LAST WEEK THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ANAHEIM DUCKS BRIAN BURKE AGREED TO WRITE A DIARY FOR USA TODAY LEADING UP TO THE TRADING DEADLINE…
HAD THE DIARY STRICKLY DEALT WITH HIS THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS THERE WOULD BE NO PROBLEM…
BUT CLEARLY BURKE CROSSED THE LINE…
HE REVEALED PRIVATE DISCUSSIONS AND CONFIDENTAL INFORMATION WHICH ALL FOUND ITSELF PUBLISHED IN A NATIONAL NEWPAPER AND SPLASHED ALL OVER THE INTERNET…
TO BEGIN WITH BURKE DISCLOSED THAT VANCOUVER GM DAVE NONIS HAD TOLD HIM ON THE 14TH OF THIS MONTH THAT THE CANUCKS ARE GOING TO RE-SIGN SAMI SALO…
WELL AS IT TURNS OUT THAT’S NEWS TO BOTH SALO AND HIS AGENT BILL ZITO…
SALO ADMITTS THE TWO SIDES HAVE TALKED BUT IN HIS WORDS…
“I THINK BOTH SIDES WERE JUST KIND OF FEELING EACH OTHER OUT”…
HOW MUCH THAT LEAK WILL HURT NONIS AND HIS ABILITY TO SIGN SALO IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW…
BUT ASK YOURSELF HOW WELL CAN YOU PLAY POKER IF EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM ALREADY KNOWS WHAT CARDS YOU’RE HOLDING???
THEN THERE’S THE DEAL BURKE MADE WITH TAMPA BAY GM JAY FEASTER…
ACCORDING TO BURKE THE LIGHTNING WERE INTERESTED IN DEFENSEMAN SHANE O’BRIEN AND OFFERED GOALTENDER GERALD COLEMAN AND A SECOND ROUND DRAFT CHOICE…
BURKE DEMANDED A FIRST ROUNDER WHICH 4 DAYS LATER FEASTER AGREED TO…
THE WAY BURKE TELLS THE STORY FEASTER APPEARS TO HAVE PANICED…
IF YOU’RE FEASTER ARE WILLING TO DO BUSINESS AGAIN WITH SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION???
BURKE ALSO STATED THAT HE OFFERED THE KINGS GM DEAN LOMBARDI…A FIRST…A SECOND AND THIRD ROUND DRAFT CHOICE FOR MATTIAS NORSTROM…
LOMBARDI FOUND A BIGGER AND BETTER DEAL IN DALLAS…
NEVERTHLESS BURKE OPENLY QUESTIONED LOMBARDI’S INTEGRITY BY SAYING…QUOTE…”I NOW BELIEVE HE NEVER INTENDED TO TRADE HIM TO US”…
WELL BURKE CAN CERTAINLY FORGET ABOUT GETTING A CHRISTMAS CARD FROM THE KINGS…
IN THE END THE DUCKS WERE ONLY ABLE TO ADD BRAD MAY TO THEIR ROSTER…
THE ARTICLE MAY BEEN INITIALLY BEEN DESIGNED TO GIVE BURKE SOME MUCH NEEDED PROFILE IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MARKET…
IN THE END IT WOUND UP AS LITTLE MORE THAN A VECHILE TO JUSTIFY THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE HIS HOCKEY TEAM…
AND IN DOING SO BRIAN BURKE MAY HAVE STRAINED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH EVERY GM IN THE LEAGUE…
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
ALL 30 NHL GENERAL MANAGERS ARE MEETING IN NAPLES FLORIDA…
THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON DAY ONE WAS NOT TRADES…BUT RATHER THE INSTIGATOR RULE…
ANAHEIM GM BRIAN BURKE WAS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA…
AND ACCORDING TO BURKE THE LEAGUE MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING ITS STAR PLAYERS…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS SIDNEY CROSBY…
BURKE HAS NOT GONE SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST THE LEAGUE GET RID OF THE RULE…
HE HAS NO INTENTION OF PICKING A FIGHT WITH HIS GOOD BUDDY GARY BETTMAN…
INSTEAD BURKE IS SUGGESTING THE LEAGUE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INSTIGATOR PENALTIES A PLAYER CAN TAKE BEFORE GETTING SUSPENDED…
THE TRUTH IS NO LEAGUE DOES AS LITTLE TO PROTECT ITS STAR PLAYERS AS THE NHL…
AND RIGHT NOW THERE’S NO QUESTION IT’S BIGGEST STAR HAS A BULLS EYE RIGHT ON HIS BACK…
IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF “IF” CROSBY IS GOING TO SUFFER A SERIOUS INJURY IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF “WHEN”…
THE GM’S ARE ALSO LOOKING AT GOALTENDER INTERFERENCE…
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED…IT IS ONCE AGAIN FASHIONABLE IN THE NHL TO RUN A GOALTENDER…
TRY AND IMAGINE THE OUT CRY IN THIS CITY IF ROBERTO LUONGO WAS NAILED INTO THE BACK OF NET AND SUFFERED A SEASON ENDING INJURY???
