Last Rites
Playing sports in Bakersfield isn't a rite, it's a passage.
A blog about Sports & Recreation and Kern County.
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A little newsroom banter
Just heard an articulate debate between Condors writer Mike Griffith and Web junkie Steve Swenson discussing the merits of soccer and hockey.
I can't repeat the banter verbatim but it was something like: "Soccer is for 5 and 6 years that haven't devoloped the ability to use their arms and hands. ... Hockey is for goons that haven't evolved past the neanderthalic period." I'm paraphrasing. Well, actually ad-libbing to stoke the fire. So what's your take on the overall athleticism of soccer and hockey? Here's mine, but it's not important. I'd rather have a hockey player beside me in a bar-room brawl, and if I need to run a top secret document through the Greecian countryside, say 26.1 miles, I'll take a soccer player. As for Mike and Steve, no dueling pistols at 10 paces yet, but I'll keep you posted. 24 comments from 8 users
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posted by
robbwillis
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:08 PM
Both sports would benefit from another scoring implement. Let's see the goalie stop two pucks or two balls coming at him.
posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:20 PM
As I posted somewhere, USA Today did a piece on the "10 Hardest things to do in Sports". Saving a penalty kick in soccer comes in 9th. Hockey isn't even on the list.Hitting a baseball is 1st and driving a racecar is 2nd btw. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:21 PM
Imagine the collisions if there were 2 pucks. I saw a really nasty collision between 2 players in the Saturday morning match between the Rangers and Flyers. Both guys went to the hospital, one with a broken orbital and cheek bone and the other was unconsious for about 10 minutes. Neither saw it coming. Cheek meets side of head. As much as I like seeing hockey players run into each other, this one was really really bad.
posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:26 PM
Brendan Shannahan was the one really hurt wasn't he Pete? I remember Shanny from his days in the um..Blackhawks?..
posted by
steveeswenson
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:41 PM
We were also discussing which sport is more fun to watch. Both are fun to watch in person, but not so much on tv.What I like about soccer is you can do great things that don't result in scoring. Same is true with hockey. Passing, blocking, leading a charge, protecting the goalie and lots of other manuevers. My son was a soccer goalie and there is nothing more exciting that watching a goalie block a great shot. Same is true in hockey. I'm not sure why we had this discussion except Griffith likes to argue about everything. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Knuble was the one that broke his orbital and cheek bone. I heard as of yesterday there was still too much swelling to operate. He's done for the season. Shanny was released from the hospital and told to rest. Status is uncertain. For some reason he didn't have much damage. I understand he hasn't really had a concussion problem in his career. He used to play for the Red Wings during their most recent Stanley Cup wins. One thing I remember about him is seeing his pads. They're all old barely there leather things that guys probably wore in the 50's. Same ones he wore in juniors. The guy is hardcore, no doubt about it. Great team guy too. I hope he can recover. The Rangers really need his leadership.
posted by
steveeswenson
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:46 PM
Hitting a long straight golf tee shot is 4th
posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:50 PM
Ah, thats it, Detroit. Thanks for the update Pete. I hope both guys are ok, thats a trip about his pads. It doesn't hurt that he is a good looking chap for me either :P
posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 21, 2007 at 02:51 PM
I thought you might appreciate that one Steve :)
posted by
robbwillis
on Feb 21, 2007 at 03:50 PM
Funny about a baseball being so hard to hit. I was always a good hitter, but couldn't catch the damned thing. Especially pop flies. I'd position myself under it and it would land, embarassingly, five feet behind me. posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 21, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Well, Jose Canseco had the same problem but he made A LOT of money anyway Robb :P
posted by
LastRites
on Feb 21, 2007 at 03:58 PM
How in the world can hockey not be on the Top 10. Have you ever tried to fire a wrister top shelf? I can't even get the puck off the ice when I try. I'm pretty sure I can stop a penalty kick.
posted by
robbwillis
on Feb 21, 2007 at 04:07 PM
It was always tough for my teams to hide me on the field. I'd switch between left and right field depending on the batter's hitting side. The last company softball game of the year, many moons ago, I shifted to right field with the other team's giant right-hander at the plate. Two outs, bottom of the last inning, everything on the line, and he shifts his stance way out of line so he can smash it my way. He goofed up, though. Instead of a long fly ball, he hits a line drive that I snag off the top of my shoe on a dead-run. I can still hear him muttering "happy birthday" under his breath...
posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 21, 2007 at 04:10 PM
Good story Robb..bet you were close to a depends moment there.. :P
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Feb 21, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Hey Robb, you gotta keep your eye on the ball. If you blink or even think "oh, don't hit me in the head again" you're gonna drop it. I'm sure you already know that one though. ( ;If it makes you feel better, I can't hit a fastball to save my life. I got seriously humbled going to a batting cage. posted by
steveeswenson
on Feb 22, 2007 at 06:54 AM
Robb, I'm surprised a coach hasn't told you this. The trick to catching a fly ball is to look over your glove and have the ball come right at your nose. Theoretically, you catch it before you start looking like a beat up boxer.posted by
jasonsperber
on Feb 22, 2007 at 08:53 AM
JustAThought: "Hockey promotes violence and allows it ,whereby soccer does not." Unless you're not on the field but in the stands. :) Wikipedia's entry on "football (soccer) hooliganism" posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Feb 22, 2007 at 09:56 AM
Yeah, funny that you never see huge riots breaking out at hockey games. Which sport promotes violence again?Fighting in hockey actually prevents violence and "stick work" (slashing, cross checking, high sticking) from happening. It sounds funny, but there are players whose job it is to protect the elite star players. These guys are basically designated to keep things from getting out of hand, or to stop lower skilled players from taking liberties against higher skilled players. Unlike the old days most games don't even have a fight (except maybe in the minors). Almost always after a fight, things calm down on the ice. It's a hard concept to explain, but most hockey fans understand the role of fighting in the game. It's really nothing like the (slap) fights you see in the NBA or MLB. Most of the time the guys fighting aren't even angry. posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 22, 2007 at 10:00 AM
You don't get huge riots at hockey games because "huge riots" require lots of people. You know, like the stands at a soccer match.
posted by
mattloch
on Feb 22, 2007 at 10:06 AM
Wait a second, which sport has actually caused wars in the past, JustAThought? Here's a hint: it wasn't hockey.... (Nice dig there, Random. You get a gold star today.)
posted by
robbwillis
on Feb 22, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Steve, Coaching? I took my first golf lesson about five years ago, if you don't count the super slice my dad taught me. posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Feb 22, 2007 at 10:22 AM
That was a good one, but we aren't talking about The Condors.
posted by
ProgressivePete2
on Feb 22, 2007 at 10:26 AM
Speaking of the dreaded golf slice, for years I thought I needed a new driver because of my slice off the tee. Before buying a new one, I realized the grips were totally smooth and the club was slipping around in my hands. I re gripped it and it went away (well, mostly went away). Never underestimate the importance of sticky grips. posted by
dusty1215
on Feb 22, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Ex Celtics player Dennis Johnson has died. He was only 52. From MSNBC:Johnson, coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, was unconscious and in cardiac arrest when paramedics arrived at Austin Convention Center, said Warren Hassinger, spokesman for Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services.
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