Nobody Likes Us - We Don't Care
February 18, 2015 8:48 AM Subscribe
Violent Gentlemen is a clothing line co-founded by former NHL enforcer George Parros and hockey fans Brian Talbert and Mike Hammer.
His Wikipedia page says, "In 2010, he was chosen as the fourth-smartest athlete in sports by the Sporting News.[3]" That's a compliment right?
I guess you are considered a gentleman in hockey if when you knock a guy on his ass with your fists you then help him up. As a hockey player myself from time to time, I always thought the definition of a hockey gentleman was not the guy who helped you up, but the guy who kicked your ass then bought you a beer after the game.
posted by 724A at 9:11 AM on February 18, 2015
I guess you are considered a gentleman in hockey if when you knock a guy on his ass with your fists you then help him up. As a hockey player myself from time to time, I always thought the definition of a hockey gentleman was not the guy who helped you up, but the guy who kicked your ass then bought you a beer after the game.
posted by 724A at 9:11 AM on February 18, 2015
Please tell me it's not a "because hockey is white peoples sport" thing.
I don't think it's this, so much as that violence is only against the rules with a wink, more or less, in hockey.
posted by neuromodulator at 9:14 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think it's this, so much as that violence is only against the rules with a wink, more or less, in hockey.
posted by neuromodulator at 9:14 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's barely even a wink. I'd actually like hockey somewhat if they stripped the stupid fighting out of it. Throw a punch? You're out for the season, end of discussion.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:30 AM on February 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 9:30 AM on February 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
feckless fecal fear mongering: "It's barely even a wink. I'd actually like hockey somewhat if they stripped the stupid fighting out of it. Throw a punch? You're out for the season, end of discussion."
So I'm guessing you're not a fan of Slap Shot? Sad that.
posted by Splunge at 9:36 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
So I'm guessing you're not a fan of Slap Shot? Sad that.
posted by Splunge at 9:36 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I went to a fight the other night, and a hockey game broke out.- Rodney Dangerfield
posted by Poldo at 9:37 AM on February 18, 2015 [7 favorites]
I thought violent gentlemen in hockey these days were those who remove the opponents helmet for him before commencing fisticuffs.
Ha! One of them's called 'Gallant'!
posted by quinndexter at 9:41 AM on February 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
Ha! One of them's called 'Gallant'!
posted by quinndexter at 9:41 AM on February 18, 2015 [3 favorites]
It seems to me that if an NFL player, particularly a tackle or a safety, came out with a clothing line celebrating the violence of the sport, the results would be controversial and he'd (rightfully) be threatened with suspension. Please tell me it's not a "because hockey is white peoples sport" thing.
The treatment of the violence in hockey is basically inseparable from its history as an overwhelmingly white sport played by Rugged But Noble Canadian Farmboys of Myth and Legend. The short answer is that it's not just a "because hockey is a white peoples sport" thing, because of the existing tolerance for a certain level of violence in the sport, but the race thing definitely still plays a role.
That said, George Parros is retired (and pretty unlikely to make a comeback), so it's not like the NHL or anyone could actually sanction him even if they wanted to.
posted by Copronymus at 9:48 AM on February 18, 2015
The treatment of the violence in hockey is basically inseparable from its history as an overwhelmingly white sport played by Rugged But Noble Canadian Farmboys of Myth and Legend. The short answer is that it's not just a "because hockey is a white peoples sport" thing, because of the existing tolerance for a certain level of violence in the sport, but the race thing definitely still plays a role.
That said, George Parros is retired (and pretty unlikely to make a comeback), so it's not like the NHL or anyone could actually sanction him even if they wanted to.
posted by Copronymus at 9:48 AM on February 18, 2015
My favourite name for a business founded by an athlete is Mike Schad's Schadillac Ranch.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:54 AM on February 18, 2015
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:54 AM on February 18, 2015
What happened to the good old days, when retired NHL players would just open coffee shops and burger joints?
posted by Kabanos at 10:21 AM on February 18, 2015
posted by Kabanos at 10:21 AM on February 18, 2015
Kabanos: "What happened to the good old days, when retired NHL players would just open coffee shops and burger joints?"
