Proposal on Violence Stirs Boston

A proposed ordinance by the city of Boston in which police could arrest professional athletes involved in brawls during games got a stormy reception at a hearing Friday.

“This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen come before this board,” City Councilman Albert L. O’Neil said.

If a hockey player were arrested on the ice or police tried to handcuff Larry Bird, the fans would create an uproar, O’Neil said. “Let’s not make the Boston police look like fools,” he added.

The ordinance was proposed in January by City Council President Bruce Bolling, who said that if sports teams wouldn’t take responsibility for curbing violence in their games, the city would. Only Bolling spoke in favor of the ordinance at Friday’s hearing.

He said that, under the measure, “any professional athlete engaging in competition within the city of Boston shall be subject to immediate arrest . . . upon the commission of any violent act during said competition.”

Harry Sinden, general manager of the Boston Bruins, said the measure, which appears to be aimed at hockey, would create problems that would far outweigh any good.

“In my wildest dreams, I can’t envision what would happen if the cuffs were put on a player,” Sinden said after testifying against it.