ALSO ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS ARE THESE ITEMS…
1) WHETHER OR NOT THE LEAGUE SHOULD AWARD 3 POINTS FOR A WIN IN REGULATION TIME…
2) THE LENGTH OF PRE-GAME CERIMONIES…
3) NO TOUCH ICING…
4) GOALTENDERS FREEZING THE PUCK TOO OFTEN…
5) ONE MINUTE PENALTIES IN OVERTIME…AND…
6) SOFT PENALTIES…THE STANDARD OF OBSTRUCTION…
BUT THE HOT TOPIC ON DAY FOR THE NHL GENERAL MANAGERS WAS THE INSTIGATOR RULE…
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE CROSBY PUT IN TODAY SETTING UP 4 GOALS AND GIVING 95 POINTS ON THE SEASON…
THE REAL QUESTION SHOULD BE…
WHAT’S TAKEN SO LONG???
THE NUMBER ONE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION ON DAY ONE WAS NOT TRADES…BUT RATHER THE INSTIGATOR RULE…
ANAHEIM GM BRIAN BURKE WAS THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR PUTTING THE ITEM ON THE AGENDA…
AND ACCORDING TO BURKE THE LEAGUE MUST DO A BETTER JOB OF PROTECTING ITS STAR PLAYERS…
ON THE TOP OF THE LIST IS SIDNEY CROSBY…
BURKE HAS NOT GONE SO FAR AS TO SUGGEST THE LEAGUE GET RID OF THE RULE…
HE HAS NO INTENTION OF PICKING A FIGHT WITH HIS GOOD BUDDY GARY BETTMAN…
INSTEAD BURKE IS SUGGESTING THE LEAGUE INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INSTIGATOR PENALTIES A PLAYER CAN TAKE BEFORE GETTING SUSPENDED…
THE TRUTH IS NO LEAGUE DOES AS LITTLE TO PROTECT ITS STAR PLAYERS AS THE NHL…
AND RIGHT NOW THERE’S NO QUESTION IT’S BIGGEST STAR HAS A BULLS EYE RIGHT ON HIS BACK…
IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF “IF” CROSBY IS GOING TO SUFFER A SERIOUS INJURY IT’S ONLY A MATTER OF “WHEN”…
THE GM’S ARE ALSO LOOKING AT GOALTENDER INTERFERENCE…
AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED…IT IS ONCE AGAIN FASHIONABLE IN THE NHL TO RUN A GOALTENDER…
TRY AND IMAGINE THE OUT CRY IN THIS CITY IF ROBERTO LUONGO WAS NAILED INTO THE BACK OF NET AND SUFFERED A SEASON ENDING INJURY???
ALSO ON THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT 3 DAYS ARE THESE ITEMS…
1) WHETHER OR NOT THE LEAGUE SHOULD AWARD 3 POINTS FOR A WIN IN REGULATION TIME…
2) THE LENGTH OF PRE-GAME CERIMONIES…
3) NO TOUCH ICING…
4) GOALTENDERS FREEZING THE PUCK TOO OFTEN…
5) ONE MINUTE PENALTIES IN OVERTIME…AND…
6) SOFT PENALTIES…THE STANDARD OF OBSTRUCTION…
BUT THE HOT TOPIC ON DAY FOR THE NHL GENERAL MANAGERS WAS THE INSTIGATOR RULE…
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE CROSBY PUT IN TODAY SETTING UP 4 GOALS AND GIVING 95 POINTS ON THE SEASON…
THE REAL QUESTION SHOULD BE…
WHAT’S TAKEN SO LONG???
Friday, February 16, 2007
The Leafs
IT’S DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS WILL BE CELEBRATING TOMORROW NIGHT AT THE AIR CANADA CENTER…
16 PLAYERS FROM THE 1967 STANLEY CUP TEAM WILL BE HONORED…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…THIS SPRING WILL MARK THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAST TIME THE LEAFS WON IT ALL…
ON ONE HAND IT WILL BE NICE TO PLAYERS SUCH AS FRANK MAHOVLICH…EDDIE SHACK AND JOHNNY BOWER…
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IS THIS NOT THROWING MORE SALT INTO A VERY OLD WOUND???
