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Hurricane Irene in Google Earth

Hurricane Irene, which has already done some serious damage to Puerto Rico, was recently captured in stunning high resolution by NASA’s Terra satellite as it heads toward the east coast of the United States.

You can view the image on NASA’s Earth Observatory website, or view it in Google Earth using this KML file. Be aware the KML is loading the full 5 MB file from NASA’s server, as it’s amazingly sharp, so it’ll take a few moments to load.

To track the Hurricane and view it’s forecasted track, turn on your Places layer and an icon will appear over the Hurricane. Clicking that icon will give you access to details about the Hurricane, along with historical data and various projected paths. More details about this feature can be found in this post from a few months ago.

If you’re aware of other great tools to help track Irene and other 2011 hurricanes, leave a comment below and let us know.

Tweet Posted by mickmel at August 24, 2011 7:10 AM

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August 04, 2011 1:03 PM

ABC News Arlette Saenz reports:

In its new outlook for the 2011 hurricane season, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center predicted an above-normal hurricane season with 7 to 10 hurricanes, and 3 to 5 of those hurricanes categorized as major.  14 to 19 named storms are expected total, which includes the five storms that have occurred thus far.  “We are now entering the peak months of what is expected to be an active season, and now is the time that people really need to make sure they have their hurricane preparedness plans in place because we’re expecting the activity to start picking up even more than it already has,” Dr. Jerry Bell, lead hurricane forecaster at the National Weather Service, said in a conference call today. These hurricane outlook numbers are up slightly from the May 2011 outlook, which predicted 12 to 18 named storms, 6 to 10 of which could become hurricanes and 3 to 6 could be major hurricanes during the season that ranges from June to November.

(Tropical Storm Emily, imaged by NOAA's GOES-EAST satellite on Aug. 3. Click on image to enlarge.)Tropical storm Emily is expected to remain a tropical storm as it moves between Hispanola and Cuba, across the western Bahamas and towards eastern Florida, but Bell warned the storm could develop into a hurricane by Monday morning.“After it approaches near Florida, the hurricane is indicating that by Monday morning it could become a hurricane and then it would re-curve out to sea,” Bell said.  “Right now their track has it barely skirting the eastern north Carolina coast, so the potential for that and then back out to sea.”Jack Hayes, director of the National Weather Service, characterized the heat in the South as “extreme.” “I can’t recall in recent times the magnitude of extreme weather or he length with which that heat wave has held its position over the South,” Hayes said.

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TOBY ROBSON FAIRFAXRUN OF RUMOURS: Hosea Gear says it is not accurate to ink “former Hurricane” next to his name if he is selected to play the Wallabies. “Obviously there is some interest from down south…[but] I’m keeping my options open.”

Hosea Gear has left the door open for the Hurricanes and is denying he has been caught up in the emotional aftermath of a turbulent Super Rugby season.

Rumours are swirling around Wellington that the All Blacks wing will join the exodus and head south to the Highlanders next season.

Gear is set to start Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park on the left wing in a backline that could include up to five 2011 Hurricanes.

But he said yesterday it was not accurate to ink “former Hurricane” next to his name if he is selected to play the Wallabies.

“Nah, I’m just working through my New Zealand rugby contract. I have to deal with that before dealing with Super Rugby.

“Obviously there is some interest from down south as well. I’m keeping my options open, but I haven’t made a decision yet.

“I’m at the stage where I have a young family on the way and I’m not getting any younger, so I’ve really brought my family into consideration there and am putting them ahead of my rugby right now. So I guess if my family is happy, I’ll be happy playing footy.”

With his partner expecting a baby later this year and the couple settled in Wellington, there could be hope for the Hurricanes yet.

Gear said he had too much on his own plate in World Cup year to take too much interest when problems at the franchise began to surface.

He had missed the first half of the season with a shoulder injury and was desperate to get back to the form that saw him finish 2010 as the incumbent All Blacks test wing.

“Toward the end of the season when all the disruption was sort of happening, all I could do was really focus on doing my best on the field and that’s where my focus was.

“That was my mindset and that helped me. I had to nail my game and I can’t let any distractions or anything come in.

“I wasn’t really too worried about what was happening off the field and that sort of stuff. It probably didn’t get up my nose as much as some of the other guys.”

It was a similar story when Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph was coaching the Wellington Lions, with Gear said to have been a fan of tough, but unpopular training sessions.

the pair worked together in the New Zealand Maori and Gear is a consummate professional when it comes to work ethic.

to add to the confusion Joseph was reported yesterday as rating Gear a 50-50 chance of heading south.

