Posted: April 23rd, 2025

Discussion Thread: Reply

3 replies of at least 200 words. Must incorporate at least 1 scholarly citation in APA format. Any sources cited must have been published within the last five years. Acceptable sources include peer-reviewed journal articles, the textbook, and the Bible. (see attached)

Reply to the following 3 post:

Sep 30 6:23pmLast reply Oct 1 5:38am

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Kevin Ray

Kevin Ray

Good evening,

The incident regarding Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore represents one of the more violent and controversial moments in sports. To quickly summarize, Steve Moore initiated what was viewed as overly physical contact with a respected veteran on an opposing team. In a subsequent matchup, Moore was attacked from behind by Bertuzzi and suffered career ending injuries. Bertuzzi later faced criminal charges and both parties ultimately settled out of court. The handling of this incident is consistent with many cases reviewed in this course in that it doesn’t end up going to trial. This seems to be a trend in sports cases as athletes and the leagues they are in often aim to protect the sport they participate in. In baseball and hockey particularly, we tend to see a commitment to unwritten rules and an underlying code of ethics between athletes.

My personal belief regarding violence in sport is that violence in moderation can increase the excitement for participants and spectators. There is a place in sports for violence so long as it is controlled violence and doesn’t sacrifice the long-term safety of the athletes. In fact, evidence supports the theory that violence, particularly in the form of game misconduct, is one of the two largest factors impacting the attendance of NHL games (Miller, 2023). Game misconduct and goal scoring represent an 8.7% variation on attendance rates and the only significant factors impacting NHL attendance (Miller, 2023).

I believe that violence must be limited to a manner that increases the value of physical competition. Violence can be used to increase the intensity of competition but should always stop short of leading to lasting damage to the personnel involved. Proverbs 3:31 reminds us that “Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways” (King James Bible, 1769/2017). This message is simple but direct and reminds us that violence for the sake of violence should not be celebrated. Luckily, I do believe that sports are not becoming increasingly violent, and we are consistently working to improve player safety. Professional leagues are working to increase player safety and reduce instances of unnecessary violence and that is trickling down to lower levels of play. This is an overall improvement for the sports world.

Miller, J. J., & Davis, M. A. (2023). An Analysis of Violence and Performance Factors’ Influence on National Hockey League Attendance: A Conceptual Analysis of Hedonic Consumption.
 Journal of Sport Behavior, 46(3), 39-54. 

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/analysis-violence-performance-factors-influence/docview/2898764803/se-2

Links to an external site.

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/.

(Original work published 1769)

Sep 30 4:34am

Manage Discussion by

Rechandralyn Williams

Rechandralyn Williams

This incident illustrates the ongoing challenges in managing violence in sports. The handling of this incident aligned with the course lessons. While the legal actions taken (both criminal and civil) demonstrate some accountability, they also reveal the shortcomings in how the league handles player safety and aggressive behavior. The NHL’s responses often seemed reactive rather than proactive, highlighting gaps in policy. Violence can be a contentious topic in sports. While some argue it’s an integral part of certain games (like hockey), others believe it detracts from the spirit of competition and endangers players. Personally, I see it as something that should be minimized, with a focus on skill and strategy over aggression. “But there are times when the level of violence exceeds what has been deemed acceptable and the long arm of the law occasionally extends onto ice level” (Talbot, 2016).

Determining the threshold for acceptable violence is challenging. Any act that leads to severe injury, particularly intentional ones like Bertuzzi’s, should be considered too much. The goal should always be to ensure player safety and maintain sportsmanship. Some argue that violence in sports is on the rise, partly due to the increasing physicality of play and media coverage that glorifies aggressive acts. However, others contend that there’s a growing awareness of player safety, leading to stricter regulations and penalties. In my opinion I believe that violence has not increased in sports for multiple reasons. Many sports have implemented strict rules and safety protocols to protect player. There’s greater awareness about the dangers of violence, especially regarding concussions and long-term health effects. Many youth sports programs now prioritize teaching sportsmanship and safety. Organizations governing sports, like the NFL or NHL, are more proactive in addressing violence. In Genesis 1:27, it states that humans are created in the image of God, which underscores the intrinsic value of each person. This can be interpreted to advocate for the protection and respect of individuals, suggesting that violence in sports undermines this value and can lead to harm that contradicts the spirit of mutual respect and love emphasized in Biblical teachings.

Talbot, M. (2016, February 9). 
Some notable on-ice incidents that led to criminal charges. CityNews Toronto. https://toronto.citynews.ca/2016/02/09/some-notable-on-ice-incidents-that-led-to-criminal-charges/ 

Sep 24 4:39pmLast reply Sep 30 5:04am

Manage Discussion by

Blake Kuhn

Blake Kuhn

Hockey is a tough-natured and physical game and at times can be incredibly violent. Fighting one another is allowed in the official NHL rule book, although it is punishable by in game penalties and more. There has long been a tradition of opposing players fighting one another as a sort of “self-policing” between each other. 

With this notion in mind when looking at the 2004 incident between Todd Bertuzzi and Steve Moore, I believe the NHL handled the situation correctly and consistently with what we have learned; As they suspended Bertuzzi for the remainder of the season and did so through an official league hearing. As far as the Assault charge, that was handled correctly as well, as Bertuzzi’s sucker punch did not fall under the NHL’s sanctioned rules of engagement in regards to fighting, such as both parties dropping sticks and gloves (NHL Rulebook 2023). This goes for Moore’s lawsuit for damages as well. Moore lost his entire career for an incident outside of the rules of the sport he agreed to play. This incident undoubtedly changed the league forever and it is no wonder the NHL has never had as many fights per game in a season since (Fortney, 2021).

My grandfather owned and operated a boxing gym when I was a child. I grew up around the sport. While violence is an inherent part of the sport, so is sportsmanship and respect for one another. My grandfather had a bible verse on the wall of his gym, it was Proverbs 16:32 which said, “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (NIV Bible).  This verse highlighted the need to not fall victim to becoming a barbarian when it comes to violent sports, self-control is the greatest asset to anyone, especially a combat sportsman.

Violence is always going to be a part of sport. The earliest forms of sport and competition was combat.   I completely agree with the notion that there can be too much violence, especially if violent sport is not taught with proper discipline. I think a major issue is the now popularization of mixed martial arts in the media, which can lead to rapid expansion of the sport and malpractice. The sport itself has become a major part of sports culture as the leader in the field, the UFC, is now a multi billion dollar company. I don’t believe the notion that sport is becoming increasingly violent, however, I see it as the access to violent sports is more available than ever, one can argue violence in general, including outside of sport, is become easily accessible to everyone in this modern day in age where everyone is connected through the internet and social media.

References

Bible gateway passage: Proverbs 16:32 – new international version. Bible Gateway. (n.d.). https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+16%3A32&version=NIV

Fortney, T. A. (n.d.). | graph demonstrating historical rates of fighting in the NHL from 1953… | download scientific diagram. https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Graph-demonstrating-historical-rates-of-fighting-in-the-NHL-from-1953-to-2020-This_fig3_361668792

Official rules. (n.d.). https://media.nhl.com/site/asset/public/ext/2023-24/2023-24Rulebook