BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Cluin
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 10:59 PM

Screw the NHL! We don't need `em. Start a new league that plays some REAL hockey, not the bad joke the game has become now that the overinflated NHL is too full of money and itsaelf to care about the sport.

ORIGINAL SIX 4-EVER!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Mooh
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 08:39 PM

I dearly miss pro hockey, and I can't help it, I was brought up that way. My folks grew up in an era of accessible players and cheap games, and passed on a love of watching and cheering. My kids and I watch as many NHL games as possible if the Leafs play, and as many play-off games as we can.

I think the players are overpayed and underworked, the owners are greedy, and the commercialism is completely out of hand, but I don't have solutions. The league is too big and the talent watered down, but it isn't about sport for the owners, it's about profit and business. It's sad, but I will watch until there's nothing left of it, maybe sooner than later.

I still have that gee whiz little boy enthusiasm for the Leafs that I had when I fell asleep every night staring at my Dave Keon (and Gordie Howe) poster, clutching my Jacques Plante goalie handbook. At its best, the NHL still has the glory, the guts, and the artistry it should. At its worse, it's a shame. Nonetheless, I wear a Leaf jersey often, home and away.

I don't watch other sports, other than a few lacross games, and news highlights. One season in the life of my kids is a long time...I hope they still want to watch with me if it comes back.

GO LEAFS GO!

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 07:25 PM

Yeah, PG, I have extremely mixed feelings about it all. I am not a particular fan of most celebrities. I'm not sure why they and sports celebs get so much money. I don't think they shouldn't, necessarily, but I don't understand it.

I think teachers and cops should get paid at least as much as celebrities do.

Personally, I'd be happy watching a local group of players practice; I don't really care about the pros. I like the game.

Same with music. Some of my favorite concerts have been folk music ones, where the tickets cost $10 and I got to talk to the musician.

But, to each their own.

And I agree about the owners, not the players. I don't feel sorry for the players in the financial sense, though.

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: PoppaGator
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 05:01 PM

Movie stars and megastar pop singers make as much money or more than pro athletes, but never seem to draw the same kind of resentment at their overpayment. Why are people so quick to criticize one class of entertainers (jocks) and not the others?

Of course, cops and schoolteachers should make more money, and the lucky few who get to act out the public's fantasies could get by on less, but the money is there ~ every dollar the players don't get goes straight into the pockets of the owners. Plus, the owners offer those huge contracts, often while bidding against each other for an individual's services; nobody puts a gun to their heads to take their money.

I'm not a hockey fan, and so don't know the details of the current shutdown. However, I do know that almost every work stoppage in American professional sports has been an ownership-initiated LOCKOUT, not a "strike" as so many people assume.

It's also worth noting that hockey players are paid much less than players of the other major sports in North America. I mean, $300 grand is hardly chump change ~ I'd certainly be glad to collect half that much, or a quarter, or... ~ but the annual minimum for baseball, football, and basketball players is closer to a cool million these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:38 PM

$300,000 per year minimum wage !!!??? How DARE they !!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:29 PM

NHL Presents collective Bargaining Proposal

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:17 PM

Perhaps swords ?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:17 PM

Despite being an American, I'll say this ... the more canadians play in the states and the more Americans play pro hocley, the more contention there'll be over $$$. I hate this aspect of pro sports.

What are the strike issues? I haven't been keeping up as much as I might. ...

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:16 PM

I love the phrase sin bin instead of penalty box.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:11 PM

The longer that hockey, and it's sanctioned acceptance of assult is off my TV, the better...

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:10 PM

Anyway, are we going to get an NHL season ? What's yer best guess ?

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 04:00 PM

woops! some tetchy there, eh? Women hockey players don't tend to fight.

Actually, I did watch a minor-league game for four hours; two of it was the game! There were so many guys in the sin bin, I was surprised any were playing on the ice! That was actually pretty entertaining. :)

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 03:47 PM

Hey now. We Canucks like good hockey just as much as anyone else. As for the fighting, it's a Canadian thing. Like, when yer losin and there's not a hope in hell a beatin that good team and the crowd's on ya and can't just say, "Fuck it, you guys won, let's go grab some brews and check out the pussy." No, you gotta play two more periods and put up with the insults from the crowd, not to mention the coach on your ass, and, you know, eh, if I'm goin down, I'm takin someone with me... let's see if these fast skatin, stick handlin pansies can take a hip or two. Smug son-of-a-bitch comin of his own end with his head down... watch this. And, you know, eh, if he wants some, fine... I'm here for two periods... whatsa matter, Mommy lace your skates too tight ??!! C'mere and say that... don't look at the ref you fuckin pansy... it's a Canadian thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: Teresa
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 03:23 PM

uh-uh, the only sports I like besides hockey are soccer and baseball. I knew I was missing something. The only problem is going to a fight and a hockey game breaking out ... Pucking unbelievable.

Teresa

Subject: BS: Hockey maybe ? Who gives a puck ?
From: gnu
Date: 04 Feb 05 - 03:18 PM

So, we may have a season. I wonder if it all wasn't a lark just to delay the season so that all the unprofitable games, and there's one shitload of games that don't make any money because they don't mean anything until later in the season, get bypassed. I mean, c'mon now, who gives a crap about the first 8000 games of hockey while we can watch top level college and pro NA football, basketball, soccer.....