NO TEAM IN THE NHL HAS SUFFERED A LONGER DROUGHT FROM GOING TO THE FINAL THAN THE LEAFS…
AND ONLY THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS HAVE GONE LONGER BETWEEN CHAMPIONSHIPS…
FOLLOWING THE FINAL IN 67 THE NHL EXPANDED TO 12 TEAMS…
OVER THE NEXT 4 DECADES A TOTAL OF 17 DIFFERENT EXPANSION TEAMS HAVE GONE TO THE FINAL FOR A TOTAL OF 48 TIMES…
THAT INCLUDING THE CANUCKS…WHO HAVE GONE TWICE…
10 OF THOSE EXANSION TEAMS HAVE GONE ONTO WIN THE CUP A TOTAL OF 22 TIMES…
OF THE ORIGINAL 6…THE LEAFS ARE THE ONLY FRANCHISE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN TO AT LEAST ONE CUP FINAL IN THE LAST 40 YEARS…
HOW LONG AS IT BEEN???
WELL THE FINAL GAME OF THAT SERIES WITH MONTREAL WAS SHOWN ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA IN BLACK AND WHITE…
IN 1967…THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA WAS LESTER B. PEARSON…
PAMELA ANDERSON…ANNA NICOLE SMITH…AND JAMIE FOXX WERE BORN…
THE BEATLES RELEASEED SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND…
MUHAMMAD ALI REFUSED THE DRAFT…
AND ELVIS AND PRISCILLA WERE MARRIED…
THAT’S HOW LONG IT’S BEEN…
4 GENERATIONS OF LEAF FANS HAVE GROWN UP WITHOUT EVER EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF WATCHING THEIR TEAM PLAY IN A STANLEY CUP FINAL…
YES IT WILL BE EMOTIONAL ON TOMORROW NIGHT IN TORONTO…
BUT FOR THE REST OF US IN CANADA…THE ONLY TEARS…WILL BE CROCODILE TEARS…
16 PLAYERS FROM THE 1967 STANLEY CUP TEAM WILL BE HONORED…
AS YOU MAY KNOW…THIS SPRING WILL MARK THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAST TIME THE LEAFS WON IT ALL…
ON ONE HAND IT WILL BE NICE TO PLAYERS SUCH AS FRANK MAHOVLICH…EDDIE SHACK AND JOHNNY BOWER…
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IS THIS NOT THROWING MORE SALT INTO A VERY OLD WOUND???
NO TEAM IN THE NHL HAS SUFFERED A LONGER DROUGHT FROM GOING TO THE FINAL THAN THE LEAFS…
AND ONLY THE CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS HAVE GONE LONGER BETWEEN CHAMPIONSHIPS…
FOLLOWING THE FINAL IN 67 THE NHL EXPANDED TO 12 TEAMS…
OVER THE NEXT 4 DECADES A TOTAL OF 17 DIFFERENT EXPANSION TEAMS HAVE GONE TO THE FINAL FOR A TOTAL OF 48 TIMES…
THAT INCLUDING THE CANUCKS…WHO HAVE GONE TWICE…
10 OF THOSE EXANSION TEAMS HAVE GONE ONTO WIN THE CUP A TOTAL OF 22 TIMES…
OF THE ORIGINAL 6…THE LEAFS ARE THE ONLY FRANCHISE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN TO AT LEAST ONE CUP FINAL IN THE LAST 40 YEARS…
HOW LONG AS IT BEEN???
WELL THE FINAL GAME OF THAT SERIES WITH MONTREAL WAS SHOWN ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA IN BLACK AND WHITE…
IN 1967…THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA WAS LESTER B. PEARSON…
PAMELA ANDERSON…ANNA NICOLE SMITH…AND JAMIE FOXX WERE BORN…
THE BEATLES RELEASEED SGT. PEPPERS LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND…
MUHAMMAD ALI REFUSED THE DRAFT…
AND ELVIS AND PRISCILLA WERE MARRIED…
THAT’S HOW LONG IT’S BEEN…
4 GENERATIONS OF LEAF FANS HAVE GROWN UP WITHOUT EVER EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF WATCHING THEIR TEAM PLAY IN A STANLEY CUP FINAL…
YES IT WILL BE EMOTIONAL ON TOMORROW NIGHT IN TORONTO…
BUT FOR THE REST OF US IN CANADA…THE ONLY TEARS…WILL BE CROCODILE TEARS…
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Steve Nash
TOMORROW WHEN THE PHOENIX SUNS PLAY IN SEATTLE...
