This past week on my show I spoke with my good friend Larry King on a bunch of different sports topics. I thought I would post the Hockey talk we had. For those who didn't know, before Larry King became CNN Larry King, Larry was the Pre & Post Game Show host for the Washington Capitals in the late 70's, early 80's. Here's part of my interview with Larry:
JR: Thoughts on Former NHLers filing lawsuit against the NHL?
Larry King: "No, I'm not. This is a real serious problem, concussions and brain injuries especially in the National Hockey League. When I was a kid players didn't wear helmets and goalies didn't wear masks. We never bought a score card we knew every player in the NHL, their were only 6 teams and we knew them by their hair styles and the way they looked, I knew everyone. Lets see how the suits go. This is certainly a cause for concern. My kids, I have a 14 year and a 13 year old, they're both athletes, but they don't play hockey. I won't let them play tackle football. Their baseball players, but If they wanted to play football I won't let them play. Someone told me that Pop Warner is down 30 Percent, people joining and that's not surprising. There's a Fear. I know I have relatives who's kids play hockey, they love it and they're going to grow with it. It's a terrible problem. They're working on helmets all the time. I've interview brain specialists who say as much as they try there's not much they can do with it, they are both violent sports. Hockey you're skating at 35 miles per hour and you're hitting people and in Football of course with the weight they have and the contact they make, football trying to their best they've changed the rules a lot on head to head injuries and head to neck injuries. They are doing the best they can, but both sports have to contend with this and lets see how the lawsuits play out."
JR: Some people feel there's a link between guys who fought in Hockey and their quality of life after. Some guys even taking their lives, and people think maybe it's related?
Larry King: "The aspect of Hockey I've disliked the most is the enforcer aspect. I don't like a guy who's only purpose is to create havoc. That's something they can do something about. That's certainly enforceable. You can change rules in that regard, I think. I've never enjoyed that aspect of the game. The old Flyers use to have those guys who were only there to create harm. I just never understood that."
JR: I know you knew Fred Shero when he was coaching the Flyers in the 70's and you were broadcasting for the Capitals, I'm sure you were happy to hear Fred go into the Hockey HOF a couple weeks ago?
Larry King: "He certainly deserved it. I use to hate those teams because the Capitals were terrible then and the Flyers would come in, Bobby Clarke they'd destroy us. It would drive me nuts because I'm a Caps Fan. I'm still a Caps Fan, even thou I live in LA, I still follow the Caps, I watch them on Direct TV. I love watching Ovechkin play, were not a great defensive team, but we sure know how to score goals!"
JR: Will you be attending the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series at Dodgers Stadium where the LA Kings will take on the Anaheim Ducks?
Larry King: "I will go to that event. It will be interesting to see. Now this is a warm weather climate you know. Right now it's freezing here, it's 58 degrees and that's freezing in LA. So it's not the same effect when they do it in other cities like Detroit, or Chicago or Fenway Park, it's wild. Yeah, I'll go and see it, it should be fun! I think it will be a packed house."
JR: Do you like the outdoor games, do you watch them?
Larry King: "Oh yeah, I think it's fun! I think it's a great idea, whoever came up with it, it's a great idea."
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