What's Wrong With Hockey?
While the majority of us were barbecuing, Hockey Guy Tarik El-Bashir wrote this piece previewing the Stanley Cup finals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The star-studded matchup (remember this guy?) is one the NHL hopes will "revive minuscule television ratings and serve as a potential first step toward moving the sport closer to North America's 'Big Three.'"
We're two games in and the series is going well by local standards, but how is the NHL doing? According to commenters, the league's problems are bigger than who's playing for the Cup.
donmac1: Who want's to watch a game where the most entertaining aspect is two goons trying to beat the bleep out of each other? It's really sad that many pro hockey games are determind by power plays as a result of this macho BS that is pro hockey. It ruins the flow of the game and is beyond stupid!
Here, two goons try to beat the bleep out of each other. (Frank Gunn -- AP)Is that you, Mom? I thought you said you didn't read this blog!
billy8: Gary Bettman ruined pro hockey. Putting a bunch of teams in places like Nashville, Atlanta, and Columbus Ohio was stupid. Changing the rules in order to create more offense was stupid. Allowing a season to be cancelled was stupid.
anarcho-liberal-tarian: Top 5 reasons hockey is better than football:
5. You don't have to be 300 lbs to play.
4. No teams with stereotypes as names.
3. Fewer commercials/game breaks / Play continues for more than 15 seconds.
2. Four games to win.
1. Fights don't automatically result in ejection.
Top one reason football is "better than" hockey in this country: It makes more money. Hey, just sayin'.
chuffman1: I've loved hockey for a long time, but the game has not travelled well on TV, especially on a network like Versus. What the heck is that? Put the games on Fox, CBS, NBC, or some other national network that most people can see.
Oh, RCN. . . you drew me in with your low monthly rates, but you disappointed me with your lack of free sports channels. Discovery Channel and Food Network in HD, but no Versus? Really, RCN? I digress. . .
cirrus_nine: Less clutch and grab, bigger ice, top players who are fluent in english, better officiating will sell hockey to a broader market.
Top players who are fluent in English? That might just be the worst idea I've ever heard. If I have to hear a mind-numbing, cliché-filled hockey interview, I want to hear it in broken English.
Now are you ready for the real drama? Ready? Here we go:
micron26: If you can't spell "Jari Kurri" properly, you shouldn't be writing about hockey.
Whoops. Looks like "Kurri" is spelled "Curry." It happens sometimes.
wifflebomb: It's Jari KURRI, not "Curry"
Yep, heard that somewhere.
mgrfin: "Curry" for Kurri. Right on, micron26. Who writes this stuff? Tarik El-Bashir? Have you ever been to a hockey game?
Jari Kurri: Kool with a K like Krispy Kreme.!!
DC2CNY: Leave Tarik alone. He is a great hockey writer and does an outstanding job covering the Caps. He knows and loves the sport, unlike some beat writers who use hockey as a stepping stone to get to a bigger sport. I would wager significant money that it was an overzealous copy editor who put in Curry for Kurri - Tarik certainly knows who he is.
I know who Mike Krzyzewski is. Have I spelled his name wrong before? Never! But someone else probably has.
And for the quote of the day:
AG11: Didn't even know it was Hockey season.
By Lindsay Applebaum |
May 28, 2008; 2:08 PM ET
| Category:
NHL
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Posted by: Chimaera | May 28, 2008 2:47 PM
The NHL is on the right track to making the improvements it needs to.
It's not there yet and Gary Bettman is as thick as commissioners come, but little things like making sure every team plays one another every year is important.
They are learning to market their players better and fueds always help boost interest.
As for the ratings: The NBA finals was the lowest rated ever last year.
Would you argue that the NBA is in trouble?
And to anarcho-liberal-tarian, I like your top five reasons, but why not take a look at the Chicago Blackhawks' logo and then tell me that there are no stereotypes.
Posted by: NHL LIVES | May 28, 2008 4:39 PM
I actually think the only thing wrong with hockey is that the Caps are stuck in the Southeast Division instead of the old Patrick Division, where they would be playing the Penguins, Flyers, Rangers and Devils.
Otherwise, hockey is by far the best sport around and the finals have been a lot of fun so far.
Maybe next year the Caps still will be playing.
Posted by: Rob | May 28, 2008 5:25 PM
A hockey poll with an option "not until it makes big changes" says it all right there. Where have you been the last 4 years?
Posted by: OldPhil | May 29, 2008 10:01 AM
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What's wrong with Hockey?
People complaining something is wrong with hockey or drumming up the issue to bring ratings and attention are some of what is wrong. It is easy to hop on the hockey is awful, no one likes is, blah blah blah, bandwagon.
Speaking of things that are wrong, why in the world am I reading this blog?