Maybe We Need More 'Leaders'

Proud Canadian, I grew up with fighting as an accepted and even encouraged part of the sport. Fighting has always been one way for players to ''police'' (for lack of a better word) what is happening on  the ice. It's how they minimize intimidating or dirty play by opponents, by making those players accountable when the referees miss something. Of course, fighting is also an intimidating tactic, often forcing other teams to have a designated fighter and leading to the predictable and pointless showdowns between designated goons.  To those of you unfamilliar with hockey, they are definitely real fights and occasionally a guy willl be knocked out or break his hand.  I''ve seen a guy break his leg, falling awkwardly after getting punched. One retired tough guy, Dave Manson, can now barely speak because of a punch in the throat damaging his vocal cords. Some guys' careers have ended as a result of a fight. There are penatlies in place but the only deterrants are misconducts and eventually a suspension for instigating fights. Bench-clearing brawls at the NHL level are a thing of the past,

Gary Roberts is a tough and formerly talented guy who I've followed for more than 20 years. He will ''stand up''' for teammates by challenging opponents who take liberties. But he has been guilty of numerous dirty plays himself, especially with the deterioration of hsi skills, and he is no longer a good enough player to warrant  being considered a leader. He's a fringe player at best but he understands the game and the code of conduct that should exist on the ice.

No one should confuse fighting with leadership. Occasionally there are fights between teams' real leaders, for example the Stanley Cup final a few years ago featured a great fight between Jarome Iginla of the Flames and Vincent Lecavalier of the Lightning. Neither would back down and they went at it. The fight helped set the tone for a very good series. Guys like Chris Pronger use intimidation but that's just the way they play, it's not an essential part  of being a leader. It was the same with Mark Messier. Guys like Steve Yzerman were no less a leader because they did not fight, although Yzerman and even Gretzky had the odd scrap. Gretzky just one I believe. He didn't have to, because there were plenty of teammates who would ''discourage'' anyone from even looking sideways at Wayne.

Aside from box lacrosse, there is no other organized team sport I know of that essentially allows players to fight.  Anyone who plays junior hockey in Canada is  told by his coach or one of the older players or even his dad  to get his first fight out of the way just so he knows what the hell its all about and discourages other teams from trying to intimidate him.

The Steelers need some of their leaders to step up and do what all leaders do, in any sport or even business: Take accountability, set an example in their approach to the job and encourage others to adhieve team goals rather than individual goals.

Started with the Calgary Flames and played there many years and had a 50-goal season I believe. Suffered a potentially career ending neck injury. Came back and played well for many years with Carolina and the Leafs before joining Pens.