It continues to be the area the All Blacks coaches push in discussions with Gear and after six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring strain he says it will be his focus if he plays against Australia.

“It’s a matter of getting in the mindset of playing again, back into the routine. I’ve been out for a while, so it’s just picking up where I left off.”

Gear appears set to wear the no 11 jersey, with Cory Jane firming to play on the right wing after Sitiveni Sivivatu limped out of training yesterday with a sore knee.

Piri Weepu could get a start at halfback, while an unchanged midfield of Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith would take the Hurricane count to five.

Oddly, Jimmy Cowan took little part in training, though he was not listed as injured.

the other injury concern was a knee knock to loosehead prop Ben Franks, though Wyatt Crockett may have earned another start in the front row, and possibly Ali Williams at lock.

the All Blacks side is to be named on Thursday morning.

meanwhile, the Wallabies will arrive in Auckland tonight after naming a 24-man squad notable for the absence of stalwarts first five-eighth Matt Giteau and lock Nathan Sharpe.

Reserve halfback Luke Burgess has recovered from a fractured hand and wing Lachie Turner and locks Dan Vickerman and Sitaleki Timani join the squad at the expense of scrumhalf Nick Phipps and Sharpe.

– the Dominion Post

MIAMI — the probability of an above average Atlantic hurricane season is even greater than three months ago, U.S. government forecasters said Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration slightly upgraded its May outlook, calling for 14 to 19 named tropical storms, up from a range of 14 to 18.

That includes the five tropical storms that have formed since the six-month hurricane season started June 1. It typically ends around Nov. 30 and the peak period for hurricanes runs from August through October.

“We expect considerable activity,” said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center in Washington.

“There is absolutely no reason that people should be complacent,” Bell said. “Now is the time people really need to make sure they have their hurricane preparedness plans in place.”

Tropical storms get named when their top winds reach 39 mph or higher. NOAA now expects seven to 10 named storms to strengthen into hurricanes with top winds of 74 mph or higher, and three to five of those hurricanes could become major storms with winds blowing 111 mph or more.

In May, forecasters called for six to 10 hurricanes this season. the seasonal average is 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

Key climate factors predicted in May continue to boost forecasters’ expectations for an above-average season, Bell said.

“The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” Bell said. “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.”

“We’re now entering the peak months of what’s expected to be an active season,” he added.

What’s changed since May is that the climate factors are even stronger, allowing NOAA to forecast an 85 percent chance of an above normal season, up from 65 percent in May. an above normal season this year would make 12 in the last 17 years.

Atmospheric and marine conditions indicate a high-activity era that began in 1995 continues, and ocean temperatures are the third warmest on record, he said.

The La Nina weather phenomenon also may redevelop this fall, Bell said.

La Nina is an unusual cooling of the Pacific waters near the equator. It cuts wind shear over the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic, which gives tropical storms a chance to develop and strengthen before being ripped apart.

story: Tropical Storm Emily breaks up over Haiti

Forecasters say La Nina helped make the 2010 season one of the busiest on record with 19 named storms, including 12 hurricanes. the opposite El Nino phenomenon, which warms Pacific waters near the equator and increases wind shear over the Atlantic, helps suppress storm development.

“The numbers in May reflected the possibility that El Nino could develop. El Nino has not developed,” Bell said.

Five tropical storms have developed so far this season.

The Mexican government reported 22 deaths after Tropical Storm Arlene came ashore June 30 with heavy rains that caused flooding and mudslides. last week, Tropical Storm Don fizzled to a tropical depression just before crossing the Texas coastline.

The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. though not considered a major hurricane, Ike caused $10 billion in damage in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, making it the third-costliest storm after Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Andrew in 1992, according to the hurricane center.

The last major hurricane to strike the U.S. was Category 3 Hurricane Wilma, which made landfall in Florida in 2005.

“We’ve been quite lucky in recent years, but that’s no reason to be complacent,” said Steve Woodward, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s deputy assistant administrator for response. “As spring and summer have taught us, with tornadoes and flooding and the heat wave, disasters can strike practically anytime and anywhere.”

the associated Press contributed to this report.

Associated Press Writer

MIAMI — Exceptionally high ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions that support hurricane development will keep the Atlantic and Caribbean on track for an above-average storm season, U.S. forecasters said Thursday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration slightly upgraded its may outlook, calling for 14 to 19 named tropical storms, up from a range of 14 to 18.