Or Donut shops
posted by 724A at 10:25 AM on February 18, 2015
Or Donut shops
posted by 724A at 10:25 AM on February 18, 2015
Please tell me it's not a "because hockey is white peoples sport" thing.
Hard to say, but suffice it to say hockey culture is weird and the politics of fighting in hockey is even weirder.
The theory with enforcers like Parros is you send these big guys that can barely play hockey out to fight each other and it a) deters people from taking cheap shots at your star players and b) changes the "momentum" (fires up your team). Studies have been done to see if there's any truth to this and they've been fairly inconclusive. Anyways, so the enforcer fights. They are pretty well staged events with self-imposed rules, referred to as "the code". They have to agree to fight each other. If one guy is hurt, the fight is over. If one guy falls, the fight is over. And they sometimes "owe" each other a fight, in the sense maybe one team is losing and the enforcer wants to do something to shift the "momentum" so goes to another enforcer and says "hey let's go, I fought you last time when you asked". And there's other stuff. It's an odd thing, the role of the enforcers, and The Code is not always adhered to which anyone who has seen enough hockey should admit regardless of their view on fighting. But they are often loved by fans, no matter their race. I can't honestly say I'd see any controversy with Violent Gentleman as a brand had Gino Odjick or Georges Laraque been involved.
Maybe it comes down to Parros' image and personality then? I'm trying to imagine Marty McSorley or Todd Bertuzzi putting out a line of clothing glamorizing violence in hockey and I'm thinking it would not go over well.
posted by Hoopo at 10:27 AM on February 18, 2015 [7 favorites]
Hard to say, but suffice it to say hockey culture is weird and the politics of fighting in hockey is even weirder.
The theory with enforcers like Parros is you send these big guys that can barely play hockey out to fight each other and it a) deters people from taking cheap shots at your star players and b) changes the "momentum" (fires up your team). Studies have been done to see if there's any truth to this and they've been fairly inconclusive. Anyways, so the enforcer fights. They are pretty well staged events with self-imposed rules, referred to as "the code". They have to agree to fight each other. If one guy is hurt, the fight is over. If one guy falls, the fight is over. And they sometimes "owe" each other a fight, in the sense maybe one team is losing and the enforcer wants to do something to shift the "momentum" so goes to another enforcer and says "hey let's go, I fought you last time when you asked". And there's other stuff. It's an odd thing, the role of the enforcers, and The Code is not always adhered to which anyone who has seen enough hockey should admit regardless of their view on fighting. But they are often loved by fans, no matter their race. I can't honestly say I'd see any controversy with Violent Gentleman as a brand had Gino Odjick or Georges Laraque been involved.
Maybe it comes down to Parros' image and personality then? I'm trying to imagine Marty McSorley or Todd Bertuzzi putting out a line of clothing glamorizing violence in hockey and I'm thinking it would not go over well.
posted by Hoopo at 10:27 AM on February 18, 2015 [7 favorites]
In any event, I'm disappointed that these are yet another rehash of post-Obey-style industrial vernacular riffs and not commodified versions of Don Cherry's leisure suits.
posted by ardgedee at 10:31 AM on February 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 10:31 AM on February 18, 2015 [2 favorites]
ardgedee, I'm holding out for Evander Kane's post-hockey career for that.
posted by Hoopo at 10:36 AM on February 18, 2015
posted by Hoopo at 10:36 AM on February 18, 2015
The theory with enforcers like Parros is you send these big guys that can barely play hockey out to fight each other
Well, he was captain at Princeton, and in the NCAA you get bounced and suspended for fighting. So this is hardly someone who, "can barely play hockey" .. Despite the goon image and belief, to be in the NHL really does mean you can play some hockey, no matter what your role on the team is.
Now, at lower levels (Jr b/c) there are players who are only on the roster to fight. They can skate, pass and shoot, but they are not necessarily skilled players.
posted by k5.user at 10:37 AM on February 18, 2015
Well, he was captain at Princeton, and in the NCAA you get bounced and suspended for fighting. So this is hardly someone who, "can barely play hockey" .. Despite the goon image and belief, to be in the NHL really does mean you can play some hockey, no matter what your role on the team is.
