Toughness Question.

Who is tougher?? A fighter or a scorer? Does it make you tough because you can fight (or will fight?) Does it make you tough because you are willing to slash someone to hurt them, or is it what makes you tough that you are willing to be physical, and also are prepared to back it up.

Who is tougher - the lacrosse player who cuts the middle, catches the ball, gets whacked by a stick 3 or 4 times...or the player doing the chopping?

I can speak on this to some degree. I played lacrosse for many years at a very high level, and those of you that know me, know that I am not "tough". One of my many nicknames over the years was "Bambi", if that gives you any indication.

I learned early on that getting punched actually hurt. My one regret in lacrosse is perhaps my lack of toughness. My strength was scoring.

 One thing I am actually quite proud of is my Senior/Major stats... I played 205 games and scored 368 goals and had 368 assists for 736 points. I had the ability to put the ball in the net. However, I do have big regrets. Had I been tougher, would I have scored more, or less? I didn't win a lot of the "big" games. That is something to ponder. I would also argue that i had a level of toughness that went unnoticed. I scored many goals, cutting the middle, receiving a pass, getting chopped and putting the ball in the net. I have had multiple fingers blackened, elbows swollen, knees, hips....any part of my body that they could whack, they would...it was free game. I had cracked ribs, twice, multiple face cuts (before the face mask), and so many welts and bruises that you could never count. I rarely retaliated. So that made me soft. (i guess)


So I ask the question again. Who is tougher? How do you define toughness?