That includes the five tropical storms that have formed since the six-month hurricane season started June 1. it ends Nov. 30 and the peak period for hurricanes runs from August through October.

“We expect considerable activity,” said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center in Washington.

“There is absolutely no reason that people should be complacent,” Bell said. “Now is the time people really need to make sure they have their hurricane preparedness plans in place.”

Tropical storms get named when their top winds reach 39 mph or higher. NOAA now expects seven to 10 named storms to strengthen into hurricanes with top winds of 74 mph or higher, and three to five of those hurricanes could become major storms with winds blowing 111 mph or more.

In may, forecasters called for six to 10 hurricanes this season. the seasonal average is 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

Key climate factors predicted in may continue to boost forecasters’ expectations for an above-average season, Bell said.

“The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” Bell said. “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.”

Atmospheric and marine conditions indicate a high-activity era that began in 1995 continues, and ocean temperatures are the third warmest on record, he said.

The La Nina weather phenomenon also may redevelop this fall, Bell said.

La Nina is an unusual cooling of the Pacific waters near the equator. it cuts wind shear over the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic, which gives tropical storms a chance to develop and strengthen before being ripped apart.

Forecasters say La Nina helped make the 2010 season one of the busiest on record with 19 named storms, including 12 hurricanes. the opposite El Nino phenomenon, which warms Pacific waters near the equator and increases wind shear over the Atlantic, helps suppress storm development.

“The numbers in may reflected the possibility that El Nino could develop. El Nino has not developed,” Bell said.

Five tropical storms have developed so far this season.

The Mexican government reported 22 deaths after Tropical Storm Arlene came ashore June 30 with heavy rains that caused flooding and mudslides. last week, Tropical Storm Don fizzled to a tropical depression just before crossing the Texas coastline.

On Thursday, officials urged Florida residents to monitor the progress of Tropical Storm Emily, which brought drenching rain to parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic but weakened in the mountains dividing the two countries.

The storm was likely to cross eastern Cuba on Friday and might touch Florida on Saturday, though the projected track would keep its center offshore, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. though not considered a major hurricane, Ike caused $10 billion in damage in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, making it the third-costliest storm after Hurricanes Katrina in 2005 and Andrew in 1992, according to the hurricane center.

The last major hurricane to strike the U.S. was Category 3 Hurricane Wilma, which made landfall in Florida in 2005.

“We’ve been quite lucky in recent years, but that’s no reason to be complacent,” said Steve Woodward, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s deputy assistant administrator for response. “As spring and summer have taught us, with tornadoes and flooding and the heat wave, disasters can strike practically anytime and anywhere.”

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Hurricane Center: http://www.hurricanes.gov

MARCO ISLAND —Living in paradise, residents have to learn to deal with unwanted guests. Monday evening, nearly 100 Marco Islanders showed up at the Community Room inside the police station to hear about dealing with the most unwelcome of all – hurricanes.

As Islanders arrived for the 2011 Hurricane Preparedness Seminar conducted by the city’s police and fire-rescue departments, they were met by flashing lights from emergency vehicles. Inside, they listened to a presentation from Jim von Rinteln, former emergency management coordinator for Collier County, and just-retired Red Cross CEO for the south Gulf coast region.

Asked for a show of hands by Fire Chief Mike Murphy, many of the attendees identified themselves as newcomers to the area, from states including Oklahoma, Ohio, Virginia and new Jersey. Von Rinteln warned against complacency, which he said can afflict those who have been through hurricanes as well.

“Don’t judge the next storm by the last one,” he said, and don’t think the danger disappears with the winds. there were eight fatalities after Hurricane Wilma, mostly traffic deaths from people sightseeing after the storm passed. “And there’s always someone who thinks the living room is a good place to put their generator.”

Living on an island, said von Rinteln, it’s even more important to pay attention to weather alerts, have a plan ahead of time, and heed mandatory evacuation orders.

“Watch the Weather Channel,” he advised. “When you see that cone (of probable storm path) sitting on Marco Island, that’s a big hint.” He showed photos of demolished multi-story buildings, stressing that even high rises are at risk. Murphy added that people in condos who have stayed through major storms often wished they had not.

