NHL

[ChadTower]

Gotta say, as a Canadian, it hurts to watch what the NHL has become over the last decade.

This, however, is the worst possible message they could be sending.

It's enough to make even the folks who want to come back... stay home.

[SirPoonga]

No, that proves Roenick is a jerk   That's an example of the media jumping on one person's opinion.

[Frosty]

Sure, JR's comments were a little misguided, but I can see where's coming from...

As someone who's played hockey his entire life--from Juniors to college and the minors--dealing with owners as a player is about the last thing you want to do.  I'll never forget the first piece of advice I got from a vet upon arriving for my first training camp:  "Always keep your options open, because management cares about one thing: themselves."

Sure, it's a pissing match, with each side worried about one thing: themselves.  But, the real losers (as stated many times) are the fans (here's where JR's not helping).  With no TV contract (in the States), ludicrous ticket prices and a sub-par product on the ice, the NHL had better start re-thinking its current business model--fast.

Or, maybe it's just that I still miss the Whalers...

[ChadTower]

It would if he were a regular player, but with his very high Union standing, he could well be expressing the general player opinion.

[ChadTower]

Or, maybe it's just that I still miss the Whalers...

I was a lifelong Nordiques fan... suffered through all those lean years (which was my entire life to that point), saw them building some serious talent and draft pools, only to get crapped on by Lindros (which turned out good, but who knew that then)... then moved to COLORADO?  And winning the CUP first year out?!  With OUR guys... that was heartbreaking.

The exodus of teams from Canada has really killed the NHL spirit of many Canadians, including myself.  What do I care if Phoenix beats Nashville?

[SirPoonga]

The exodus of teams from Canada has really killed the NHL spirit of many Canadians, including myself.  What do I care if Phoenix beats Nashville?

Heh.  Except the great lakes teams, right   What would hockey be without canadians and minnesotans...

The only matches I am ever interested in is
Wild Vs..
Vancouver
Detroit
Dallas

[DemonBrew]

<rant>As an avid hockey player, hockey fan, and Philadelphia native; all I can say is Thanks JR. This just pisses me off even more.

I read recently something about the latest PowerBall winner(s), the amount won, and compared it to how many atheletes make that much. Forgive the "pull this out of my hoohaa" statistics, but it was something like: Someone just won $220 mil in Powerball, the same amount Donovan McNabb is getting in his contract plus commercials, etc.

edit: Yes, I know the difference between NFL and NHL salaries, ticket prices, numbers of fans, revenue, etc.

I don't remember the sports figure or the amount, but the point is (in my opinion): every single pro athlete out there just won the lottery. Even the third string bench warmers. STFU, play your game, be happy. Stop asking Joe Schmoe to take one on the chin to pay for your new Benz.</rant>

Be sure to check out the video of the interview (bottom right hand side):
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/index

[ChadTower]

NO NFL player is making $220 mil, not from salary, not from endorsements, not from powerball.

Then again, no lottery winner makes $220 mil.  Once you get done with taxes, and fees, and this and that, a $220 mil winner ends up with about $80mil in hand.  The lottery is the biggest gov't scam out there.

[CCM]

NO NFL player is making $220 mil, not from salary, not from endorsements, not from powerball.

Then again, no lottery winner makes $220 mil.  Once you get done with taxes, and fees, and this and that, a $220 mil winner ends up with about $80mil in hand.  The lottery is the biggest gov't scam out there.

If getting 80mil in hand is a scam, please let me get scammed everyday of my life!

[DemonBrew]

NO NFL player is making $220 mil, not from salary, not from endorsements, not from powerball.

Then again, no lottery winner makes $220 mil.  Once you get done with taxes, and fees, and this and that, a $220 mil winner ends up with about $80mil in hand.  The lottery is the biggest gov't scam out there.

Yeah. Like I said, I barely remember the article. And of course a google search for "lottery powerball winner pro athlete" isn't very helpful. Just wish I could remember where I saw that....

Point is, I'd chew off my left arm to have what they have.

[ChadTower]

If getting 80mil in hand is a scam, please let me get scammed everyday of my life!

The point is, you get $80 mil, the gov't gets $140 mil... every few weeks.  So where exactly does all that money go?  That's billions of dollars a year they get from the lottery alone.  All that revenue from a game people play where the odds of winning are worse than of getting struck by lightning twice.