THANKS FOR A BAD SHOULDER STEVE NASH WILL STILL BE OUT OF THE LINE UP...
THE INJURY WILL ALSO FORCE HIM TO MISS THE NBA ALL STAR GAME THIS IN SUNDAY IN LAS VEGAS...
ON THE SURFACE IT MIGHT APPEAR ALL THAT LOST TIME WILL HURT HIS CHANCES AT A THIRD STRAIGHT MVP...
AS IT TURNS OUT...JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE...
WITH A HEALTHY NASH THE SUNS WERE FIGHTING WITH DALLAS FOR THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NBA...
THEY WERE JUST ONE GAME BACK OF THE MAVERICKS...
BUT IN THE LAST WEEK WITHOUT HIM...THE SUNS HAVE LOST 2 OF THE LAST 3 INCLUDING AN EMBARASING 116-103 DEFEAT AT HOME TO THE CHICAGO BULLS...
THE VICTORY FOR THE BULLS WAS THE LAST OF A 7 GAME ROAD TRIP...
THIS WAS A TEAM THAT HAD LOST 3 IN A ROW AND WAS PLAYING FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 4 NIGHTS...
THE SAME CHICAGO BULLS TEAM THAT HAD NOT WON IN PHOENIX SINCE MICHEAL JORDAN PULLED IT OFF IN 1996...
TWO NIGHTS EARLIER ATLANTA BEAT THE SUNS BY 9...
THE HAWKS ARE 11TH IN THE EAST...HAVING LOST 31 OF THEIR FIRST 50 GAMES...
TOMORROW NIGHT THE SUNS WILL FACE SEATTLE...
THE SONICS ARE 14TH IN THE WEST...
IT SHOULD BE A LOCK FOR THE SUNS...BUT WITHOUT NASH...NOTHING IS GUARENTEED...
WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE VALUE STEVE NASH HAS TO THIS FRANCHISE...
THIS MAYBE THE MOST TELLING STAT OF ALL...
SINCE NASH RETURNED TO PHOENIX 3 YEARS AGO AS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT HE HAS MISSED A GRAND TOTAL OF 14 GAMES...
THE SUNS RECORD IN THOSE GAMES....4-10...
THIS YEAR WITH NASH IN THE LINE UP THE SUNS ARE 38 AND 10...
ONCE AGAIN HE LEADS THE NBA IN ASSISTS TO GO ALONG WITH HIS 20 POINTS A GAME...
IF THE TRUE MEASURING STICK OF GREATNESS IS THE IMPACT THAT AN ATHLETE HAS ON HIS TEAMMATES...THEN NASH SHOULD ONCE AGAIN THE MVP...
BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM THE PHOENIX SUNS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE...
THANKS FOR A BAD SHOULDER STEVE NASH WILL STILL BE OUT OF THE LINE UP...
THE INJURY WILL ALSO FORCE HIM TO MISS THE NBA ALL STAR GAME THIS IN SUNDAY IN LAS VEGAS...
ON THE SURFACE IT MIGHT APPEAR ALL THAT LOST TIME WILL HURT HIS CHANCES AT A THIRD STRAIGHT MVP...
AS IT TURNS OUT...JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE...
WITH A HEALTHY NASH THE SUNS WERE FIGHTING WITH DALLAS FOR THE BEST RECORD IN THE ENTIRE NBA...
THEY WERE JUST ONE GAME BACK OF THE MAVERICKS...
BUT IN THE LAST WEEK WITHOUT HIM...THE SUNS HAVE LOST 2 OF THE LAST 3 INCLUDING AN EMBARASING 116-103 DEFEAT AT HOME TO THE CHICAGO BULLS...
THE VICTORY FOR THE BULLS WAS THE LAST OF A 7 GAME ROAD TRIP...
THIS WAS A TEAM THAT HAD LOST 3 IN A ROW AND WAS PLAYING FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 4 NIGHTS...
THE SAME CHICAGO BULLS TEAM THAT HAD NOT WON IN PHOENIX SINCE MICHEAL JORDAN PULLED IT OFF IN 1996...
TWO NIGHTS EARLIER ATLANTA BEAT THE SUNS BY 9...
THE HAWKS ARE 11TH IN THE EAST...HAVING LOST 31 OF THEIR FIRST 50 GAMES...
