Sports violence on trial before state Supreme Court

SPRINGFIELD - In a case that could send shock waves through the sporting world, the Illinois Supreme Court will decide if two suburban hockey players, their coaches and league should be held liable for an illegal check that seriously injured a player in 2003.

Matthew Jacobson, representing the hockey league, said the case could have a "chilling effect" on organized sports, as people would withdraw from coaching and officiating for fear of lawsuits.

But the parents of the injured player say their son was hit with such aggression that it was clearly above and beyond what's expected, even in a violent sport like hockey. They hope a ruling in their favor will send a message that growing violence in youth sports won't be tolerated.

"I understand his concern that it's going to flip hockey upside down," said Robert Karas, the Barrington father of the injured hockey player. "But the brutal nature of what's going on is causing people to be seriously injured."

The Karas' then-16-year-old son suffered a fractured neck and other injuries when checked into the boards from behind during a pick-up game with a Naperville Central's Redhawk Hockey Association squad. He was not paralyzed and has full movement, but his parents said he has lingering problems.

Attorneys for the accused players, team and league say they took steps to protect players but there's only so much that can be done in a sport like hockey. They pointed out the league went so far as to have "stop" stitched onto the backs of jerseys to remind players that back checking was prohibited.

"Just because you have a violation of the rules doesn't mean you have a cause of action," said Michael Resis, an attorney representing one of the accused players. "We're talking about the game of hockey. They assume certain risk. They're going to get hit, and yes  ¦ once in a while, from the back."

Indeed, the intrinsically violent nature of hockey was raised by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Thomas.

"It's a game of checking and, at the professional level, fighting is sometimes glorified," said Thomas, a former professional football player as a kicker.

A DuPage County judge initially dismissed the case, only to have an appeals court reinstate portions. That led to an appeal to the state's high court.

The central issue is how state law addresses the often violent nature of sports and at what point do events on the playing field get so out of hand as to warrant legal action.

It is an issue increasingly popping up in courtrooms.

Earlier this week, a Cook County jury convicted a Schaumburg man of aggravated battery after he hit an opponent with his stick during a heated floor hockey game last year. He could face upward of five years in prison.

In 2004, NHL star Todd Bertuzzi pleaded guilty to an assault charge stemming from a hard hit during a game. In 2000, a Glenbrook North High School hockey player pleaded no contest to charges he left an opponent paralyzed when he slammed him into the rink's boards.

The justices gave no indication Thursday of when a ruling would come and are under no immediate deadline for action.