[CCM]

Gotta say, as a Canadian, it hurts to watch what the NHL has become over the last decade.

This, however, is the worst possible message they could be sending.

It's enough to make even the folks who want to come back... stay home.

JR is just a greedy ---uvula---...  He doesn't care anything about the game, he only cares about his wallet.  He is at the end of his career and just wants as much money as possible before he retires.  If he really cared about the league and the younger players, he would realize that the changes in the CBA are necessary.  Without these changes there is a good chance the NHL would fold.

As far as whose fault it is, the owners are as much to blame as the players.  Sure the players are greedy, but the owners are signing the checks.

[CCM]

If getting 80mil in hand is a scam, please let me get scammed everyday of my life!

The point is, you get $80 mil, the gov't gets $140 mil... every few weeks.  So where exactly does all that money go?  That's billions of dollars a year they get from the lottery alone.  All that revenue from a game people play where the odds of winning are worse than of getting struck by lightning twice.

I have no idea where the $140 mil goes,  I'm sure it could be looked up somewhere.

[SirPoonga]

If getting 80mil in hand is a scam, please let me get scammed everyday of my life!

The point is, you get $80 mil, the gov't gets $140 mil... every few weeks.  So where exactly does all that money go?  That's billions of dollars a year they get from the lottery alone.  All that revenue from a game people play where the odds of winning are worse than of getting struck by lightning twice.

Odds are better that you shape up and become a pro athlete

[ChadTower]

As far as whose fault it is, the owners are as much to blame as the players.

[Frosty]

It is amazing the impact of money:  Hockey, IMHO used to be above the other major sports, because its players seemed to realize that none of them were bigger than the game, its history, the fans, etc.  They all seemed to have this "aw shucks", just-happy-to-be-here mentality that separated them from the other major pro sports athletes.

But, money changed that.  The players became just as greedy as the owners.

To be honest, I hope hockey does fall from the spotlight of the other major sports and be come less popular.  Then the players might focus their attention on the actual game itself.

And JR, well---you're on the verge becoming the Albert Belle of hockey.

[ChadTower]

Honestly, much of that is because it wasn't an American sport.  As soon as it started to really migrate south, enough that it became more business than sport, it all changed and this is the result.

[JackTucky]

His salary isn't affected by the number of tickets sold.  What does he have to lose?  Nothing.

The NHLPA  should have signed in February.  The owners were serious about winning this.  And they have.

Art

[dek]

At this point, I don't care what happens. I just want to have hockey back so I can buy my Centre Ice and watch my Nords/Avs again.

[ChadTower]

Gotta say, I miss the Nordiques terribly, and given the way it all went down...

...---fudgesicle--- the Avalanche.

[AmericanDemon]

I heard somewhere that Vince McMahon is contemplating an XHL...   

[Zero_Hour]

JR really shot his mouth off, but good. The shame of it is, is that his quotes were pulled from a much longer rant, wher he apparently put a large amount of the blame on the players. Still, being around the media as long as he has, he should have known exactly what would be reported.

The NHL is a sad mess, ans If I have to blame one person for it's state it would be Howard Baldwin. Howard used to own the Penguins, and did a lot of completely stupid contracts, most notably Mario Lemiux. Years later, Mario is owed so much money off that contract, that he takes a signifigant stake in the team as payback. I can't think of any other case where an EMPLOYEE winds up owning the company because of poor planning by ownership.

Also, the players need to wake up and realize, that without a major broadcast contract, they will never have the pool of cash that other leauges enjoy (comparitively). They should also realize that cutting out the thuggery would help a whole lot twoards attracting a larger 'mainstream' audience, which is what gets you nice big broadcast contracts.. Some hockey purists cringe at the thought of that, but that will help immensely. Another complaint - that the puck is hard to follow on TV should be less of a problem, as HD broadcasts become more prevelant.

[ChadTower]

I heard somewhere that Vince McMahon is contemplating an XHL...

[Zero_Hour]

I heard somewhere that Vince McMahon is contemplating an XHL...   

So how do you spell "He Hate Me" in french? And would it fit on a jersey?

[AmericanDemon]

If Vince did go down this route, we'd see cooler Hockey Fights.    Although I enjoyed watching the fights the way they are. 

[Frosty]

Ha ha...fights are only cool when you're watching.

