On 3/28/2011 9:32 AM, Matt Sullivan wrote:
> Since when can't you hit a player when their head is down???

Since we started learning just how damaging concussions are.  If you 
derive enjoyment from watching people suffer brain damage, I can't stop 
you.  I, however, have been opting out pretty rapidly.  I can't watch 
NFL football anymore, and I'm losing patience with the NHL.  
Fortunately, I discovered that women's hockey is a great game, with a 
much lower injury rate.

Given how large and how fast the players are today, the only way you're 
going to stop the escalating rate of concussions is to prevent hits to 
the head.  It doesn't matter whether the checked player's head is up or 
down.  Either eliminate those hits, or you'll see a continuing parade of 
players to the hospital.  The research being done on concussions in 
sports is frightening if you care about the players' well being, 
particularly the evidence that an accumulation of blows that do not 
produce concussion symptoms can do serious long term damage.