i heard betman speak at 1, then goodenow at 4. funny thing is these two parties are tied to one another and have to come to an agreement.

if the players go to europe, they leave the bigger money in north america.

if the league gets replacement players they will be skrued. dont know too many season ticket holders that would continue to pay high ticket prices for replacements. they dont have the big tv contracts to fall back on, and i think a big, big chunk of their revenue comes from ticket sales.

the rangers have continously thrown ridiculous salaries at players, yet they claim to be one of the teams losing money. they made their bed, so they should sleep in it. (i am a ranger fan). i could feel no sympathy for a team that did that to themselves.

somewhere between what both sides are saying is the truth and i have no sympathy for either side. alls i know is this is the only sport i follow, and this leaves me with none.

 

Who cares!! Hockey is not even in the top five sports that I would watch. Football, basketball, baseball, women's beach volleyball, and gymnastics. Hell, I would rather watch pool, the world series of poker, fishing, the X games, bullfighting and on and on and on on ESPN then I would watch hockey. And that is only because we had a winning hockey team here in Texas in the last ten years.

 

I agree 100%. It's a great game. A recent thread was started concerning soccer and the same 'close-minded' attitude was shown towards that particular thread.

People are very close minded sometimes and refuse to go against the norm and investigate something that may be 'different'. It's ashame.

As a HUGE soccer fan (I still play and referee back from playing from age 5 through college) and a fan of hockey (never really totally understood it all but saw so many similarities between it and soccer), I am upset to see that it's folding for this year but, maybe this isn't the end...

I would have to concur with the already made comments along the lines of the multi-millionaires boo-hoo'ing about $. I guess I'd have to say that I've had this attitude about every professional sport that has gone on strike. To this day, I'm still not a MLB fan because of it...

It was always a neat scene to catch a hockey game in Nashville... definitely an incredible atmosphere! I enjoyed it...

RP

 

Agreed. Having some roots in Hamilton, and having lived in Ottawa during the 1990 expansion, I'm well aware of the backstabbing that went on at the time.


If the Leafs can continue to sell out the ACC with those prices and STILL have a waiting list to get in, then I think there is more than enough room for another team in S Ont.

Afterall we are talking about a market in excess of 8 million people (Toronto, Hamilton, Oshawa, Barriem London, Kitchener, Guelph, Cambridge, St. Kitts, etc) within a 1-2 hr drive from downtown Toronto.

 

I think Hamilton needs a team but can the afford one? Who you want to take the gamble on a new team a new city and a hurt hockey league? Finding an investor could be tough. I am sure Manitoba could handle a new team as well but runs into the same problem as Hamilton. I would LOVE to see the Tampa Bay Lightning move to Hamilton!! I would have a new favorite team.

 

RP,

I'm not so sure its a matter of being close minded maybe it is the marketing of these 2nd tier sports.

Here is my impression of both soccer and hockey.

My son plays soccer...I love to play with him and help him on his team but watching it (TV)is a very "detached" experience for me. Now I could be completely wrong, and it could be a lack of appreciation for the game, but I see this wide angled shot of the field and the ball going back and forth and 59 minutes later the most excitement was the announcer yelling GOALLLLL! Soccer is fun to play but unless you really love the sport I don't see how the average fan can get into it.

Hockey... I could actually get into and watch, I just simply never have. It has closer TV coverage and some excitement because it is faster paced. Not having a team in Baltimore might also add to my lack of interest in hockey.

Both sports need a major shot in the arm of PR and marketing. The perception of these sports is that they are not as fun or exciting to watch so why bother....this could be fixed by getting out a better public image


Jim

 

amen to that..i played all my life..high school(div 2 state champs '74 '75'76) and countless leagues around my area...and yes you will be planted if your not paying attention..i've been planted...and done some planting myself...it takes a tough guy to even play the game...it takes a tougher one to keep doing it...anyone else ever been in a collision when skating at full tilt with another player? i have and over time it cost me my left shoulder...zap!

 

Hockey is not for wimps. Only a few sports is there a ball (lacrose) or puck that moves over 100+ mph come towards your face. Plus theres some huge guy waiting to tatoo you into the boards. Shoulders seem to be a common injury. Goalies sometimes have it rough too. Especially when they take a puck of the face mask. It'll almost knock you out.

 

I agree with you Vader. But, with marketing comes expense. With the lack of support, it's tough to justify the expense. Another one of those common 'double-edged sword' scenarios I believe.

I view both sports as a game of anticipation. I love watching the plays set up and watching the action away from the ball. This is where I gain the most enjoyment.

Sure, it's great to watch someone nail an incredible bicycle kick around the outside of the box but, we all know that those are few and far between.

It's all about anticipation...

RP

 

Ahhh the difference between a soccer fan and a football fan.



you like the antcipation....I like the instant gratification...

You wait on the bicycle kick...I want to see a receiver meet a strong safety in the midle of the field...

You waited for the 05 KR...I couldn't take it and bought an 04 Lariat...


BTW I agree with the double edged sword bit...

Game on....whatever game it is.

 

It's a sad day, but unfortunatly when you have players who will not realize that the revenues are not there, and will not accept an average salery of 1.3 million per year..... This had to happen.


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