Why I Don't Care About The NHL Any More

[Cock Throppled]

1.Too many zebra shows. I watch hockey to see the players not referees putting shutting down play every two minutes. A five-on-three used to be rare - now there are a couple every game.
2. Most games decided because of penalties. Five-on-five hockey apparently isn't as entertaining as all-powerplay hockey in Bettman's world.
3. No-touch penalties. Hockey is a contact sport. Why are penalties being called for brushing a stick against an opponent?
4. Phantom calls. Every game seems to have one or two calls where everyone on and off the ice looks confused by the call.
5. No two games called alike. Players spend the first period trying to figure out what will be called. The second period they adapt, but since the refs seem to be on a quota system the rules change yet again and the third period is a replay of the first.
6. The everybody-gets-points league. Why are points awarded for a loss? Give three points for an outright win, two for an OT or shootout win. NOTHING for losing. You lost the game, that's what happens when you LOSE. Theoretically a team could LOSE every game in OT and get more points than a team that won 35 games.
7. Unbalanced schedule. WTF is that? Is the league so desperate for money they can't afford air fare? It's this "fuck the fans" attitude that has me not caring anymore.
8. Not restricted to NHL, - but the non stop, fucking marketing of every jersey - real or "vintage", action figure, used jock strap, etc.
9. The league-wide attitude that all fans are morons and can't figure out a St. Louis vs. Phoenix game is gonna stink no matter how much it's hyped.
10. Video reviews that take forever. Very entertaining to wait five minutes for some gnome in Toronto to keep rewinding tape looking for a goal. Technology should exist to isolate the puck via infra red or something, not rely on old geezers trying to spot a black puck against dark equipment. And why isn't a camera in the net in place for every game?

 

[JustAGuy]

I remember something done by FOX when they were covering hockey back when I bothered to watch some of it.

They had a transponder in the puck of some sort and it was always outlined in a blue glow and they had some sort of robot camera that would follow the puck so replays were instant and hassle free.

Don't they do that anymore?

That was trying to address a common complaint of Americans who haven't grown up playing the game that they couldn't follow the puck. Obviously it didn't make much of a difference because no network has bothered to do it since.

 

[ezsmile]

I don't believe there was a transponder in the puck.

Probably just good software, or maybe even a split-second delay in the camera feed?

I used to watch it on Fox, as I thought it made the games interesting to watch, with all the rocket trails and all. And the sound was much better, I wish CBC would start broadcasting in stereo or in surroundsound.

I agree with CT about that unbalanced schedule. I think many teams want to change it but the top teams in some divisions will not want to because it means they get to play some doormats 8 times a season.

 

[LonelyGhost]

1.Too many zebra shows.

Bettman is a moron. His emphasis is ONLY on what is good for the
owners (which is fine) but there is no counter-balance with someone
who emphasizes what is good for the game!

I'm fine with letting Gary try out the grand experiement in revenue,
but put someone in charge of the game: someone who has played,
who has coached, who has the respect of players and who supports
a fast, fun, hit and run kind of hockey where the players determine
the game!

I'd even suggest taking Pat Quinn, Mark Messier and Brett Howe as a
starting point and have them make recommendation like CT posted
on how the game should be run.

I sure perberts have better ideas so share them ...

but I agree with CT ... the game SHOULD be better than ever
but instead is like ice-capades for hemophiliacs!

 

[wilde]

Given a choice between what we have today and what we had a few years back which was basically mud wrestling on skates, I choose today. I watch hockey primarily for the talents and skills of the players, not some fouth liner who can't keep up and decides to drape all over the better players. This was tolerated if not encouraged just a few years ago, you prefer watching that crap instead?

.

 

[Rod Steel]

I prefer PORN.

 

[lenharper]

I must concur with the Habs fan although I question his loyalties.

The phrase "letting the players play" had, before the rule changes, come to mean rampant obstruction, holding, hooking and interference where players without the puck were never able to manouver into scoring postion because of the "clutch and grab" style most lesser teams employed to keep players with ability from playing the game properly.

Undoubtedly there are questionable call in almost every game but that was also the case before the rule changes (hardly rule changes by the way, more an enforcement of rules already on the book). It seems now days games are taking less time to complete so I am not sure complaint about penalities delaying the games is true or not.

I myself much prefer the "new" NHL and have seem just as many open ice hits as before. Sure fighting may be down, but very few hockey fights were worth watching anyway and the wholescale mugging that used to occur in front of the net seemed to only reward the lesser talented players on the team at the expense of those who knew how to play the game.