TOMORROW NIGHT THE SUNS WILL FACE SEATTLE...
THE SONICS ARE 14TH IN THE WEST...
IT SHOULD BE A LOCK FOR THE SUNS...BUT WITHOUT NASH...NOTHING IS GUARENTEED...
WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE VALUE STEVE NASH HAS TO THIS FRANCHISE...
THIS MAYBE THE MOST TELLING STAT OF ALL...
SINCE NASH RETURNED TO PHOENIX 3 YEARS AGO AS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT HE HAS MISSED A GRAND TOTAL OF 14 GAMES...
THE SUNS RECORD IN THOSE GAMES....4-10...
THIS YEAR WITH NASH IN THE LINE UP THE SUNS ARE 38 AND 10...
ONCE AGAIN HE LEADS THE NBA IN ASSISTS TO GO ALONG WITH HIS 20 POINTS A GAME...
IF THE TRUE MEASURING STICK OF GREATNESS IS THE IMPACT THAT AN ATHLETE HAS ON HIS TEAMMATES...THEN NASH SHOULD ONCE AGAIN THE MVP...
BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM THE PHOENIX SUNS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE...
Monday, February 12, 2007
February 12th
DESPITE WHAT COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN WOULD LIKE YOU TO BELIEVE...
THE NHL IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE...
OVER THE WEEKEND THE NATIONAL POST OBTAINED A CONFIDENTIAL LEAGUE DOCUMENT THAT CONFIRMED WHAT MOST HOCKEY PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW...
DESPITE THAT FACT 26 OF THE 30 TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE INCREASED TICKET PRICES THIS SEASON...GATE RECEIPTS ARE DOWN IN 9 OF THE 24 AMERICAN MARKETS...
ADD TO THAT...
ALL THE HYPE ABOUT RECORD LEAGUE ATTENDANCE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY WAS JUST THAT HYPE...
THE NUMBERS INCLUDED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GIVEWAYS THAT WERE ALL COUNTED WHETHER THE TICKETS WERE USED OR NOT...
THE REPORT ONCE AGAIN CONFIRMS THAT THE REAL STRENGTH OF THE LEAGUE IS FOUND IN CANADA WHERE ALL 6 OF THE TEAMS FELL INTO THE TOP 12 LEADERS IN GATE RECEIPTS...
THE LEAFS...THE CANDIANS...THE RANGERS AND THE CANUCKS MADE UP THE TOP 4...
THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET ALOT WORSE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING AMERICAN TEAMS...
ON THURSDAY THE HEAD OF THE NHL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION TED SASKIN MET WITH THE AGENTS IN TORONTO...
SASKIN NOW PROJECTS REVENUES FOR THIS SEASON OF 2.3 BILLION...
IF THAT'S TRUE THE PLAYERS WILL SEE THEIR PIECE OF THE ACTION INCREASE FROM 54 PERCENT OF GROSS REVENUE TO 55.5 PERCENT...
IT MEANS A SIGNIFICANT BONUS TO EVERY PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE AND NEXT SEASON WILL SEE THE SALARY CAP RISE FROM 44 MILLION TO 50 MILLION...
IN THE SHORT TERM THAT MEANS TEAMS LIKE THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE MUCH MORE CAP SPACE TO AQUIRE PLAYERS BEFORE THE TRADING DEADLINE...
IN THE LONG TERM IT WILL ALSO MEAN RE-SIGNING SAMI SALO IS NOW SUDDENLY A REAL POSSIBILITY...
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DEAD AMERICAN MARKETS...
LONG TERM REVENUE SHARING IS NOT THE ANSWER...
OWNERS IN VANCOUVER...TORONTO AND DETROIT ARE ALREADY GROWING TIRED OF WASTING MILLIONS OF THEIR DOLLARS ON WHAT AMOUNTS TO LITTLE MORE THAN A WELFARE STATE...
SOONER OR LATER SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE...
BUT DON'T WORRY...BECAUSE BETTMAN HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND A BRAND NEW 5 YEAR CONTRACT...
THE NHL IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE...
OVER THE WEEKEND THE NATIONAL POST OBTAINED A CONFIDENTIAL LEAGUE DOCUMENT THAT CONFIRMED WHAT MOST HOCKEY PEOPLE ALREADY KNEW...
DESPITE THAT FACT 26 OF THE 30 TEAMS IN THE LEAGUE INCREASED TICKET PRICES THIS SEASON...GATE RECEIPTS ARE DOWN IN 9 OF THE 24 AMERICAN MARKETS...
