Forget any reservations, Carey, I’m royally impressed and proud of how you handled things. Even Jesus became angry from time to time.

I’ve been teased and tempted many a time and as a defenseman I had the option of adding another 100 pounds of force to the check the next time they broke down my side of the ice. Vindication. ? Then I felt bad watching him crawl the bench because he hit a brick wall. But, if I ever got into a fight, “Howie Meeker” (my dad) would have sold my equipment. I’d be pumping gas for a winter sport!

I’ve felt absolute rage walking away from a fight when I was young. Now that I’m older, fighting is just not part of life. While there have been confrontations in traffic, and I wanted to “even the score”, a real situation occurred to test my denomination, and, wouldn’t I least expect that I was controlled and absolute in my resolve, having not even hinted at brute force. I was surprised later. God came through in true colors. As he did with you. Angry and all.

I have no doubt that while you were challenged with such deliberate confrontation, and a natural instinct to protect your son, your emotion was just that; your internal emotion. If I was to ask the other party, I bet he felt intimidated by your composed resolve, which made him all the more angry.

Besides all that, why is it the parents think they have to play the game for their kids; pay them 5 bucks a goal, 2 bucks for a good check. Why they just don’t go and watch the game like the rest of the fans.

I don’t like to give long responses but this topic runs deep with me. I’ve been hit in the face by an irate player, after the game, in the lobby. While I was prepared to put real physics to practice, my proper upbringing kicked in and I just took the punch, looked at him as he cowered away in shame because his bravado proved nothing more than a lack of self control. All he had to show for his efforts was a scratch on my cheek and a huge bruise to his ego. I remember my ma looking at me with respect right after the incident.

How does your son feel about the event? How does he feel about you and how you handled the crises? That’s what I would call a mirror of true colors. I’m always concerned about how my actions impress my boys and ultimately, God.

Oooops! sorry for the long response.