London (Ontario) Free Press
March 26
Dear Editor
It is interesting how the era in which you played dictated whether your actions were acceptable or not. Gordie Howe is lionized for "welcoming" rookies to the NHL with elbows to the chops, but do it today and you have panels discussing head shots.
Former great pitchers Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale were praised for brushing back hitters and beaning them "when needed" but Pedro Martinez and others today are called headhunters.
Former defensive lineman Deacon Jones said he tried on every play to put the guy he was hitting in the hospital. That went under the heading of old school football, while today's NFL wouldn't care for that type of comment.
The New York Yankees of the 1950s were a hard-drinking, partying bunch who caused family strife for some of the wives and children. But when you bring home a World Series most Octobers, it gets overlooked.
One can wonder: If steroids had been around earlier would they have been acceptable and, if so, what would the record books be like?
CHRIS MAHER
It is interesting how the era in which you played dictated whether your actions were acceptable or not. Gordie Howe is lionized for "welcoming" rookies to the NHL with elbows to the chops, but do it today and you have panels discussing head shots.
Former great pitchers Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale were praised for brushing back hitters and beaning them "when needed" but Pedro Martinez and others today are called headhunters.
Former defensive lineman Deacon Jones said he tried on every play to put the guy he was hitting in the hospital. That went under the heading of old school football, while today's NFL wouldn't care for that type of comment.
The New York Yankees of the 1950s were a hard-drinking, partying bunch who caused family strife for some of the wives and children. But when you bring home a World Series most Octobers, it gets overlooked.
One can wonder: If steroids had been around earlier would they have been acceptable and, if so, what would the record books be like?
CHRIS MAHER
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