Fighting

[rrlbees]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

 

[Marsh01]

well look at hockey...

 

[dasher]

it just is. There are times when someone goes too far, hockey players hitting someone over the head with a stick comes to mind, but sports has always been different. Where would we draw the line. Civil suits where a guy gets hit and sues because it costs him money? A fastball in the ribs becomes assault? It just gets the camel in the tent and may make sports almost unplayable.

 

[Upstate]

Every play in the NFL has about 30 assaults in it.

 

[Col. Bleep]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

Great question.
The unsatisfying answer seems to be, "because."

The NY Times ran a very disturbing series this week on the death of NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard.
It raised similar points. I was poking around for some basic info on the law and came
across this brief overview:

http://sportslaw.uslegal.com/sports-violence/

 

[raf4488]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

legally, it's no different at all.

 

[orangehomer]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

it's major different. in the case of sports the players enter the activity with a written and unwritten set of agreements about what is considered acceptable behavior. in the real world only laws dictate what is acceptable behavior. it would be like a boxer suing another boxer for beating the crap out of him, he can't because he entered the activity with an understanding of what was at stake. a guy at a bar that gets sucker punched did not enter the bar under the condition that a sucker punch was a part of the agreement of patronage (well maybe at some bars). sports are played with any number of rules, written and unwritten, as to what is considered acceptable conduct. players enter the activity with an inherent understanding of the risks that it entails. can a MLB player sue a pitcher for hitting him and breaking a wrist? of course not. but if i throw a bottle at someone in a bar and crack their skull it is assault with a deadly weapon. totally different.

 

[CuseManiac]

This is becoming an issue in College basketball with Gtown and now Cincy/Xavier. There is some difference between fighting and a sucker punch, fighting should have indefinite suspension with lot of requirements to be met before a player is considered for reinstatement but Sucker punching a player who can not defend himself should immediate dismissal from School with potential for criminal charges, playing a sport should not be an excuse for attacking another human. This is just my opinion

 

[OrangeMuskyFish]

I know I certainly don't have a "by the book answer," but it is something that sports has been able to do right thus far. Participating in a physical, emotional, and competitive activity sets the stage for things like this to happen, so its much different than just throwing hands with somebody out of the blue. Also, nobody wants to be the bitch that pressed charges over something that happens game in and game out.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

Doesn't the victim have to press charges in an assault case?

If we get into a bar fight and I kick your a$$, if you decide to take it like a man and not whine to the cops then nothing will come of it. couchburn

If Frease from Xavier really wanted to muck up the works, I'm sure he could have called the cops after the game and had Gates arrested. But that would be a bit of a p-ssy move in a sporting event.

 

[Aweart23]

Didn't the Canadian Police arrest Todd Bertuzzi a few years back for punching someone during a game?

 

[Dick_in_MI]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

It's an excellent question.

Clearly, football and boxing have various felonies going on constantly.

Hockey is full of fights too.

Baseball has fights, but they are mostly pseudo-wrestling and pushing

I think that when it comes to hoops, nobody is wearing pads or helmets, and often punches are thrown. Or if you are in Cincinnati, kicks to the face happen. Honestly, those are crimes and guys get away with it because it is on the court. Morally speaking, it should be prosecuted but of course it never is.

 

[PeteCalvin]

Every play in the NFL has about 30 assaults in it.

As did just about every NBA game from 1990 - 2000. The Thug Ball Era.

 

[PeteCalvin]

If I pop you in a bar, I can be arrested. Why can a basketball player pop another player and not be arrested? What makes sports different?

If you pop me in a bar, you can pay for your own damn drink.

 

[Rocco]

I thought you can still press charges within a week. Then Yates would be in trouble.

 

[orangecuse]

Well, there is, to a certain degree, an "assumption of risk" when entering into a competitive sports arena. One could argue that in such a competitive environment where contact, shoving, jawing, etc, takes place, being punched is not so unforeseen.

For me, one of the worst all time punches in sport was when Kermit Washington just suckered punched Rudy T. Would've been interesting to see the social response had the situation been reversed...

 

[kingottoiii]

As long as it isn't a cheap shot, as long as both parties are willing participants, and as long as someone doesn't hit another person when they are down, if two people at a bar want to fight it should be legal.

 

[Eric15]

For me, one of the worst all time sucker punches in sport was when Kermit Washington just suckered punched Rudy T. Would've been interesting to see the social response/outcry had the situation been reversed...

If you get NBATV as part of your cable package, they occasionally show this really fascinating biography about Kermit Washington. It's really interesting about how that punch (which legitimately almost killed Rudy T) got him totally blacklisted from the NBA, and how he's never been able to recover from it personally and professionally. I always assumed he was a total thug, but he actually seems like a thoughtful & articulate guy.

 

[orangecuse]

If you get NBATV as part of your cable package, they occasionally show this really fascinating biography about Kermit Washington. It's really interesting about how that punch (which legitimately almost killed Rudy T) got him totally blacklisted from the NBA, and how he's never been able to recover from it personally and professionally. I always assumed he was a total thug, but he actually seems like a thoughtful & articulate guy.

I have seen it...very sombering indeed. He has stuggled and is remorseful, but unfortunately, there's just no going back after doing something so callous, which, as you stated, nearly costed Rudy his life.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

Well, there is, to a certain degree, an "assumption of risk" when entering into a competitive sports arena. One could argue that in such a competitive environment where contact, shoving, jawing, etc, takes place, being punched is not so unforeseen.

For me, one of the worst all time punches in sport was when Kermit Washington just suckered punched Rudy T. Would've been interesting to see the social response had the situation been reversed...

I would disagree that there is an assumption of risk when playing basketball, except to the extent that sports injuries can occur. You should not have to assume the risk of being assaulted. There is a difference between the normal physical contact in the sport and that which is not allowed or would get you arrested if done on the street.

 

[Upstate]

Regarding Yancy Gates...lets just say John Syracuse told me there was a tape of this incident.

 

[orangecuse]

I would disagree that there is an assumption of risk when playing basketball, except to the extent that sports injuries can occur. You should not have to assume the risk of being assaulted. There is a difference between the normal physical contact in the sport and that which is not allowed or would get you arrested if done on the street.

I concur it's a stretch, but nonetheless an argument could be made, no matter how weak it may appear...basically that's all I'm implying. The old adage boys will be boys does not negate this type of potential behavior, regardless of how slight, so it's not outside the realm...I recall growing up in several instances where fights broke out, even in neighborhood games, due to over-aggression, etc.

 

[AZOrange]

Players can be charged. Doesnt happen very often, but it can.

 

[raf4488]

Here you go bees:

Charges being considered

 

[EastCoast2]

Well, there is, to a certain degree, an "assumption of risk" when entering into a competitive sports arena. One could argue that in such a competitive environment where contact, shoving, jawing, etc, takes place, being punched is not so unforeseen.

Legally, this is correct. Assumption of risk is the main reason.