sat in the stands. Campbell was present at the game and the fans turned on him, throwing items at him, and even slapping him in the face. Tear gas was deployed to break up the rioting mob and the game was cancelled.
In the streets, more rioting took place by angry fans. Known as the “Richard Riot,” fans caused $100,000 in property damage (equivalent to $1.2 million today) and 33 people were injured including 8 policemen. In a press interview the next day, Richard encouraged fans to behave.
Hockey is unique in that fighting is not only allowed but expected by the fans. Google Co-Pilot gives several reasons why fighting is allowed in hockey.
Fighting is allowed in hockey for several reasons:
- It adds a unique element to the game that is not found in other major sports leagues. hockeymonkey.com
- The physical nature of hockey often leads to heightened emotions, and fighting
serves as a way for players to settle disputes on the ice. cheltenhamsports.org - Fighting is rooted in tradition and is seen as a form of justice within the sport, providing strategic advantages and entertainment for fans. ifsmagazine.com
- It is one of the few sports where throwing punches is not only permitted but sometimes encouraged. theweek.com
- While fighting can lead to penalties, it is treated similarly to other infractions in the game. sportingnews.com
Read those statements carefully and weigh them against Scripture. Weigh them against anything else in society. If these reasons were applied to the playground or school hallways, fighting would happen on a regular basis. Instead, children are taught to do the opposite of what’s done in hockey.
Several weeks ago, we went to a Komets game. The “fighting” wasn’t fighting. It was more like a group hug. You could imagine the players whispering in each other’s ear, “Let’s give ‘em a good show.” As we are watching, I’m thinking, “This is pathetic. HIT someone – hard! That’s part of what hockey is all about.”
As fast as that thought passed through my head, another thought hit. “What’s wrong with you?!? What are you thinking?” Titus 3:1-2 came rushing back to my mind.
“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, (2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”
Who are the “them?” Titus 2:13-14 gives the answer. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” The “them” of chapter three are all the redeemed. They are redeemed from sin and its consequences, they are being purified, and they are to be zealous for good works.
Brawlers in the Greek is machos. Spanish and Latin culture talks about masculinity in the terms of machismo or being macho. These macho guys on ice puff their chests and start fighting. Christians, we can argue all day long that it’s just a part of the sport but what does the Bible say?
Since most of us aren’t hockey players, we may think we are in the clear. However, this macho bravado is warned against when debating someone on theological issues. When trying to prove our point or show the truth of the Word of God, we can roll our sleeves up and start punching with our words. That’s just as bad!
I leave you today with a passage of Scripture that we need to seriously consider so that we aren’t guilty of brawling.
2 Timothy 2:23-26 says, “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (verbal brawls) (24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive (brawl); but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sports-riots-maurice-richard-suspension-nhl
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