NHL hockey's back...
...and I wish I could be more excited about it. I love the sport. I truly do. Minor league hockey, Olympic hockey, hockey in general--it is all good, but the owners and players of the NHL have done more damage than they realize to their fans.
In their greed, they stomped their feet, threw tantrums, demanded more money from each other and collectively gave their fans the bird. Well, you know what? Right back at you, buddies.
You want my support? You want my money? You want me to tune into what precious few televised games there are going to be? You'd better pucker up then. I don't mean a soft smooch on the derrière or a tender peck on the butt cheek. When you guys are done, I'd better have the mother of all hickeys on my backside or you're not getting ANYTHING.
All of this could have been avoided had Bettman and Goodenow had set aside their massive and wholly undeserved egos LAST summer and hammered out a deal. Both sides had concessions to make then. Now they are stuck with worse concessions and a damaged fan base. Their weren't that many of us to start with when compared to the other four major league sports (baseball, basketball, and football). We'll all just pretend auto racing doesn't count for the moment because then all major league fans would look pathetic.
I'll echo what sports columnist Dan Wetzel said. Bettman and Goodenow need to fall on their swords for the good of hockey. It bears repeating:
I still think Bettman and union chief Bob Goodenow should both immediately resign. Neither should feel an ounce of good about salvaging the foundation of a house their collective incompetence set fire to.
You, the owners and the players, broke faith with the people who pay your salaries. Not only did you let us down, but you walked all over us and kicked us while we were down. Maybe someone should remind you that your league, your teams, your jobs exist at our pleasure. OUR pleasure.
And just so you know, owners and players, I used to watch baseball and spend money on them until the strike that cost them most of a season. I've not been to a game since, nor have I spent a penny on them since. It's been what? A decade now? You could easily be added to that list.
In their greed, they stomped their feet, threw tantrums, demanded more money from each other and collectively gave their fans the bird. Well, you know what? Right back at you, buddies.
You want my support? You want my money? You want me to tune into what precious few televised games there are going to be? You'd better pucker up then. I don't mean a soft smooch on the derrière or a tender peck on the butt cheek. When you guys are done, I'd better have the mother of all hickeys on my backside or you're not getting ANYTHING.
All of this could have been avoided had Bettman and Goodenow had set aside their massive and wholly undeserved egos LAST summer and hammered out a deal. Both sides had concessions to make then. Now they are stuck with worse concessions and a damaged fan base. Their weren't that many of us to start with when compared to the other four major league sports (baseball, basketball, and football). We'll all just pretend auto racing doesn't count for the moment because then all major league fans would look pathetic.
I'll echo what sports columnist Dan Wetzel said. Bettman and Goodenow need to fall on their swords for the good of hockey. It bears repeating:
I still think Bettman and union chief Bob Goodenow should both immediately resign. Neither should feel an ounce of good about salvaging the foundation of a house their collective incompetence set fire to.
You, the owners and the players, broke faith with the people who pay your salaries. Not only did you let us down, but you walked all over us and kicked us while we were down. Maybe someone should remind you that your league, your teams, your jobs exist at our pleasure. OUR pleasure.
And just so you know, owners and players, I used to watch baseball and spend money on them until the strike that cost them most of a season. I've not been to a game since, nor have I spent a penny on them since. It's been what? A decade now? You could easily be added to that list.