  Over the 1962 to 2016 period, the Canadian violent crime rate has remained
strongly correlated with National Hockey League (NHL) penalties. The Canadian
property crime rate was similarly correlated with stolen base attempts in the
Major League Baseball (MLB). Of course, correlation does not imply causation or
prove association. It is simply presented here as an observation. Curious
readers might be tempted to conduct additional research and ask questions in
order to enhance the conversation, transition away from a state of confusion,
clarify the situation, prevent false attribution, and possibly solve a problem
that economists call identification.
