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???
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
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?
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
February 6th, 2007
TONIGHT THE CALGARY FLAMES WILL RETIRE MIKE VERNON'S NUMBER 30...
TOMORROW NIGHT IN BUFFALO THE SABRES WILL RETIRE PHIL HOUSLEY'S NUMBER 6...
THERE WAS A TIME THAT GETTING YOUR NUMBER RETIRED BY A TEAM REQUIRED A PLAYER TO SPEND MOST OF...IF NOT ALL OF HIS CAREER WITH ONE ORGANIZATION...
STEVE YZERMAN IS SUCH A PLAYER WITH DETROIT...
HOWEVER BETWEEN VERNON AND HOUSLEY...
THE TWO PLAYED FOR A COMBINED 12 TEAMS...
LAST MONTH BRETT HULL HAD HIS NUMBER 16 RETIRED BY ST. LOUIS...
NO QUESTION THE 11 SEASONS HULL PLAYED IN THAT CITY WERE HIS BEST...
BUT HE ALSO PLAYED FOR A TOTAL OF 4 OTHER TEAMS WINNING STANLEY CUPS WITH BOTH DETROIT AND DALLAS...
IT WAS HULL'S DECISION TO LEAVE ST. LOUIS AS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT...
THESE DAYS HULL AND HIS FAMILY STILL LIVE IN DALLAS AND HE NOW WORKS IN THE STARS FRONT OFFICE...
SO WHY THE WILLINGNESS OF THE BLUES TO KISS AND MAKE UP...
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS THIS SEASON???
THE BLUES ARE PLAYING IN FRONT OF 5 OR 6 THOUSAND FANS A GAME...
HOWEVER THE NIGHT THEY RETIRED BRETT HULL'S NUMBER...
THE PLACE WAS SOLD OUT...
ON THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH THE OILERS WILL RETIRE MARK MESSIER'S NUMBER 11...
THESE ARE THE SAME OILERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC MONEY TO BUILD A NEW ARENA...
ONLY A FOOL WOULD THINK ALL THIS IS JUST A COINCIDENCE...
LETS MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS STRAIGHT...
IN 1991 MESSIER TURNED HIS BACK ON EDMONTON TO PLAY IN NEW YORK...
TODAY MESSIER TOLD THE TORONTO SUN...HE NOW PLANS TO TALK TO GENERAL MANAGER GLEN SATHER ABOUT RUNNNING THE RANGERS ONCE SATHER DECIDES TO STEP DOWN...
THE TRUTH IS...FANS HAVE SELLECTIVE MEMORY LOSS...AND THE PEOPLE WHO OWN AND RUN THIS GAME DEPEND ON THAT...
JUST LIKE THE MAN SAID..."THERE'S A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE"...
IF MESSIER...OR HULL...OR VERNON HAD WON A STANLEY CUP IN VANCOUVER...
TRUST ME THE CANUCKS WOULD BE RETIRING THEIR NUMBERS AS WELL
TOMORROW NIGHT IN BUFFALO THE SABRES WILL RETIRE PHIL HOUSLEY'S NUMBER 6...
THERE WAS A TIME THAT GETTING YOUR NUMBER RETIRED BY A TEAM REQUIRED A PLAYER TO SPEND MOST OF...IF NOT ALL OF HIS CAREER WITH ONE ORGANIZATION...
STEVE YZERMAN IS SUCH A PLAYER WITH DETROIT...
HOWEVER BETWEEN VERNON AND HOUSLEY...
THE TWO PLAYED FOR A COMBINED 12 TEAMS...
LAST MONTH BRETT HULL HAD HIS NUMBER 16 RETIRED BY ST. LOUIS...
NO QUESTION THE 11 SEASONS HULL PLAYED IN THAT CITY WERE HIS BEST...
BUT HE ALSO PLAYED FOR A TOTAL OF 4 OTHER TEAMS WINNING STANLEY CUPS WITH BOTH DETROIT AND DALLAS...
IT WAS HULL'S DECISION TO LEAVE ST. LOUIS AS AN UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT...
THESE DAYS HULL AND HIS FAMILY STILL LIVE IN DALLAS AND HE NOW WORKS IN THE STARS FRONT OFFICE...
SO WHY THE WILLINGNESS OF THE BLUES TO KISS AND MAKE UP...
HAVE YOU LOOKED AT THE ATTENDANCE NUMBERS THIS SEASON???
THE BLUES ARE PLAYING IN FRONT OF 5 OR 6 THOUSAND FANS A GAME...
HOWEVER THE NIGHT THEY RETIRED BRETT HULL'S NUMBER...
THE PLACE WAS SOLD OUT...
ON THE 27TH OF THIS MONTH THE OILERS WILL RETIRE MARK MESSIER'S NUMBER 11...
THESE ARE THE SAME OILERS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR PUBLIC MONEY TO BUILD A NEW ARENA...
ONLY A FOOL WOULD THINK ALL THIS IS JUST A COINCIDENCE...
LETS MAKE SURE THE RECORD IS STRAIGHT...
IN 1991 MESSIER TURNED HIS BACK ON EDMONTON TO PLAY IN NEW YORK...
TODAY MESSIER TOLD THE TORONTO SUN...HE NOW PLANS TO TALK TO GENERAL MANAGER GLEN SATHER ABOUT RUNNNING THE RANGERS ONCE SATHER DECIDES TO STEP DOWN...
THE TRUTH IS...FANS HAVE SELLECTIVE MEMORY LOSS...AND THE PEOPLE WHO OWN AND RUN THIS GAME DEPEND ON THAT...
JUST LIKE THE MAN SAID..."THERE'S A SUCKER BORN EVERY MINUTE"...
IF MESSIER...OR HULL...OR VERNON HAD WON A STANLEY CUP IN VANCOUVER...
TRUST ME THE CANUCKS WOULD BE RETIRING THEIR NUMBERS AS WELL
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