". . . the fights are inevitable."

No sale! Assault is assault. In boxing, punching your opponent (with padded gloves on) is an integral, necessary part of the sport. It is refereed and judged. In hockey, punching an opposing team member is not an integral part of the sport and indeed earns a penalty. If the penalties are not sufficient to deter the behavior, that's a flaw in the rules and still doesn't make it right.

Pseudolus, you say you don't approve of this kind of behavior, but still, you seem to be "damning it with faint praise."

Little Hawk's post of 12 Mar 04 - 10:56 AM is right on the mark.

Don Firth