“There is no more fear in your life. the wind is howling, and it feels like the building is coming down. You’re calling us, and we’re telling you we can’t even leave our fire station,” he said, also mentioning the distress caused to distant family members not knowing whether loved ones are safe.

“People who stayed in high rises for Wilma swore they wouldn’t again,” said von Rinteln, “but people only stay scared for about six months.”

One attendee at the seminar had more experience than she ever wanted with hurricanes.

“After Ivan, we called and asked ‘how’s the house,’ and they said ‘what house,’ ” said Kim Gates. her home in Grand Lagoon, near Pensacola, vanished during the storm in ’04. “There was a 16-foot storm surge – you can’t imagine what that does. Even the brick houses were gone. I had no insurance, but I’ve got it now,” she said. Now living on Marco, she said they also have a home in Ave Maria, and will be there when a storm strikes.

Much of the advice boiled down to the same common sense safety tips longtime residents have heard over and over, but don’t always follow. have food, water, money, and a full tank of gas. Make plans ahead of time – one for staying, and one for going. Know where you and your pets will go if you do have to leave, and don’t leave it till the last minute.

Traffic jams are not an issue, if you leave early, said von Rinteln, and outgoing Police Chief Thom Carr said, with seasonal residents not on the island, the worst might be like “when everyone wants to go to dinner in Naples.” Marco Island has a sticker program, allowing residents and employees to return to the island after a storm, and residents have never been prohibited from getting back to their homes, said von Rinteln.

Dealing with a hurricane’s aftermath requires residents to be self-sufficient, said the emergency professionals.

“The first 72 hours are up to you,” von Rinteln repeated several times, stressing the need for those in a storm-battered area to have enough food, water, and supplies to see themselves through three days without outside assistance. Murphy explained how the island is divided into 17 zones, each assessed for damage by a team of emergency personnel and CERT volunteers. CERT, the Citizens Emergency Response Team, is a perfect example of people taking responsibility for themselves and their neighbors.

Von Rinteln emphasized the importance of shutters on windows, a strong garage door, and homes built since the 2002 building code went into effect. those, including him, who live in older homes, need to take that into consideration when making the decision to evacuate or ride out the storm.

Representatives from Publix and Sunshine Ace Hardware were on hand, showing some of the items they sell to stock up residents’ hurricane kits. “There’s no line to buy stuff right now,” said von Rinteln.

Murphy cautioned against unreasonable anxiety.

“This is a beautiful place to live. We don’t live in fear,” he said. “Our job is to get you back safely, as soon as possible.”

“The people who worry the most,” said von Rinteln, “are the ones who don’t prepare.”

More information is available from a multitude of sources, including Collier County Emergency Management at www.collierem.org.

Forecasters at Weather Services International stuck with their earlier prediction that the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season would bring 15 tropical storms, with eight of those growing into hurricanes.

Four of those were expected to strengthen into “major” hurricanes of Category 3 or higher on the five-step Saffir-Simpson intensity scale, with top winds of at least 110 miles per hour, the private forecaster said.

WSI’s July update was unchanged from its April, may and June forecasts for the Atlantic-Caribbean storm season that runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

There have been three tropical storms but no hurricanes so far this season in the Atlantic basin, where activity is highest from August to October.

Several other forecasting groups have also predicted a busier-than-average hurricane season this year. The long-term average for the Atlantic-Caribbean season is 11 or 12 tropical storms, with six or seven hurricanes and two or three major hurricanes.

The latest predictions for the 2011 tropical storm/hurricane season are as follows:                                                                                                                  NOAA 12-18 6-10 3-6CSU 16 9 5AccuWeather 15 8 4

ROTTERDAM – Trish Sheperd hit two doubles and drove in a runWednesday as Hunt’s Hurricanes earned a share of the Capital RegionSoftball League title with a 2-0 victory over Bethlehem.

The Hunt’s Hurricanes tied for first with the Outkast and theOriginal Slik Chix, as they all finished 16-2 in the league.

Katelyn Callahan picked up her 14th win of the season with 10strikeouts. Celia Brown’s hit drove in the Hurricanes’ insurancerun in the seventh.

Hurricanes (16-2, 30-8)  100 000 1 — 2 8 0

Bethlehem (8-10 lg.)       000 000 0 — 0 40

WP – Callahan (14-2). LP – Welch. 2B – Sheperd (H) 2.