ADD TO THAT...
ALL THE HYPE ABOUT RECORD LEAGUE ATTENDANCE FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY WAS JUST THAT HYPE...
THE NUMBERS INCLUDED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF GIVEWAYS THAT WERE ALL COUNTED WHETHER THE TICKETS WERE USED OR NOT...
THE REPORT ONCE AGAIN CONFIRMS THAT THE REAL STRENGTH OF THE LEAGUE IS FOUND IN CANADA WHERE ALL 6 OF THE TEAMS FELL INTO THE TOP 12 LEADERS IN GATE RECEIPTS...
THE LEAFS...THE CANDIANS...THE RANGERS AND THE CANUCKS MADE UP THE TOP 4...
THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET ALOT WORSE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING AMERICAN TEAMS...
ON THURSDAY THE HEAD OF THE NHL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION TED SASKIN MET WITH THE AGENTS IN TORONTO...
SASKIN NOW PROJECTS REVENUES FOR THIS SEASON OF 2.3 BILLION...
IF THAT'S TRUE THE PLAYERS WILL SEE THEIR PIECE OF THE ACTION INCREASE FROM 54 PERCENT OF GROSS REVENUE TO 55.5 PERCENT...
IT MEANS A SIGNIFICANT BONUS TO EVERY PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE AND NEXT SEASON WILL SEE THE SALARY CAP RISE FROM 44 MILLION TO 50 MILLION...
IN THE SHORT TERM THAT MEANS TEAMS LIKE THE CANUCKS WILL HAVE MUCH MORE CAP SPACE TO AQUIRE PLAYERS BEFORE THE TRADING DEADLINE...
IN THE LONG TERM IT WILL ALSO MEAN RE-SIGNING SAMI SALO IS NOW SUDDENLY A REAL POSSIBILITY...
THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE DEAD AMERICAN MARKETS...
LONG TERM REVENUE SHARING IS NOT THE ANSWER...
OWNERS IN VANCOUVER...TORONTO AND DETROIT ARE ALREADY GROWING TIRED OF WASTING MILLIONS OF THEIR DOLLARS ON WHAT AMOUNTS TO LITTLE MORE THAN A WELFARE STATE...
SOONER OR LATER SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE...
BUT DON'T WORRY...BECAUSE BETTMAN HAS ALL THE ANSWERS AND A BRAND NEW 5 YEAR CONTRACT...
Thursday, February 8, 2007
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ !
SO YOU BOUGHT A COUPLE OF TICKETS TO LASTNIGHT GAME WITH CHICAGO...
THAT SET YOU BACK ABOUT $300 DOLLARS...
DINNER IS $100.00...
25 DOLLARS FOR PARKING...
A FEW BEERS...THAT'S ANOTHER $25...AT LEAST...
THE BABY SITTER IS IN FOR $25...
TOTAL FOR THE NIGHT...$500 DOLLARS...
NOW ASK YOURSELF...
LASTNIGHT DID YOU GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH???
OF COURSE NOT...SO WHO'S TO BLAME...
WELL IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE CANUCKS...
AFTER ALL THEY DID NOT SHOW UP...
BUT HOW ABOUT THE THE NHL???
WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND WOULD SCHEDULE A GAME WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER THE TWO TEAMS INVOLVED PLAYED THE NIGHT BEFORE...IN DIFFERENT CITIES...
BUT AS SHAKESPEARE WOULD SAY,...
THE FAULT LIES NOT IN OUR STARS...BUT IN OURSELVES..
THE SCHEDULE WAS RELEASED LAST SUMMER...
HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY KNEW THE SITUATION...
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE NHL CONTINUE TO TAKE YOUR MONEY FOR GRANTED...
AND AS LONG AS YOU KEEP SHELLING IT OUT...THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TREAT YOU LIKE THE SUCKER...YOU ARE...
WHEN YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT AND ARE SERVED UP A BAD MEAL...
THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS SEND IT BACK...
WHEN YOU BUY A NEW CAR IT COMES WITH A WARRANTY...
EVERY NEW MOVIE THAT COMES OUT...CRITICS THAT TELL YOU WHAT TO EXPECT...
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IT'S...BUYER BEWARE...
THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM IS SIMPLE...
IF THE LEAGUES ARE TOO GREEDY TO PUT TOGETHER A SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWS TIRED TEAMS TO PLAY NIGHT AFTER NIGHT...THEN FORGET SEASON'S TICKETS...
