Boxing is a sports where two athletes try to knock each other unconscious to win. But after Tuesday's Game 3 of the Red Wings/Blue Jackets series, I think that hockey is behind boxing in protecting its athletes.

Why was R.J. Umberger allowed back in the game after being knocked loopy (that's a medical term, honest) by a Brad Stuart hit? You could have counted Umberger out by boxing rules. There's no way he could have been on his feet and able to defend himself within a 10-count. I'm not a doctor, but it sure looked like the literal impact on his brain should have been cause enough to remove him from the game as a medical precaution.

In boxing, you can't continue if you're counted out. Heck, they won't let a boxer continue if the official judges him to be not ready to compete.

So why let Umberger back on the ice after he couldn't stand on his own right after the hit?

I know that hockey has a long tradition of gutting out injuries. I grew up hearing about the Bobby Baun broken ankle goal in the playoffs and how wonderful he was for playing through the pain. I still love that story even though it cost the Red Wings.

But in this day and age, we should be enlightened enough to realize that brain trauma isn't a broken bone or cut or displaced tooth. We should know that the effects of brain trauma compound quickly.

It's a wonderful story that Umberger came back and scored the Blue Jackets' goal one period later. And I was very glad to see that he regained his form so quickly. Reports today from Columbus say that Umberger is feeling fine.

It would have been a better story, however, if he wasn't exposed to another possible blow to the head the same night that he was knocked silly.