by Amy Lignor
The one thing you can always count on when watching a hockey game is that someone will go overboard. Tempers flash as quick as the sticks out there on the ice. And with the way the NFL season is beginning – with complete and utter shock and awe considering the teams that are 0-and-3 – the gridiron may just end up looking like the NHL (just a warmer climate).
It is only preseason for the icemen; however, the Maple Leafs of Toronto and the Sabres of Buffalo already gave their fans something 
interesting to watch. Last night’s preseason bout brought back that anger and excitement that the sports world really misses once the Stanley Cup is presented.
It all began with Jamie Devane. He truly showed how much the Canadians want that Cup and how important it is for them to end the Canadian drought. No longer will an American team be allowed to take away their gold star, brass ring – or whatever the heck you want to call it.
Devane and Corey Tropp (a Sabre at heart) got into a heavyweight championship match that led to Tropp seeing his own blood (Yet another rite of passage when it comes to hockey). And as all good teammates do, Buffalo literally set their sights on vengeance – leaving the actual goal of winning the game in second place.
John Scott – the 6-foot-8 enforcer – commanded the ice, with Toronto utilizing one of their most skilled (and mouthy, apparently) players, Phil Kessel. What began with a few harsh words between the two turned into yet another opening for the gladiators to go at it. As Scott threw his gloves off and went for Kessel; but Kessel realized that he needed his life in order to enjoy the hockey season coming up. He knew darn well that to face Scott would be a quick and easy way to feel the crunch of his own nose and witness the spatter of his own blood. So after a few small slaps, a great number of teammates headed to the ice and West Side Story on skates once again came into being. You gotta love hockey, considering even the fans get involved and make sure their team knows they stand behind them – even when it comes to the spilling of blood.
Is Toronto ready to make the Canadians victorious no matter what they have to do to get there? Sure. Let’s face it – the fans love their team. They even had a major squabble in a bar when a Bruins’ fan had the nerve to degrade a Maple Leaf mural. Again, a fight ensued and many people walked away saying that Toronto is unbelievably loyal – and just a little but nuts – over their team. Who loses? Let’s just say that vacationers picking where they want to go for their holiday may stay far away from the city of Toronto, seeing as that it’s transforming into a Stephen King novel.
Will this happen to the NFL? Well…the NFL now has more rules than a Catholic girls’ school. It seems like the players can’t even sneeze on the opposing team anymore without being flagged for a personal foul. If a fight – a real fight – ever broke out on the gridiron, the NFL would fine so many people that the entire U.S. economy would be brought back just from those payments alone.
But be really careful…the way this year is beginning, NFL players are already beyond frustrated. Things are happening that just shouldn’t be happening. The experts are beyond confused, seeing as that they picked certain teams to be 3-0 by now, and even picked San Francisco to go to the Super Bowl and win. Right now, San Fran is looking like the Jets – actually worse than the Jets seeing as that the Jets have won two games in a row (no, this is not a misprint).
NFL players may be calmer and know the rules that could get them benched for life – but frustration soars, tempers flare, and NFL fans may just receive a real ‘hockey-esque’ battle before the Super Bowl ever comes to pass.
Will the quiet but deadly Packers QB get to the end of his rope? We shall see…
Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy
Source: BeFirst Media Group / Baret News Wire