Now, at lower levels (Jr b/c) there are players who are only on the roster to fight. They can skate, pass and shoot, but they are not necessarily skilled players.
posted by k5.user at 10:37 AM on February 18, 2015
Please tell me it's not a "because hockey is white peoples sport" thing.
Probably the most violent league in the world is in Quebec - an ethnic and language minority province in Canada (which contains more than its fair share of skin colour racists) so I'd guess you'd have to say it is complicated.
Hockey has for a long time used a moral hazard justification for the tacit allowance of fighting - that if you removed the violent pugilistic consequences of other frowned upon actions such as stick work or attempts to injure star players you would end up with more of those other frowned upon actions.
So there is a sense in which these 'violent gentleman' see themselves not just as designated goons but also as enforcers of a very fragile peace sacrificing themselves for the good of others.
posted by srboisvert at 10:39 AM on February 18, 2015
Probably the most violent league in the world is in Quebec - an ethnic and language minority province in Canada (which contains more than its fair share of skin colour racists) so I'd guess you'd have to say it is complicated.
Hockey has for a long time used a moral hazard justification for the tacit allowance of fighting - that if you removed the violent pugilistic consequences of other frowned upon actions such as stick work or attempts to injure star players you would end up with more of those other frowned upon actions.
So there is a sense in which these 'violent gentleman' see themselves not just as designated goons but also as enforcers of a very fragile peace sacrificing themselves for the good of others.
posted by srboisvert at 10:39 AM on February 18, 2015
I think "clothing line" is a pretty grand term for what looks like a slightly more advanced Cafe Press store.
posted by Fleeno at 10:45 AM on February 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Fleeno at 10:45 AM on February 18, 2015 [4 favorites]
Hockey has for a long time used a moral hazard justification for the tacit allowance of fighting
Yeah, but it's a pretty paper-thin rationalization for the real reason: people like watching the fights. I mean, sports TV news highlight packages on Canadian TV feature the fights. There are fans all over the world who subscribe to YouTube channels of just hockey fights. In pretty much every other sport that isn't actually a combat sport fighting is seen as some sort of embarrassing break-down in order. In hockey it's actually seen as part of the game. They would lose a lot of their current fan base if they really cracked down on fighting and they're too small a sport to feel like taking that risk. Personally I think they're miscalculating. I think there are more people put off the sport by the fighting than attracted to it--but I imagine when you're struggling to stay afloat it's hard to face the certain outrage of current fans armed only with the hypothetical allegiance of new fans.
posted by yoink at 10:47 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, but it's a pretty paper-thin rationalization for the real reason: people like watching the fights. I mean, sports TV news highlight packages on Canadian TV feature the fights. There are fans all over the world who subscribe to YouTube channels of just hockey fights. In pretty much every other sport that isn't actually a combat sport fighting is seen as some sort of embarrassing break-down in order. In hockey it's actually seen as part of the game. They would lose a lot of their current fan base if they really cracked down on fighting and they're too small a sport to feel like taking that risk. Personally I think they're miscalculating. I think there are more people put off the sport by the fighting than attracted to it--but I imagine when you're struggling to stay afloat it's hard to face the certain outrage of current fans armed only with the hypothetical allegiance of new fans.
posted by yoink at 10:47 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
this is hardly someone who, "can barely play hockey"
Relatively speaking. Of course people have to have some level of skill to get as far as the NHL, and some much more than others. But generally speaking, the guys that make a name in the NHL as enforcers do so because they can't keep up with the other guys. Worth noting that while captain at Princeton, Parros managed 7 assists in 22 games while leading his team to a record of 3-wins, 26-losses, and 2 ties. He tied for 8th on the team in points and was still the only guy from the team that got to the NHL. Parros was in the league because he could fight well, period. Same with Derek Boogaard, John Scott, Colton Orr, etc.
posted by Hoopo at 10:51 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Relatively speaking. Of course people have to have some level of skill to get as far as the NHL, and some much more than others. But generally speaking, the guys that make a name in the NHL as enforcers do so because they can't keep up with the other guys. Worth noting that while captain at Princeton, Parros managed 7 assists in 22 games while leading his team to a record of 3-wins, 26-losses, and 2 ties. He tied for 8th on the team in points and was still the only guy from the team that got to the NHL. Parros was in the league because he could fight well, period. Same with Derek Boogaard, John Scott, Colton Orr, etc.
posted by Hoopo at 10:51 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
> In pretty much every other sport that isn't actually a combat sport fighting is seen as some sort of embarrassing break-down in order.
