Football, basketball, boxing and baseball were the sports I faithfully participated in as a kid through adulthood. I was fortunate enough to compete in football and boxing at the professional level. Other activities such as wrestling, track, handball, racquetball and lacrosse were used to sharpen me up for football and boxing. Each of these compliment the other to enhance skills and increase your talent. You can never be too good in any sport and someone will be there to overtake you when you ease up. You can take that to the bank with you.
Hockey wasn't a sport many individuals were interested in when I was growing up. There were no known rinks I knew of in New York City where I was located and the local sports heroes came from baseball, basketball and football in that order. Even while at college in the early 1970's I had no interest in watching hockey. I learned more about the sport during college because students from Buffalo loved the Sabres and in the first televised superstars a hockey player participated by the name of Rod Gilbert. The fact that his physique was of ordinary stature and he didn't fare very well in the different competitions failed to pique my interest for mayhem on the ice.
All of this changed in 1983 when I became a New York City firefighter. My firehouse was situated in Coney Island and I watched the engine compete against the truck at the Abe Stark rink. Though none of the individuals competing were fantastic skaters I had new found respect for the skill it takes to speed along the ice on blades I have trouble standing up on and fire a rock like piece of rubber into a goal. While attempting this feat you have individuals trying to dislodge you from the ice at incredibly fast speed. I began to follow the sport as I still continued my boxing career. Wayne Gretzsky scoring 92 goals in one season is a sporting record that will never be broken. It was 100 if you count the playoffs and the numerous records he owns far outweigh any other major professional athlete.
When you watch a hockey game up close there is nothing else like it. I always thought the live fights was the greatest thrill until I went to a professional hockey game. They are moving on their skates at an average 13 miles per hour and slap shots average 100 miles per hour. The hitting is brutal and you are afforded less protection than a professional football player. The majority of hockey players are minus some teeth because of the contact from pucks and fists since fights are common after a brutal hit while traveling at break neck speed. The way the athletes can stop and go while changing direction while carry a lethal weapon (the stick) is both incredible and thrilling. Blocking the puck with your body is another art form left for only individuals containing the strongest of wills. Elbows, high sticks, cross checks in the back and pucks and gloves in the face make this sport only for the toughest of the tough.
Boxing and football are great and test the strength and desire of every athlete but I must be honest and declare hockey as most extreme out of the major sports I have competed in and studied. It is not a game for the weak of heart but one where only the strong compete.
This author is a former professional athlete in boxing and football. He has worked as a professional and personal trainer and taught fitness programs worldwide. You can get his take on the best exercises, sports and health clubs in the country at http://www.absoluteintensity.com. He also promotes absolute intensity gym wear to make sure you look your best while competing.
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