TCML BASEBALL

Lake George 3, Whitehall2

LAKE GEORGE – with the game-tying run on third, Lake George’sThomas Clark intentionally walked Justin Hoagland and struck outthe next batter to secure top-seeded Lake George’s win overfifth-seeded Whitehall in the Tri-County Middle League baseballsemifinals.

Lake George will play Corinth in the final on Thursday at 5:45p.m. at Hartford.

Charles Barber picked up the win, going six innings, giving upone hit and striking out eight. Duncan Mularz had two RBIs andCraig Keenan was 2 for 3 with an RBI in the win.

Evan Hoagland recorded Whitehall’s two hits.

Whitehall                   000 001 1 — 2 23

Lake George (9-1)   002 010 0 — 3 6 2

WP – Barber (5-0). LP – J. Hoagland.

Corinth 14, Hudson Falls10

CORINTH – James Buzinsky, Cassidy White and Anthony Villanoeach had three hits as second-seeded Corinth topped third-seededHudson Falls in the semifinals.

Villano had four RBIs in the win.

Hudson Falls (7-3)   110 412 1 — 10 9 4

Corinth (9-2)            332 240 x — 14 142

WP – White (2-0). LP – Kiernan.

TCML SOFTBALL

Granville 6, Hudson Falls3

HUDSON FALLS – Lauryn Zovistoski went 3 for 3 with a double tolead Granville past Hudson Falls.

Kelsie Jones had two hits for Granville, which also got sixstrikeouts in relief from Emily Fuller. Paige Sady picked up thepitching win.

Gabby Beard went 3 for 3 with a triple to lead Hudson Falls,which also got a triple and single from Holly Rock, and two hitsfrom Taylor Hunt.

Granville (8-2)         100 301 1 — 6 8

Hudson Falls (5-4)    010 100 1 — 3 9

WP – Sady. LP – McDonald.

Whitehall 5, Hartford1

HARTFORD – Ariel Ayers went 2 for 2 and Brittney Putorti struckout seven batters as Whitehall beat Hartford.

Morgan Wicks finished with five strikeouts and Rachel Lashwaystruck out seven in a loss. Mo Olsen was 2 for 2 for Hartford.

Whitehall            101 300 0 — 5 5 1

Hartford (4-5)   001 000 0 — 1 2 6

WP – Putorti. LP – Wicks (3-2).

Maybe you don’t live in an area where hurricanes or tornadoes are a threat to you. It’s possible that the idea of experiencing an earthquake where you live is so remote that it’s not – in you mind- even worth considering (although as I recall Texas isn’t usually considered to be a hot bed of seismic activity and yet just last year they had a sizeable earthquake. there are lots of other potential natural disasters to choose from. As I write the Red River still threatens Fargo and the floods will be moving downriver into Canada next. Torrential rains can hit anywhere, ice storms and blizzards can threaten you and if natural disaster emergencies aren’t enough- don’t forget the 2003 power outage that knocked much of the North Eastern US and Canada firmly on it’s backside for about 4 days.

Stop fighting it and please just accept the basic common sense of having an emergency kit in your home and/or an emergency go bag sitting in the back of your front hall closet – just in case. It never hurts to be prepared. But with all the talk about emergency preparedness and the 72 hours it might take for help to arrive, a lot of people who are now sold on the idea of having an emergency kit at home are probably stuck when it gets to the question – what to put into it. So I’d like to offer you some ideas about what you need to find in a basic 72 hour (3 day) family emergency kit.

Food and water is the first priority and for each member of your family, you need to provide from 8-16 ounces of water a day – preferably 16. you need to be sure that the water you buy for your kit has a long shelf life. look for 5 years and yes – water can have a shelf life. in addition to potable water- get a supply of water purification tablets. They’re small and cheap and will each render a liter of water drinkable.

For food – look for food bars with a 5 year shelf live and target a minimum of 800 – 1200 calories per person per day. It probably wouldn’t hurt to have more than that. 1200 calories isn’t a lot at the best of times and if you’re shivering in the cold already a little more food energy sure won’t hurt.

Communications and light. you need a way to generate some light and a way to stay in touch with the rest of the world and a good place to start is with a hand held flashlight that can be recharged either by squeezing, shaking or cranking. Basic battery power just isn’t enough, although it might be adequate to power a very small scanning radio to allow you to follow the news in your area. For ongoing lighting you should get an emergency candle that will last you up to 30 hours and some other regular candles, but be extremely careful how you use them and who handles them in an emergency situation. on the subject of candles you’ll also need a big box of waterproof matches and a small plastic disposable lighter. One more good communication tool is an emergency whistler and I’d recommend one for every person in your family.