It's not quite that cut and dried. There is a huge fandom for supercuts of auto racing accidents, spectacular and injury-inducing tackles in American football, egregious fouls in (the-rest-of-the-world) football, and so on. It's easy to identify hockey as a sport that caters to blood lust, but sports fans have plenty of options.
posted by ardgedee at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's not quite that cut and dried. There is a huge fandom for supercuts of auto racing accidents, spectacular and injury-inducing tackles in American football, egregious fouls in (the-rest-of-the-world) football, and so on. It's easy to identify hockey as a sport that caters to blood lust, but sports fans have plenty of options.
posted by ardgedee at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Some of the violent gentlemen of hockey have difficult times post-hockey. I was reading this story about a recently deceased player last night.
Not a lot of 35-year-old hockey players, even retired ones, die of natural causes.
Those who do tend to fit into a pattern.
That pattern may or may not apply to Steve Montador, the 10-year veteran of six different National Hockey League clubs who died in his Mississauga, Ont., home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
But he was beset by post-career depression and the after-effects of concussions. He was 35, his hockey-playing days over, and he was struggling to cope.
If that set of precursors doesn’t conclusively fit the legal profile for suspicious death, it is certainly suggestive. His story, if his family decides to tell it, sounds as though it may well echo the final acts of Bob Probert and Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien and Wade Belak, as others yet to come no doubt will echo Montador’s.
My family knows an ex-enforcer type (think he made it to the NHL for about four games, but played several years in the minor professional leagues) about town who has a lot of problems getting his life sorted, dealing with major difficulty with alcohol.
posted by TimTypeZed at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2015
Not a lot of 35-year-old hockey players, even retired ones, die of natural causes.
Those who do tend to fit into a pattern.
That pattern may or may not apply to Steve Montador, the 10-year veteran of six different National Hockey League clubs who died in his Mississauga, Ont., home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
But he was beset by post-career depression and the after-effects of concussions. He was 35, his hockey-playing days over, and he was struggling to cope.
If that set of precursors doesn’t conclusively fit the legal profile for suspicious death, it is certainly suggestive. His story, if his family decides to tell it, sounds as though it may well echo the final acts of Bob Probert and Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien and Wade Belak, as others yet to come no doubt will echo Montador’s.
My family knows an ex-enforcer type (think he made it to the NHL for about four games, but played several years in the minor professional leagues) about town who has a lot of problems getting his life sorted, dealing with major difficulty with alcohol.
posted by TimTypeZed at 10:53 AM on February 18, 2015
auto racing accidents, spectacular and injury-inducing tackles in American football, egregious fouls in (the-rest-of-the-world) football
One of these things is not like the others, though.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:01 AM on February 18, 2015
One of these things is not like the others, though.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 11:01 AM on February 18, 2015
Not necessarily, no, but if you search "football fouls" on YouTube, what bubbles to the top are the ones that enshrine the bloodletting ones, with millions of views each.
posted by ardgedee at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2015
posted by ardgedee at 11:09 AM on February 18, 2015
Not necessarily, no, but if you search "football fouls" on YouTube, what bubbles to the top are the ones that enshrine the bloodletting ones, with millions of views each.
Sure, but it's simply nowhere near as institutionalized and as central to fans' conception of the sport as it is in ice hockey. There's a www.hockeyfights.com which tracks stats for every fight in every game in the NHL and lets you watch all the fights at your computer; is there any equivalent in football or any other sport?
posted by yoink at 11:14 AM on February 18, 2015
Sure, but it's simply nowhere near as institutionalized and as central to fans' conception of the sport as it is in ice hockey. There's a www.hockeyfights.com which tracks stats for every fight in every game in the NHL and lets you watch all the fights at your computer; is there any equivalent in football or any other sport?
