Ducks Lovers and Ducks Haters Face Off

Michael Eisner gives hockey fans everywhere a big slap-shot in the face when he pronounces, “We hope to lighten things up, make hockey a family sport, not just for a bunch of guys who are out looking for a fight.”

Will someone please tell him that hockey is already enjoyed and supported by men, women and children of all ages, and not by a bunch of Neanderthals? I would further bet that most of those people are attracted to hockey for the fast-paced action, intensity, athletic finesse and agility of the game, and not for the over-publicized violence.

To be sure, hockey by its nature has a physical element to it, although one could argue that, play for play, football is just as violent. I and many other fans would welcome new rules that discouraged actual fighting, as long as they didn’t hamper the purity of the game.

Silly names for a team and arena aside, hockey will hopefully benefit from the marketing expertise that Disney will bring to the sport. But Mr. Eisner’s bad-mouthing of hockey fans and their motivation for enjoying the game can only add to hockey’s tired, undeserved reputation. If I wanted to watch a fight, I’d watch professional boxing.

TOM COLANDREA

Costa Mesa