It's the ultimate oxymoronic warning: Keep your heads up hockey fans, because the anti-fighting morons are assembling their troops again.
 
Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators didn't waste any time getting the ball rolling in the "Battle of Ontario." Just 26 seconds into the game Leafs tough guy Frazer McLaren dropped the gloves with Senator rookie Dave Dziurzynski and after the scrap ended, even Dziurzynski had a difficult time with the pronunciation of his name. Call it a "Big Mac Attack", as McLaren decked the kid with a devastating right hand, forcing him to wobble off the ice suffering from a concussion.
 
In the days to come, you're guaranteed to witness hockey fans and media who hold membership in the peace-loving corps raise a big stink about the evils of on-ice fisticuffs.
 
But if they're so concerned about solving the world's problems they should make a donation to the local food bank, or at the very least hitch a ride with Dennis Rodman for his next North Korean peace-keeping mission. In other words, our planet has much bigger problems besides worrying about a bunch of high-priced hockey players who know the risks when they go toe-to-toe.
 
The same holds true for Marc Staal, the New York Rangers defenseman who was struck in the eye by a puck during a scary incident in a game this week. Fortunately, doctors say they expect Staal to make a full recovery. But if guys are still dumb enough to play without a visor, again, that's their business and yes, their risk.
 
I'm all for protecting our kids from serious injury by legislating the use of visors and banning fighting, even at the junior hockey level. The NHL, however, is a different animal. These guys are highly paid professionals......adults who demand the right to lose an eye or get their lights punched out. But in all seriousness, don't make the mistake of comparing kids hockey to pro hockey. The NHL is a huge business and, like it or not, fighting is a major part of the entertainment package. As another Leaf enforcer, Mark Fraser, (Frazer McLaren? Mark Fraser? Hey, all the Leafs need is Smokin' Joe Frazier and they'd really be a frightening force) pointed out the other day, only two things get fans out of their seats at a hockey game - a goal, and a fight.
 
So, if NHL'ers accept violence in the name of padding their bank accounts and entertaining the multitudes, don't shed too may tears when they shed their own blood. 

(Video courtesy of TSN)