posted by yoink at 11:14 AM on February 18, 2015
I always thought the definition of a hockey gentleman was not the guy who helped you up, but the guy who kicked your ass then bought you a beer after the game.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're thinking of rugby there.
posted by el io at 11:17 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're thinking of rugby there.
posted by el io at 11:17 AM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
www.hockeyfights.com
Having visited that site more than a few times over the years, I find it hilarious that you now actually have to register to view the comments because they devolve so quickly into arguments between impotent keyboard warriors about who could beat up who and who is a terrible person for doing the same thing as their opponents.
posted by Hoopo at 11:19 AM on February 18, 2015
Having visited that site more than a few times over the years, I find it hilarious that you now actually have to register to view the comments because they devolve so quickly into arguments between impotent keyboard warriors about who could beat up who and who is a terrible person for doing the same thing as their opponents.
posted by Hoopo at 11:19 AM on February 18, 2015
Is Violent Gentleman a worse name than Nasty Girl?
posted by Ideefixe at 11:41 AM on February 18, 2015
posted by Ideefixe at 11:41 AM on February 18, 2015
Hoopo: The theory with enforcers like Parros is you send these big guys that can barely play hockey out to fight each other and it a) deters people from taking cheap shots at your star players and b) changes the "momentum" (fires up your team). Studies have been done to see if there's any truth to this and they've been fairly inconclusive.
Any chance you have a link to those studies? Everything I've seen (e.g. 1, 2, 3) has been anecdotal evidence that show goons are pretty much worthless or maybe a slight liability, but I've never seen the "protecting star players" thing analyzed with data. I'd love to see that case made.
There is no sadder spectacle in mainstream sports than a 5-0 game where the goons come out to "give the fans something to cheeer about." I've cut my hockey viewing down by like 90% because of this blight on the game, and though it seems fighting majors are edging downward, I don't think the players union is ever going to allow fighting to be banned from the game because they buy into the bullshit.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:44 AM on February 18, 2015
Any chance you have a link to those studies? Everything I've seen (e.g. 1, 2, 3) has been anecdotal evidence that show goons are pretty much worthless or maybe a slight liability, but I've never seen the "protecting star players" thing analyzed with data. I'd love to see that case made.
There is no sadder spectacle in mainstream sports than a 5-0 game where the goons come out to "give the fans something to cheeer about." I've cut my hockey viewing down by like 90% because of this blight on the game, and though it seems fighting majors are edging downward, I don't think the players union is ever going to allow fighting to be banned from the game because they buy into the bullshit.
posted by tonycpsu at 11:44 AM on February 18, 2015
Fighting majors are indeed trending down, and few if any teams make room for goons like George Parros on their rosters anymore. Recent rules banning helmet removal before a fight are accelerating the trend. But yeah, an outright ban at this point is too much to hope for.
Glad to see Parros step into a second career.
posted by notyou at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2015
Glad to see Parros step into a second career.
posted by notyou at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2015
Any chance you have a link to those studies?
I'm not sure about academic studies of actual game data for that, it sounds like it would be pretty hard to do with any kind of accuracy frankly. But there's some probably less-than-scientific armchair analysis that has looked at this sort of thing, as well as NHL player opinion polls that at least give both sides something to wag their fingers at one another over. I'm decidedly anti-fighting for the record.
posted by Hoopo at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2015
I'm not sure about academic studies of actual game data for that, it sounds like it would be pretty hard to do with any kind of accuracy frankly. But there's some probably less-than-scientific armchair analysis that has looked at this sort of thing, as well as NHL player opinion polls that at least give both sides something to wag their fingers at one another over. I'm decidedly anti-fighting for the record.
posted by Hoopo at 11:56 AM on February 18, 2015
Pure enforcers and goons have all but vanished over the past season and a half, largely due to NHL teams hiring on the new stats guys and the blueprint of four scoring lines laid down by Chicago and LA. 'Staged fights' still happen but seem to be much less frequent - I imagine they've only got a few years left as well.
There's still going to be honest emotional fights unless they outlaw those, but honestly I think they're necessary as a pressure relief valve in such a speedy high contact sport. Even without traditional goons there's still the crash-and-bang pest types throwing questionable hits and mucking it up in between whistles.
