Owners' fault - plain and simple. I almost can't believe they unanimously agreed to the lockout. Players will take whatever ridiculous amount offerred. Who wouldn't? Having said that - there is a drastic problem when a player can sign a first or second contract and be set for life. Most of us would lose incentive given that amount of cash - guaranteed - regardless of performance. It will never happen, but a shorter season and salaries tied more to results would generate better hockey. I, for one would love to watch some of the European games just to see what's on offer. Has anyone heard of plans to televise any European games?
Lock out...WTF?
- Thread starter Hit Man
- Start date
Sure, it's the owners' fault for letting salaries get so far out of hand, but I think the point is that, whether or not it is their fault, it can't continue the way it is. The owners have been spending like fools for the past 10-15 years, but that doesn't mean they should keep doing that. They need a salary cap and, if they want to attract US fans, they need to fix the problems within the game... no 50 goal scorers or 100 point scorers this year? They need to eliminate all the neutral zone hooking/holding/interference and they need to do it for more than just the first 20 games of the season.
I remember about 10 years ago, when Gilmour first went to the Leafs, he scored 127 points and (I think) was about 4th or 5th in the league in scoring! I don't blame US fans for not tuning in at the moment, because the game is BORING!!!
If they get a new labour deal in place that allows all teams to be competitive (like the NFL) and they fix the game itself, they could maybe fold a few of the southern US teams and put teams back into Winnipeg and Quebec... maybe even Hamilton, Seattle or Portland.
There are still some hockey cities in the US that will bounce back after the lockout... NY, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Boston.
I remember about 10 years ago, when Gilmour first went to the Leafs, he scored 127 points and (I think) was about 4th or 5th in the league in scoring! I don't blame US fans for not tuning in at the moment, because the game is BORING!!!
If they get a new labour deal in place that allows all teams to be competitive (like the NFL) and they fix the game itself, they could maybe fold a few of the southern US teams and put teams back into Winnipeg and Quebec... maybe even Hamilton, Seattle or Portland.
There are still some hockey cities in the US that will bounce back after the lockout... NY, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit, Boston.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
I got a call 2hrs ago from that same guy from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mike Rogers 45 who works for the sports department at KJRH (NBC) affilete out of Tulsa Oklahoma, he was wondering about how big the NHL lockout is in Vancouver, I told him it's on the front page of our newspaper, he then said that the NHL should do themselves a favour and move out of America and take their "figure skaters on ice tour" back to Canada where people care. He stated that he is speaking on behalf of most Americans that the NHL will never work in the U.S. because people don't understand the game and can't follow the puck and just don't care.He says that goon what's his name, I said "Bertuzzi?" he said yeah that guy should be banned from sports. He says that hockey players are "figure skaters on ice" and the NHL isn't a top 5 sport in the U.S. We then started talking about the NFL and that was the end up the conversation. Overall he says get hockey out of America and play it where someone will actually care.
I got a call 2hrs ago from that same guy from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mike Rogers 45 who works for the sports department at KJRH (NBC) affilete out of Tulsa Oklahoma, he was wondering about how big the NHL lockout is in Vancouver, I told him it's on the front page of our newspaper, he then said that the NHL should do themselves a favour and move out of America and take their "figure skaters on ice tour" back to Canada where people care. He stated that he is speaking on behalf of most Americans that the NHL will never work in the U.S. because people don't understand the game and can't follow the puck and just don't care.He says that goon what's his name, I said "Bertuzzi?" he said yeah that guy should be banned from sports. He says that hockey players are "figure skaters on ice" and the NHL isn't a top 5 sport in the U.S. We then started talking about the NFL and that was the end up the conversation. Overall he says get hockey out of America and play it where someone will actually care.
Its amazing how this "guy from Tulsa" only talks to you. If you have a problem with hockey and our affection for the sport, great, but have the balls to call your thoughts your own and stand behind them. While it was remotely possible that you would get a cold call from a reporter in the States about a uniquely Canadian subject, I find beyond all possibility that any serious reporter would make such a call and then denigrate the subject as you claim this "guy from Tulsa" is doing twice. I smell a little hairy troll! Begone.
rickoshadows
rickoshadows
I work @ a TV station BCCTV for the sports department in downtown Vancouver, so that should answer your question so get your facts straight. We talk to people in the U.S all the time since the whole Bertuzzi incident. And some people want to know how big hockey is.
