The Best Sport

The United Center pregame before a Blackhawks game

   Hockey is the best sport in world. You don't have to fact-check, ask someone, or do anything else, just trust me. I've played a lot of sports in my life and hockey is the only one that requires strength, speed, endurance, and precision to the utmost degree. If you're watching on tv, the puck is always in play and there always is something happening. I love sports like football and baseball, don't get me wrong, but there is just so much dead time where nothing is happening. I read somewhere that for a 60 minute football game, the ball is only in play for ten minutes, and for baseball I'd imagine it's around the same amount for a full game. In hockey, it's three 20 minute periods where the puck is moving and bodies are flying across the ice.

Two of the best players in the world, Alex Ovechkin (left) and Sidney Crosby (right), going after a loose puck

    Now I know what a lot of people might be thinking. Just like the old adage of "I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out", there are a lot of humans out there that think hockey is just about a lot of big guys going out trying to kill each other and hockey fans are no different than boxing or MMA fans. This is 100% false. Fighting does have a place in hockey, I wholeheartedly agree with that, but that is not hockey, that is just a part of hockey. Fighting has and will remain in hockey for all of time, but it is done for the right reasons and, believe it or not, actually makes the game safer. If you know you are going to have to face-off against a 6'3", 230-pound guy if you are running around making cheap plays and taking liberties that may injure other players, guess what? You aren't going to do it! To top that off, in a recent poll, 99% of NHL players were against fighting being banned in the sport. 

    Hockey does have its demerits, I will be honest. First of all, it is a very expensive sport. If you are looking to get into hockey, the gear will cost a whole lot of money. With something having to cover every part of your body, the price definitely racks up. There are a lot of people working on making hockey more affordable to less fortunate individuals, but for the time being, is very expensive. On top of that, live games are also very expensive to go to. I know tickets for Blackhawks games start at around $50 dollars and those are obviously for some of the worst seats in the building. Also, hockey is a very injury-full sport. It kind of makes sense seeing as though there are twelve players playing in a condensed area, while running into each other at around 15-20 mph. I've certainly had my fair share of them, but honestly I have been kind of lucky as far as those go.

    Despite all of that though, I am certain the positives of hockey far outweigh the negatives and that is what makes it the best sport in the world. If you would like to experience this yourself, I would highly encourage hopping on the ice and trying it out. It will not be fun the first time, You will fall on your butt a whole bunch, but the more you play, the more I guarantee you will fall in love with the game just as I did. If nothing else, go to a hockey game, or watch one on tv. Our team plays about twice a weekend so definitely come out to that, see what it's all about, and support the school if nothing else. I promise you won't be disappointed.