Professional sports is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States responsible for significant revenue in cities which are host to teams. However, due to its private nature and unique setting, certain acts of violence considered unacceptable by society are relished in the sports world.
This phenomenon is not inherently wrong as long as the acts are accepted by players as normal and a "part of the game."
Nevertheless, there are moments in sports when a competitor may exceed the boundaries deemed acceptable, such as deliberately trying to remove a player from a contest by injuring that player. To protect the sports industry and its paying customers, such actions should be punished by law under existing assault legislation.