DO YOU HOMEWORK...HAND PICK YOUR GAMES...
TRUST ME...IF GM PLACE WAS EMPTY LASTNIGHT...THE LEAGUE WOULD TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT IT'S SCHEDULE...
BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON GOOD FAITH...
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WONDERING WHY THE CANUCKS DID NOT AT LEAST...KISS YOU GOODNIGHT...
BECAUSE LASTNIGHT YOU CERTAINLY GOT......(BEEP)
THAT SET YOU BACK ABOUT $300 DOLLARS...
DINNER IS $100.00...
25 DOLLARS FOR PARKING...
A FEW BEERS...THAT'S ANOTHER $25...AT LEAST...
THE BABY SITTER IS IN FOR $25...
TOTAL FOR THE NIGHT...$500 DOLLARS...
NOW ASK YOURSELF...
LASTNIGHT DID YOU GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH???
OF COURSE NOT...SO WHO'S TO BLAME...
WELL IT'S EASY TO BLAME THE CANUCKS...
AFTER ALL THEY DID NOT SHOW UP...
BUT HOW ABOUT THE THE NHL???
WHO IN THE RIGHT MIND WOULD SCHEDULE A GAME WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER THE TWO TEAMS INVOLVED PLAYED THE NIGHT BEFORE...IN DIFFERENT CITIES...
BUT AS SHAKESPEARE WOULD SAY,...
THE FAULT LIES NOT IN OUR STARS...BUT IN OURSELVES..
THE SCHEDULE WAS RELEASED LAST SUMMER...
HOCKEY FANS IN THIS CITY KNEW THE SITUATION...
THE PEOPLE WHO RUN THE NHL CONTINUE TO TAKE YOUR MONEY FOR GRANTED...
AND AS LONG AS YOU KEEP SHELLING IT OUT...THEY WILL CONTINUE TO TREAT YOU LIKE THE SUCKER...YOU ARE...
WHEN YOU GO TO A RESTAURANT AND ARE SERVED UP A BAD MEAL...
THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS SEND IT BACK...
WHEN YOU BUY A NEW CAR IT COMES WITH A WARRANTY...
EVERY NEW MOVIE THAT COMES OUT...CRITICS THAT TELL YOU WHAT TO EXPECT...
BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IT'S...BUYER BEWARE...
THE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM IS SIMPLE...
IF THE LEAGUES ARE TOO GREEDY TO PUT TOGETHER A SCHEDULE THAT ALLOWS TIRED TEAMS TO PLAY NIGHT AFTER NIGHT...THEN FORGET SEASON'S TICKETS...
DO YOU HOMEWORK...HAND PICK YOUR GAMES...
TRUST ME...IF GM PLACE WAS EMPTY LASTNIGHT...THE LEAGUE WOULD TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT IT'S SCHEDULE...
BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE WILLING TO SPEND YOUR MONEY ON GOOD FAITH...
THEN YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WAKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WONDERING WHY THE CANUCKS DID NOT AT LEAST...KISS YOU GOODNIGHT...
BECAUSE LASTNIGHT YOU CERTAINLY GOT......(BEEP)
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Gary Bettman
TONIGHT NHL COMMISSIONER GARY BETTMAN WILL BE AT GM PLACE FOR THE CANUCKS GAME WITH CHICAGO...
LAST WEEK HE CELEBRATED HIS 14TH YEAR ON THE JOB...
HOW YOU JUDGE BETTMAN CERTAINLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU STAND...
IF YOU BELIEVE IN EXPANSION AND RELOCATION...BETTMAN IS A HERO...
UNDER HIS WATCH THE NHL HAS SEEN THE ADDITION OF 6 NEW FRANCHISES AND THE MOVEMENT OF 3 OTHERS...
THE EXPANSION PUT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE POCKETS OF THE OWNERS...
BUT IT ALSO RESULTED IN A WATERED DOWN PRODUCT FOR THE FANS...
THE RESULT WAS A GOLDEN AGE FOR OBSTRUCTION...
AVERAGE TEAMS COULD NOT ONLY COMPETE...THEY COULD GO RIGHT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL...
EXPANSION ALSO PUT OFF A NEED TO ADRESS THE ECONOMICS OF THE LEAGUE...
THE 1995 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT TURNED INTO A WINDFALL FOR THE PLAYERS...
THE END RESULT WAS A LOCK OUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON...
THE NHL IS THE ONLY LEAGUE IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TO SUFFER THAT EMBARASSMENT...