As for the continual complaints about Bettman -- sure he looks like a weasly little scumbag -- but I feel he has made a real effort to keep some of the floundering Canadian teams afloat, something that I don't believe the previous commissioner tried very hard to do.

 

[wilde]

I must concur with the Habs fan although I question his loyalties.

Care to elaborate?

.

 

[lenharper]

You seem an intelligent man but a true Canadian hockey fan can only have alliegance to the Blue and White.

 

[wilde]

You seem an intelligent man but a true Canadian hockey fan can only have alliegance to the Blue and White.

I don't think you can get more Canadian than a team called the Canadiens.

.

 

[Randy Whorewald]

I don't think you can get more Canadian than a team called the Canadiens.

.

The irony of it is half of them don't want to be Canadien eh.

 

[wolverine]

I wish the NHL clock can be turned back to the 80s and early 90s:
- no Bettman to fuck it up
- Top 10 scoring leaders rack up 100+ points
- fast-skating
- hard-hitting
- goons fought each other bloody
- 21 teams in the league
- 7 or 8 teams in Canada
- no teams in the southern States
- salaries still reasonable, with only the true superstars getting the big money
- hockey playoffs end in May

 

[87112]

1. The early 90s till about 96 when the NJ Devils killed the sport with the trap was the best hockey I've ever seen. Bring back all that was associated with 90-96. The speed was even better than today's new NHL.

2. By god, finish the Stanley Cup Finals by end of May, It doesnt feel like hockey season when its 90 degrees out and the sun doesnt set till 9pm

3. Bring back the hitting. Its no where near as good as before.

4. Too many teams that dont matter, and if the city doesnt care get rid of them. Thats means Islanders, Capitals, Panthers. I tune in to NHL Center Ice and those cities dont draw files. 11k fans a game? Get out! and fold.

 

[87112]

Don Cherry takes over Bettman's job is my answer for it. He is old school yet knows how to fix today's Nhl problems.

 

[JustAGuy]

Don Cherry takes over Bettman's job is my answer for it. He is old school yet knows how to fix today's Nhl problems.

Why would the NHL get rid of a commissioner with a brain the size of a walnut only to replace him with one who has a brain the size of a kernel of corn?

 

[bigman604]

I don't believe there was a transponder in the puck.

Probably just good software, or maybe even a split-second delay in the camera feed?

I used to watch it on Fox, as I thought it made the games interesting to watch, with all the rocket trails and all. And the sound was much better, I wish CBC would start broadcasting in stereo or in surroundsound.

I agree with CT about that unbalanced schedule. I think many teams want to change it but the top teams in some divisions will not want to because it means they get to play some doormats 8 times a season.

there was a transponder in the puck. cause i remember there was a stink up in the media one year, cause corey hirsch got his first carrer shut out and fox wouldnt let him have the puck after the game. if i remember correctly they cut the puck open and ave it ti him in two halfs.


I guess fox was on the ball for once with the puck tracking technology.

 

[ezsmile]

re the transponder.....I stand corrected

 

[LonelyGhost]

Why would the NHL get rid of a commissioner with a brain the size of a walnut only to replace him with one who has a brain the size of a kernel of corn?

well, i recommended some other guys, and not to replace Bettman,
but to handle the 'game' side of the NHL and leave him to the business
side of things.

right now the schedule sucks (AGAIN) for the West ... and the
officiating is not good either -- i've seen penalities for lifting your
own stick off the ice and two minutes later some guy is mugging
someone on ice and NO penalty!?!?!

There should be NFL scouts in the stands looking for guys to play
Tackle -- especially true for Calgary and Minnesota ... they haven't
met an opposing player yet they didn't hug up and down the ice!

 

[wolverine]

Don Cherry takes over Bettman's job is my answer for it. He is old school yet knows how to fix today's Nhl problems.

I vote for Wayne Gretzky.

 

[Hoops]

Actually the NBA has made several rules changes in the past to increase scoring and especially dunking.
They are having the same problem as the NHL: players are getting bigger, quicker, smarter and the playing surface is the same size.

- They forced teams to push the ball by reducing the time to get ball over center from 10 to 8 secs.
- They added an arc under the hoop that the defense must stay out of or be called for a block. Encourages dunking.
- They added a 3 sec in the key call on the defense to make room for drives and dunks.

- The biggest rule change is the 3 point shot was brought in by the NBA in 1979. This was a huge change in my opinion. Equivalent to increasing size of hockey nets.

I feel that we have to keep an open mind about changes that will improve the entertainment value. Remember: offense = entertainment and Defense = championships.