I’m not much of a hockey fan.

Good thing. The Penguins-Flyers series certainly isn’t hockey. Neither is any of the other Stanley Cup playoff series this year.

It’s more like MMA on ice. It’s more like what would have happened if Rocky took Apollo Creed to the skating rink and

fought him there instead of taking Adrian on a date to woo her.If I was a hockey fan, I’d be embarrassed.The Pens and Flyers combined for 158 penalty minutes Sunday. Even stars Sidney Crosby and Claude Giroux became pugilists.The only thing missing was ring announcer Michael Buffer.The two teams didn’t have to get ready to rumble. They were far too eager to do so.The Penguins and Flyers took thuggery to a new level.The sad part? It was the highest rated non-Stanley Cup Final contest since 2003.Fans obviously dig the fisticuffs.It’s not just happening in the Penguins-Flyers series, although it has been more widespread there because of the sheer hatred the two teams have for each other.In the playoffs, everything gets ramped up, even the cheep shots and the general goonish behavior.I just don’t get it. Sure, the NHL has made rules to curb the shenanigans in recent years — the league isn’t exactly a big, long “Slap Shot” movie.Still, hasn’t the time come to nix the fists?Can’t we just all get along?I know fighting has been a big part of the sport for years and years and years. But things change.The affect on youth hockey teams is there.Just look at the PIHL in recent seasons. There have been far too many penalty minutes and fights at that level.Impressionable young players see what happens in the NHL and think it must be just part of the game and OK.If I were one of the decision makers for the NHL, I’d be cognizant of that.Maybe because I am not a diehard hockey fan, I don’t understand what the fights truly represent. Maybe that’s a good thing, though. Maybe someone needs to take a step back, be objective and take a good, long, hard look at fighting’s place in the game.Maybe it’s not as essential as it seems.• Another sport that is tinkering with its rules

too much is the NFL.There have been whispers that the NFL is tinkering with the idea of completely eliminating the kickoff because of the inherent danger of full grown men sprinting 50 yards to lay the smack down on a dude.That may be the dumbest idea since New Coke.What about the onside kick? What about the excitement of a return? I am a Buffalo Bills fan, so as far as I’m concerned, get rid of the thing. No kickoff, no Music City Miracle.It’s just 12 years too late.Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.