WHEN IT COMES TO TELEVISION...
RATINGS IN CANADA ARE AT A RECORD HIGH AND THE LEAGUE IS ABOUT TO SIGN NEW DEALS WITH TSN AND CBC THAT COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS 140 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR...
HOWEVER...THE NHL IN THE U.S. IS SUFFERING IT'S WORST RATINGS IN IT'S HISTORY...
THE LEAGUE HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH IT'S UNBALANCED SCHEDULE...DESPITE THE FACT THE MAJORITY OF FANS AND TEAMS ARE OPPOSED TO IT...
NEVERTHLESS LAST WEEK THE NHL ANNOUNCED AN ALL TIME RECORD FOR ATTENDANCE IN JANUARY CLAIMING THAT OVER 3 MILLION FANS WENT TO SEE A GAME...
THAT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE BECAUSE OVER A THIRD OF IT'S TEAMS CONTINUE TO PLAY IN HALF EMPTY ARENAS AND EVEN CITYS LIKE DETROIT ARE NOW WITNESSING THOUSANDS OF EMPTY SEATS PER GAME...
THESE ARE FANS THAT HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS BUT CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO GO...
THE NHL IS CLEARLY AT A CROSSROADS...
THE GRAND VISION OF A 30 TEAM LEAGUE HAS NOT PRODUCED THE PROMISED MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR NETWORK CONTRACT...AND NEVER WILL...
WHICH LEAVES US WITH TWO QUESTIONS...
WHERE DOES THE NHL GO FROM HERE...AND IS BETTMAN THE MAN TO LEAD IT?
LAST WEEK HE CELEBRATED HIS 14TH YEAR ON THE JOB...
HOW YOU JUDGE BETTMAN CERTAINLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU STAND...
IF YOU BELIEVE IN EXPANSION AND RELOCATION...BETTMAN IS A HERO...
UNDER HIS WATCH THE NHL HAS SEEN THE ADDITION OF 6 NEW FRANCHISES AND THE MOVEMENT OF 3 OTHERS...
THE EXPANSION PUT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO THE POCKETS OF THE OWNERS...
BUT IT ALSO RESULTED IN A WATERED DOWN PRODUCT FOR THE FANS...
THE RESULT WAS A GOLDEN AGE FOR OBSTRUCTION...
AVERAGE TEAMS COULD NOT ONLY COMPETE...THEY COULD GO RIGHT TO THE STANLEY CUP FINAL...
EXPANSION ALSO PUT OFF A NEED TO ADRESS THE ECONOMICS OF THE LEAGUE...
THE 1995 COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT TURNED INTO A WINDFALL FOR THE PLAYERS...
THE END RESULT WAS A LOCK OUT THAT WIPED OUT AN ENTIRE SEASON...
THE NHL IS THE ONLY LEAGUE IN THE HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TO SUFFER THAT EMBARASSMENT...
WHEN IT COMES TO TELEVISION...
RATINGS IN CANADA ARE AT A RECORD HIGH AND THE LEAGUE IS ABOUT TO SIGN NEW DEALS WITH TSN AND CBC THAT COULD BE WORTH AS MUCH AS 140 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR...
HOWEVER...THE NHL IN THE U.S. IS SUFFERING IT'S WORST RATINGS IN IT'S HISTORY...
THE LEAGUE HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH IT'S UNBALANCED SCHEDULE...DESPITE THE FACT THE MAJORITY OF FANS AND TEAMS ARE OPPOSED TO IT...
NEVERTHLESS LAST WEEK THE NHL ANNOUNCED AN ALL TIME RECORD FOR ATTENDANCE IN JANUARY CLAIMING THAT OVER 3 MILLION FANS WENT TO SEE A GAME...
THAT'S DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE BECAUSE OVER A THIRD OF IT'S TEAMS CONTINUE TO PLAY IN HALF EMPTY ARENAS AND EVEN CITYS LIKE DETROIT ARE NOW WITNESSING THOUSANDS OF EMPTY SEATS PER GAME...
THESE ARE FANS THAT HAVE BOUGHT TICKETS BUT CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO GO...
THE NHL IS CLEARLY AT A CROSSROADS...
THE GRAND VISION OF A 30 TEAM LEAGUE HAS NOT PRODUCED THE PROMISED MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR NETWORK CONTRACT...AND NEVER WILL...
WHICH LEAVES US WITH TWO QUESTIONS...
WHERE DOES THE NHL GO FROM HERE...AND IS BETTMAN THE MAN TO LEAD IT?
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