ChadTower, I feel your pain about the Nordiques--only, I ended up actually wathing the Avs (I couldn't help it--living in Colorado).  I will say that Sakic proved to me that he's the classiest player I've ever seen when he brought the Cup back to La Belle Provence.  Still, the loss of Canadian teams took away a part of the game that was unique to hockey.

But, like most Canadian teams that moved, the Avs became a slick, over-marketed show.  If they didn't have amazing talent, they'd be just like Carolina or Phoenix...

And Zero, I know what you mean: I was excited to finally get HD up and running and no hockey to watch.  Well, a few NCAA games, but that's about it.  Brutal...

[SirPoonga]

now tha tI moved away from St Paul I might get into minor league hockey.  i always prefered college hockey to NHL too. 

I hear the Milwaukee Admirals are a pretty good team....

[ChadTower]

That was one of the major benefits to going to Northeastern... awesome Div 1 hockey, a 3 minute walk from my dorm, for $5.  It was fun yelling at guys like Paul Kariya.

[dek]

But, like most Canadian teams that moved, the Avs became a slick, over-marketed show.

[DrewKaree]

Or, maybe it's just that I still miss the Whalers...

You still can see them, but now you just have to go a bit south to see 'em....and they've "jazzed up" the name a bit.  I enjoyed watching the Whalers too.....in NC   It was funny, I was thinking I've never paid $80 to watch ANY sport when they made the playoffs, and there were so many Leafs fans who made the trip and thought getting ripped off for $500 a ticket (although they DID get to sit next to me ) was the steal of the century.

now tha tI moved away from St Paul I might get into minor league hockey.  i always prefered college hockey to NHL too. 

I hear the Milwaukee Admirals are a pretty good team....

They are an AWESOME team, and seats are cheap to boot!  I dunno if they'll get moved though...for some reason, I end up explaining what the penalty was that they just called to several people around me.

I heard they're contemplating opening things up and possibly doing away with the blue lines and perhaps ALL THREE!  Fastbreak bucket-hanging cherry-picking rushes can only end in two things....a goal, or an equally fast-moving check into the boards.  I can envision it already, and I LOVE it!

[ChadTower]

Holy crap this guy is a moron with a capital MOR.

[SirPoonga]

They are an AWESOME team, and seats are cheap to boot!  I dunno if they'll get moved though...for some reason, I end up explaining what the

I only live 1.5 hours away.  I do plan on going to a couple of games

[DrewKaree]

I've heard talk of them being moved....someone just bought 'em.

And rackoon, well put.  I'm sure we all learned something from that....like that we should push the caps lock key a few times to see how it works.  Logical rational self-contained well-intentioned dialogue about topics......is so far from what you put up that you should be force-fed Ritalin until the tremors subside

[fredster]

I went to an NHL game once.  I was soooo bored. I mean, the puck didn't even flash like it did on TV.  The score was like 3-4 and that was an exciting game?

Man, it's as bad as soccer. 

Basketball, now that's a game.

I could care less if the NHL ever comes back.  It prempted the Simpsons a few times and really teed me off.

[ChadTower]

I tried playing basketball on skates, doesn't work, and it's too dependent on certain physical traits.

[fredster]

You have got to get that canadian mindset out Chad.

Any game that doesn't score every few minutes is BORING.

It's like playing Galaga and only scoring every other board. 

[dek]

I'd rather watch a 1-0 Wild vs Devils trap defense game than any NBA game ever.

[DrewKaree]

I went to an NHL game once.  I was soooo bored. I mean, the puck didn't even flash like it did on TV.  The score was like 3-4 and that was an exciting game?

Man, it's as bad as soccer. 

Basketball, now that's a game.

I could care less if the NHL ever comes back.  It prempted the Simpsons a few times and really teed me off.

Man, you've gotta go with me then.  I ain't even a big fan, but I know how to enjoy the game!  Who'd you go see?  The Predators?  The Admirals (my local team) are the "triple A" team of them. 

It's not a game to go watch for high scores.  Paying attention to the physical play really livens it up, and usually the BEST stuff is going on AWAY from the puck.  All that, and I bet we could pour enough beers into ourselves to make that puck flash like on TV

Picture how much more entertaining basketball would be if you could check your opponent like in Hockey.  Heck, I might even start paying attention to basketball again if they did that!

[ChadTower]

You have got to get that canadian mindset out Chad.

Any game that doesn't score every few minutes is BORING.

It's like playing Galaga and only scoring every other board.