MINNEAPOLIS -- Another group of former NHL players has joined the fight for compensation for head injuries they say they incurred while playing, while at the same time targeting the violence of the game that they believe brought about those injuries. Retired players Dave Christian, Reed Larson and William Bennett filed a class action lawsuit in federal court on Tuesday alleging that the league has promoted fighting and downplayed the risk of head injuries that come from it. "I think the glorified violence is really the Achilles heel for the NHL," said Charles "Bucky" Zimmerman, an attorney at Zimmerman Reed that filed the lawsuit on behalf of the players. "If anything comes of this, the focus on the glorified violence and perhaps the change to that will be a good thing." The lawsuit, which is similar to one brought by former football players against the NFL, joins others filed by hockey players in Washington and New York and seeks monetary damages and increased medical monitoring. The NHLPA declined to comment. A message was left with the NHL seeking comment. Zimmerman also worked on the football litigation, which resulted in the NFL agreeing to pay a $765 million settlement to thousands of former players. That settlement is still awaiting a judges approval, but the headlines it generated have been partially responsible for hockey players mounting their own case against the NHL. "Weve seen it in football. Its now here in hockey. Its of the same genesis," Zimmerman said. "Theres knowledge, we believe, that these type of concussive injuries were known and protections were not put in place appropriately enough and fast enough and rules changes were not implemented even today in fighting. "Players continue to be at risk and suffer as a result of those risks that they take on behalf of the sport. We think those are unreasonable and they should be changed and the players should be compensated." The lawsuit alleges "the NHL hid or minimized concussion risks from its players, thereby putting them at a substantially higher risk for developing memory loss, depression, cognitive difficulties, and even brain related diseases such as dementia, Alzheimers disease, and Parkinsons disease." One argument that tries to separate the NFL litigation from the NHL case is that by engaging in fighting, players willfully take on the health risks that could come from that. "You could make that argument only to a point," Zimmerman said. "And the point is that the fighting arena would not exist and would be outlawed as it is in every other level of the game had the NHL not condoned it and sold tickets based upon it and promoted the sport in that way. Its not the players that promote the sport in that way because the players dont implement the rules. Its the league that implements the rules. If they would outlaw fighting, there wouldnt be people who would fight." Zimmerman said he thinks more players will join the litigation much in the same way the group of plaintiffs in the NFL case exponentially grew as it progressed. "The light went on for them as the football players story was becoming more told," Zimmerman said. "I think the hockey players started to see that their story was going to be heard and told. Its not that we havent known about football players or hockey players getting hurt. Its now become more important that we talk about it and do something about it rather than just benignly let it continue into the future." Cheap Nike Running Shoes China . Judging by his performance Saturday night, Cotto has plenty left in the tank. Cotto became the first Puerto Rican fighter to win world championships in four weight divisions, stopping Sergio Martinez in their WBC world middleweight title fight Saturday night. Nike Running Shoes Clearance Sale . That still leaves a big hole.You dont replace the leadership, defensive co-ordinator Billy Davis said. You just dont. Leadership is something that is earned over time. http://www.cheapnikerunningshoes.com/.Mack, a reserve guard who came in averaging 3.8 points, made all six of his 3-pointers as the Hawks went 16 for 28 from behind the arc.Trailing 50-38 midway through the second quarter, Atlanta outscored Cleveland 89-48 the rest of the way and sent the Cavaliers to their largest loss of the season. Cheap Nike Running Shoes Online . PETERSBURG, Fla. Nike Running Shoes Clearance . If there is one club built to handle an off-field controversy, its the Bill Belichick era Patriots. Even if New Englands offence stumbles a bit out of the gate, their defence can help them stay in games, especially in the AFC East with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in the first two weeks.Michael van Gerwen thrilled his compatriots by beating Phil Taylor in the first Dutch leg of Premier League Darts. MVG beats Taylor Full details of Dutch darts The result leaves Van Gerwen top of the pile at the conclusion of the regular season.Adrian Lewis was the other big winner, confirming his own play-off place at the expense of Peter Wright. Here are five talking points from Rotterdam...Premier League must return to the Netherlands Barney was given a special reception by the Rotterdam crowd Hordes of orange-clad fans descended upon Rotterdams Ahoy Arena hours before the first arrow was thrown in scenes to rival a Netherlands football match.The atmosphere was memorable and led Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle to suggest it was the greatest Premier League leg of all time.The timing from the PDC appeared perfect - enough demand had been built up in the Netherlands to see their home-grown heroes return as recognised sporting stars.Notably, it wasnt just Raymond van Barneveld and Van Gerwen who were afforded a rapturous reception. The crowd were respectful to Taylor, sang along to Wrights theatrics, and cheered every eye-catching checkout, suggesting there is mileage in the Dutch market.Whether it is a return to Rotterdam or a debut in the capital of Amsterdam, the Premier League should prioritise a return to the Netherlands next season.MVG copes with any pressure Michael van Gerwens 164 checkout againstt Phil Taylor Van Gerwen is a fiery, charismatic presence at the oche, but underneath it all he remains cool and collected.ddddddddddddIn a unique atmosphere where the entire crowd passionately chanted his name, he held his nerve to edge the greatest player of all time.A 164 checkout on the bull gave the home fans a reason to go bananas, but it didnt complete the job for Van Gerwen against Taylor. The wily veteran, locked at 5-5, played up to the crowd to incite even more pressure on Van Gerwen.The Dutchman refused to acknowledge the thousands in attendance, or his opponent, and kept his eyes on the prize. He duly broke Taylors throw and won the match.Wright has been the nearly man Peter Wright missed a golden opportunity to beat Barney I love that Peter entertains, I love that his action is superb, but he has got to stop changing his darts, Mardle told us earlier this season.Its becoming farcical. Whenever he plays badly, we blame the darts. There will come a point where he plays himself out of form because of the constant changing.Unfortunately for Snakebite, his Premier League campaign will be defined by what-ifs.His challenge for the play-offs slipped away due to a 6-6 draw with Van Barneveld, handing Lewis the straightforward task of requiring just two legs.To improve next year, Wright must heed Mardles advice and stick to some tried-and-trusted equipment or he will risk a further year floating outside of the top four. Worlds top players head to The O2 Defending champ Gary Anderson and world No 1 Michael van Gerwen made the play-offs Its easy to reflect now that the play-off participants have been confirmed, but how many darts fans would have predicted Van Gerwen, Taylor, Anderson and Lewis at the start of the tournament?On paper, they are the PDCs top four in their Order of Merit. It can scarcely be argued that any other player deserves a place at Londons O2 Arena ahead of the established quartet.It will make for a mouth-watering trio of matches next week when the best players in the world meet on the grandest of stages.What a difference a year makes Dave Chisnall lost in the 2015 semi-finals Along with Van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, last years semi-finalists were Van Barneveld and Dave Chisnall. Since then, its been a sharp decline for the latter two players.Chisnall was eliminated on Judgement Night and although Van Barneveld narrowly avoided that fate, he has languished at the bottom of the table for the duration of the tournament.Their descent, though not terminal for either player, proves that the landscape of darts is evolving faster than ever.Who will be at The O2 in 2017?Watch Premier League Darts play-offs next Thursday at 7pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD. Also See: MVG stuns Taylor in Rotterdam WATCH: Barneys big entrance WATCH: MVGs big arrival WATCH: MVGs magical 164 Wholesale HoodiesNFL Shirts OutletJerseys NFL WholesaleCheap NFL Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale Jerseys CheapCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '