Can Hockey Be Goodenow? You Bettman!
Most hockey fans don't need another reason to count Bobby Orr amongst their hockey heroes, but Sunday he gave them one anyway: "Our sport is in danger of becoming irrelevant unless both sides immediately put an end to this nonsense." He's referring of course to the complete lack of a hockey season this year, stemming from a stalemate which ultimately boils down to reasons of business (greed). Bureed. Grisness.
Bobby's been quiet thus far regarding the labor dispute, publically putting trust in National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow to resolve their differences and do what's best for the game. Well not no more. Since the lockout's inception on September 14th, the two men have met nearly 40 times to try and reach an agreement - and now Orr feels more drastic measures are in order:
"Owners and players should demand that both sides continue to meet until they emerge with a deal or a statement that they can't resolve their differences and are stepping aside." Orr is obviously not alone, but the buzz his column is generating on both sides of the border might finally push something through should either of the major players in the negotiations wish to keep their souls.
According to Mike Brophy, "Bettman, the sixth man in charge of running the NHL since 1917 has taken hockey from heaven to hell to non-existence." Even the best Zamboni can't smooth things over in that kind of heat, boys. Let's just please wrap this up so I can stop pretending to like baseball. Much appreciated.
posted by Dave Pye @ 4/26/2005 10:26:00 AM
11 Comments:
Bacon - who are you, first of all? Second, you don't need to register anymore to make comments. Blogger changed the policy. Next time you comment, pay more attention to the options you're given (3 radio buttons) when you want to comment and you'll see what I mean. If you select "Other" you get to add any name you want, without registering.
I really am not sure where to start with my opinion on this lockout. Two weeks ago Lowell finished up their regular season. They had a party for season ticket holders in the parking lot, and as an off ice official, we get invited too. So, I was in the tent they have set up having beers, and the players started wandering in. They had crushed Albany 6-1, so the boys were all in a good mood. I got to talking with Mike Commodore, who if you remember from early on in the lockout, has been very outspoken against the union. I asked him if he thought his union represented him fairly, and he pretty much laughed in my face. He said, and I agree with him, it is guys like Billy Guerin, Brett Hull, Keith Thachuk, and the like that have all the voices in the matter. These guys can afford to be off for a year, or however long the lockout drags on because they have money. These guys won't be around for much longer. The guys that are being hurt are the Patrice Bergeron, and Andy Hilbert's of the world. Guys that have just made it to the show, or were on the cusp of making it, that would happily play for 400K a year, but are getting fucked by high salary guys like union leader Trevor Linden. I asked him when he thought they would be back, and he said January, if at all. That is so sad. While the product at the NHL level has declined in years from an offensive standpoint, it is still a game I love. It is truly the only sport I have a passion for. Bobby Orr is dead on with his comments. At this point, it is a staring contest, and whoever blinks first, whichever side is preceived to have "lost" when this thing is over, that "leader" will be out of a job. I side with owners on this one. You can not run a business where 75% of revenue goes to payroll. Especially when there is no National TV Deal to bring money in. It is only the fans really. Paying for over priced tickets, over priced beers, and for those that are so inclined, over priced game worn jersey's that bring in revenue. I miss the game at the NHL level. I miss watching the Devils and the Bruins trap, and cluth and grab to a 1-1 tie on a Tuesday in March. I miss going to the Fleet and watching Jumbo Joe set up his office behind the goal. I can say this: Hockey is alive and well in America, you just need to look a little harder. Come see an AHL game sometime. Pay 15 bucks for the best seat in the house. Watch guys play with passion. See some open ice hockey. Tell me you don't love it, and I'll give you the 15 Bucks back. By the way, Lowell faces off against Hartford Saturday April 30th at 7:05 at the Paul Tsongas Arena in Lowell in game 6 of their playoff series. Games 3 and 4 were both great tilts. Good physical play, including a couple of fights. Yes, they fight in the playoffs in the A. Bring the family. Good seats are still available.
Oh, and by the way. The list of greatest players to ever play the game looks like this.
1. Bobby Orr
2. Wayne Gretzky
3. Gordie Howe
4. Tiger Williams
The players are being wanks about this whole situation. The NFL, the most successful professional sports league in the world, has a salary cap. The NHL, which ranks behind bowling in television viewership in the States, barely makes any TV revenue. Let’s face it, the big name players in the NHL are way over paid for the amount of money the league has to spread around. When you’re making 3.5 million a year, what’s wrong with just making 3 million? Petty, petty men who only care about their bottom line and not the fans. I know most of the players are decent guys, but there just seems to be a disconnect between what they think they deserve and what the league has to offer.
Chris - GREAT comment.
G-Diddy - No canned Liberal rhetoric today? How refreshing.
Pye-guy, politics and hockey should never mix - just like religion and politics should stay outta the White House.
I agree re: politics and hockey. But if there was no religion in the White House, we'd all be sucking eachother's cocks whilst wearing turbans. In fact, the cocks would have little mini-turbans, too. Cockbans.
Yeah, you're so right - if it weren't for the present administration the US totally would have been attacked and over thrown by a group of third world Muslim countries. Thank God, W. is watching out for us - otherwise we'd all be kneeling towards Mecca and praising Allah. Man, I how could I have been so wrong?
I also have a gay cousin who would be delighted to hear that you feel that all men would immediately revert to sucking on each other's cocks, were it not for the hetero-izing influence of He-Man George W. Bush.
Does your cousin get aroused by hockey fights? Dropping the gloves and all that?
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