Aboveusonlypie wrote:
That's exactly what WILL happen. The reputation of the game hasn't changed one iota. Most of those calling for a public hanging never watch a game from one year to the next. Furthermore those who do, understand that watching grown men biff each other about is a big part of what makes the game enjoyable.
Many fans wax lyrical about the likes of Barrie Mac, Kelvin Skerritt and Big Jim Mills in a 'good old days' way, but get all sanctimonious when something similar happens nowadays.
As for the 'family' thing. If you can really come up with a living breathing 'family' who were put off the game by what Ben Flower did, I'll change my mind. I suspect you won't be able to though.
Storm in a teacup. Old news already.
Bull$hit if the highest order. Two big lads having a set to was a part of the game I miss also, but I have no nostalgia whatsoever for thugs who took out playmakers. A prop knocking out and then smacking again a defenceless half on the ground is not "biff", it's the thuggery that blighted the sport for decades. Les Boyd got two bans of 12 months for acts of thuggery in the days when big lads could sort things out amongst themselves. You obviously can't tell the difference.
Having said that, the ban is fair and Flower should be treated like any other player once he's playing again. He's a good player and if he can control himself and put this behind him he has a great future on the game.