This week's article is by Bill Willett. I met Bill in the vastness of the internet and I stumbled upon his webpage and was very impressed. He certainly knows what he's talking about, and his website is definetly worth giving a good look to every so often to see what's on Bill's mind. Here's an article courtesy of Bill and his webpage, and it should draw some intrest from our Canadian friends, that's for sure. Enjoy!

Boston Bruins player Marty McSorely has recenly been charged by the Vancouver police for slashing an opposing player in the head. Now I ask, why are the police getting involved? Now don't get me wrong, I think what McSorely did was inexcusable. There is no place in hockey for what he did. A two-handed slash to head is not a part of hockey. The NHL acted swiftly in suspending him for the remaning 23 games of the season and the playoffs if the Bruins make the playoffs. Also, McSorely's status will be reviewed at the beginning next season if he decides not to retire. The punishment fits the crime.

What I disagree with is the police getting involved with what happens on the playing surface. This could set a dangerous precedent that could change sports as we know it. If this goes through and McSorely gets sentenced to a jail term all the players in the NHL will think twice about using their sticks. While getting the sticks down is something the NHL must do, I do not think that this is the way to go about it. It will hurt the competiveness on the ice. Players will be less likely to that big hit if the threat of going to jail is there.

I feel that this will spill over to the other sports. If a batter gets hit with a pitch and charges the mound will he get charged with assault? Will the pitcher get charged? When a safety puts his helmet down and hits a receiver over the middle and the receiver lays motionless on the field is the police going to get involved. Once the police gets invloved who is going to decide what is a chargeable offense and what is not. Do we want our politicians legislating the rules of our sports? We see enough athletes on Court TV already with the off the field stuff do we really want to see athletes defending their actions on the playing surface in a court of law?