Most of the serious fighting injuries seem to result from players banging their heads on the ice or boards.
posted by mannequito at 12:00 PM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
There's still going to be honest emotional fights unless they outlaw those, but honestly I think they're necessary as a pressure relief valve in such a speedy high contact sport. Even without traditional goons there's still the crash-and-bang pest types throwing questionable hits and mucking it up in between whistles.
Most of the serious fighting injuries seem to result from players banging their heads on the ice or boards.
posted by mannequito at 12:00 PM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I really only watch the Predators play(Number one in the league!) but they really don't do much fighting. Which I honestly prefer. Nothing makes me madder than to cough up a goal because someone got hot headed. There was an article a few months ago from a game where one of ours did get in a fight, and it was news because it so very rarely happens.
The NHL is by no means perfect, but I think the players are adequately protected. I'd love to see some stats on concussion rates, but I don't think its anything close to the NFL. (and i say that honestly, if there are some nightmare stats like the NFL is having to deal with, I really would like to know)
posted by Twain Device at 12:02 PM on February 18, 2015
The NHL is by no means perfect, but I think the players are adequately protected. I'd love to see some stats on concussion rates, but I don't think its anything close to the NFL. (and i say that honestly, if there are some nightmare stats like the NFL is having to deal with, I really would like to know)
posted by Twain Device at 12:02 PM on February 18, 2015
There's still going to be honest emotional fights unless they outlaw those, but honestly I think they're necessary as a pressure relief valve in such a speedy high contact sport.
I really don't understand this argument. If this it's the speed and level of contact that necessitate fighting, how does the NFL manage to get along without it?
posted by Aizkolari at 12:33 PM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
I really don't understand this argument. If this it's the speed and level of contact that necessitate fighting, how does the NFL manage to get along without it?
posted by Aizkolari at 12:33 PM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
The NFL doesn't have long sustained periods of action with the players carrying objects that double as weapons taking liberties behind the refs' backs.
posted by mannequito at 12:42 PM on February 18, 2015
posted by mannequito at 12:42 PM on February 18, 2015
Yeah, it's total bullshit. Once in a while there'll be a cheap elbow or hit into the boards, a fighter will come out and beat up the guy who took the cheap shot, and then there's no more violence, so people will infer causation, or say that things would have gotten more out of control if the fighter hadn't "sent a message" or "taken care of business" or whatever. There are so many logical fallacies involved there, and there's also the many times where the team closes rank around the cheap shot artist and fights back, or there's another fight later because the score wasn't settled according to one side or another. It's such a ridiculous sideshow, and if the league and players union wanted it gone, it could be gone like it is at many other levels where hockey is played.
posted by tonycpsu at 12:44 PM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by tonycpsu at 12:44 PM on February 18, 2015 [1 favorite]
To hell with the haters. We still love you Nick Fotiu!
Wow. Nicky is 62. I'm old.
posted by Splunge at 2:56 PM on February 18, 2015
Wow. Nicky is 62. I'm old.
posted by Splunge at 2:56 PM on February 18, 2015
There's still going to be honest emotional fights unless they outlaw those, but honestly I think they're necessary as a pressure relief valve in such a speedy high contact sport.
They'd pretty much disappear overnight if the league started handing out suspensions based on post-game videotape review.
Yeah, occasionally tempers are just going to genuinely explode, but there's usually a lot more of a "cultural" aspect to these sorts of things than people realize (that is, what quite genuinely feels like simple, spontaneous personal 'loss of control' to the individuals involved actually follows some pretty ritualized cultural scripts--and those scripts can be changed).
posted by yoink at 8:53 AM on February 19, 2015
They'd pretty much disappear overnight if the league started handing out suspensions based on post-game videotape review.
Yeah, occasionally tempers are just going to genuinely explode, but there's usually a lot more of a "cultural" aspect to these sorts of things than people realize (that is, what quite genuinely feels like simple, spontaneous personal 'loss of control' to the individuals involved actually follows some pretty ritualized cultural scripts--and those scripts can be changed).
posted by yoink at 8:53 AM on February 19, 2015
« Older ● | Hither and Jawn Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:09 AM on February 18, 2015 [2 favorites]