On the subject of family – if you have pets, be sure to include food, water and basic first aid for them as well.

So – moving on to First aid. in addition to a selection of bandages, you should also be equipped with disinfectant, sunscreen, burn cream, scissors, safety pins, antibiotic ointment, some mild pain killers, an emergency supply of any critical prescription medications for any family member and some finger splints. Rather than try and source everything individually, this is one case where you should definitely choose a prepared first aid kit and add to it as you see fit for your family. One more thing – make sure that you have a good first aid guide available in your kit (and a set of reading glasses if you need them).

For extra warmth and shelter the needs for an in home emergency kit will be very different from a go bag. in a go bag you should have some lightweight rainwear, emergency sleeping bags and probably even a small shelter. They’re much smaller than you would expect.

HygieneI read somewhere that the most frequently omitted item from an emergency kit is toilet paper. make sure that you have some – or at least some tissues along with other essential hygiene supplies like toothpaste and a brush, soap, shampoo, dental floss, lotion, deodorant, a razor, washcloth, comb and women’s sanitary products. If you have children – you’ll need wet naps for sure.

Tools are something else you should have and a great start is the venerable Swiss Army or multifunction knife and portable respirator dust masks. I’d add duct tape to that and garbage bags – particularly in a go bag (Not a full roll though, too big!)

You’ll need a pen, paper and at least a deck of cards.

And finally – have you ever heard of a Family Emergency Plan? you should keep a copy of your plan in your emergency kit and if you’re not sure what’s in a plan for where to find one, follow one the links to my site -see below – and go to the page called Emergency Planning- you can download a free copy of one there. If you don’t have an emergency plan in your emergency kit, be sure to at least have the names and phone numbers of your key family contacts on hand – doctors, family and insurance companies for starters.

If this is all looking like a bit too much, you can purchase a pre-assembled emergency kit and it probably won’t cost you anymore than trying to source all the pieces individually.

if we can get through a preseason game without a fight, and nary a soul expresses any dismay at the lack thereof, can’t the NHL do without fighting for good? Absolutely it can.

I have been on the fence when it comes to fighting in the NHL, finding it more difficult to justify with each passing season but unwilling to break with tradition entirely.

Go ahead. Call me a sissy. Scoff that I don’t understand hockey. Tell me that I should leave The Great Canadian Game alone.

But I’m not. And I do. And I love that game, but I’d just as soon do without the pointless pugilism, thank you very much.

Hockey rationale? The Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006 without a designated enforcer after Jesse Boulerice was traded to St. Louis. they even had an official “no fighting” policy and seemed to survive.

Just as the NHL has (finally) started to take predatory hits to the head out of the game, there’s no reason to stop halfway. The Neanderthals who exert far too much influence on hockey stonewalled that long-overdue move, using all the same excuses they trot out to defend fighting.

And here’s the thing: I was once one of them.

I grew up with fighting – grew up on it, really. I became a hockey fan, in part, by watching Stu Grimson and Mike Peluso slug it out with Bob Probert and Joe Kocur and Basil McRae back in the days of the big, bad Norris Division.

Fighting meant something back then. In a rougher, tougher game, when even the skilled players fought and fewer teams saw each other more often, players really could police themselves. Today, the staged bouts between designated heavyweights don’t come organically from the drama of the game; they bring proceedings to a halt with all the excitement of a traffic stop.

The game has changed so much in those 20, 25 years. So many factors – improved fitness levels, the influx of Europeans, better equipment – have combined for so many quantum leaps. It’s a faster, quicker, more skilled, more exciting game – a better game.

Hockey fans wax nostalgic over the Broad Street Bullies and the culture of violence they helped create, but fighting helped make up for some really bad hockey, just as it does in the minor leagues. The lower down the ladder you go, the more a fight or two gets the fans out of their seats when the individual skill on display won’t.

Even boxing and mixed martial arts won’t countenance bare-knuckle brawling. Fighting is a suspendable offense in baseball, basketball, football, soccer, rugby and just about every organized sport in the civilized world, except hockey.

More than any other sport, hockey hews to tradition, for better and worse. It will take decades for the NHL to ban fighting. It might even take someone getting killed. That’s usually what it takes to instigate real change in the NHL.

I hope the hockey world listens to reason before then. I loved fighting once, but from now on, I’ll be on the side of reason, not tradition.