RkFast Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 Think about it, how many old time Sabres fans have a favorite memory of Jim Schoenfeld putting Wayne Cashman through the zamboni entrance @ the Aud and pummelling him on the concrete? And this is exactly why its NOT more popular. Jesus...all you need is Hogan and Nash to show up and paint NWO on Wayne Cashman's back to complete that scene. When your sport is closer to pro wrestling than other sports, youve got yourself a problem.
stevewin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I really miss being able to take my kids to games - not only do we enjoy the games together but it is fun to see them get introduced to a sport and learn more about it and get excited about it too.
Zamboni Man Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 And this is exactly why its NOT more popular. Jesus...all you need is Hogan and Nash to show up and paint NWO on Wayne Cashman's back to complete that scene. When your sport is closer to pro wrestling than other sports, youve got yourself a problem. 163936[/snapback] Hockey used to be more popular than basketball and was the 3rd biggest sport in the US. That was prior to Bettman, his instigator rule, over expansion and of course the start of the worst officiating in professional sports, outside of professional wrestling. The Sabres did sell out all their games for a long time back in the 70's thanks to the French Connection and tough guys like Korab and Schoenfeld. It takes a mix of both offense and toughness to sell tickets imo. People buy tickets for hockey games to see those two things as far as I know. The biggest problem with hockey is that it doesn't look nearly as good on tv as it does in person.
stevestojan Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 .....I'd like to see that cesspool that is the NBA go belly up.... 163942[/snapback] I often wonder why they even have "dribbling" anymore... what's the point?
Alaska Darin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I have TRIED to get into hockey more than once. But the clutch and grab, dirty play, fights and cheap shots turn me off every time. And I know many huge hockey fans that are sick of this type of play as well and are just DYING to see the NHL go to a bigger rink and European style of play. 163803[/snapback] Any hockey fan who wants a "European" style of play has never been to Europe and watched hockey.
Alaska Darin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 And this is exactly why its NOT more popular. Jesus...all you need is Hogan and Nash to show up and paint NWO on Wayne Cashman's back to complete that scene. When your sport is closer to pro wrestling than other sports, youve got yourself a problem. 163936[/snapback] BS. It's not more popular because it translates horribly to the electronic babysitter and because they haven't made the required rule changes to open up the game offensively. Fighting might turn off a very small percentage of fans, but that's it. There are 3 times hockey fans stand during a game. A goal. A fight. A stoppage in play.
Hooligan Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 Being from Canada, HELL YEAH I want hockey to come back. Someone mentionned earlier that it was the players fault that the league is in the position it is in right now. That is completely absurd. It's the owners fault the league is losing money. Who is the one that signed all these contracts. Boby Holik making 9 million dollars a season????? does it make sense?? Patrice Brisebois making 4 million, the list could go on and on. Now this is not to say that I am on the players side in the argument. In fact I am with the owners. I think the league needs a salary cap. It will not sruvive without it. Another thing, all you people saying they should get rid of the fighting in hockey???? Fighting has ALWAYS been part of the game, watch tapes from the 1920's and you'll see some fighting. And I don't understand how Americans would not like that. Of course the game is turning boring nowadays, but that is mainly the east coast style of playing that is axed on defensive play. Watch the West coast style of play, it's more open. During the last playoffs did anyone see the Calgary vs. Vancouver series??? OH man, was that a great series, non stop up and down. I got a plan B if the NHL can't get out of it. Take all 6 Canadian teams Add Winnipeg and Quebec and have an all Canadian league. hehehe
Dan Gross Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I miss hockey like crazy. But, no matter what anyone wants to say, its the players faults. Again, if they would realize that their sport simply isnt as big of a money machine as the NFL, they would realize they shouldn't have NFL-like paychecks. I say, hire some replacement players and lets see some hockey! 163914[/snapback] I really think Bettman needs to take a stand and say there will be hockey this season. Outline the terms and say whoever wants to accept them, step forward. I don't know if the NHL can survive a whole year off. He's already attempted to put a wedge between the "haves" and "have nots" in the union with the latest offer (35% reduction in salary for top 8% of players, 0% for bottom 92%, IIRC). The "have nots" already have to be looking at the "haves" with disdain, as the "haves" are the ones who are playing pro hockey right now in Europe (at the expense of other players, BTW....not exactly a union-type move), while the "have nots" are finding ways to keep occupied and make money. Though the minor leagues would suffer somewhat for it, the NHL stands to do better than the NFL at using replacement players because they do have a farm system with players that are being developed. I think they could do well enough at it to convince the NHLPA to bargain on terms that work to benefit the business of hockey.
Alaska Darin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I got a plan B if the NHL can't get out of it. Take all 6 Canadian teams Add Winnipeg and Quebec and have an all Canadian league. hehehe 163992[/snapback] Yeah, they could pay the players $400 a week. That'd work.
afrodziak Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 ...actually I am rooting for it to stay gone. Hell, if they get rid of Baseball too i won't cry. I can get by on Football, Boxing, Tennis and a little Basketball for my sporting needs just nicely.
Hooligan Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 Yeah, they could pay the players $400 a week. That'd work. 163996[/snapback] they wouldn't be getting the same money as they are now but they would get a decent amount. You forget Canada is crazy about their hockey. All games would be sold out and concessions sales would be nice. We'd also be spending in Canadian $ which would make a difference. But I agree that it wouldn't be the same money as in the NHL
Alaska Darin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 they wouldn't be getting the same money as they are now but they would get a decent amount. You forget Canada is crazy about their hockey. All games would be sold out and concessions sales would be nice. We'd also be spending in Canadian $ which would make a difference. But I agree that it wouldn't be the same money as in the NHL 164006[/snapback] I've forgotten nothing. Canada's socialistic tax structure ensures that they'd never survive a battle with the US for the players.
Hooligan Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I've forgotten nothing. Canada's socialistic tax structure ensures that they'd never survive a battle with the US for the players. 164012[/snapback] That is true, we can't compete with the US money. Which is sad. The thing that bothers me me the most is that there is no love of the game anymore, ther eis just love the the dollar. That goes for almost any sport.
taterhill Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 no red line would do wonders for the sport...nothing more exciting than a tape to tape pass from blue line to blue line...in stride....
Zamboni Man Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 Yeah, they could pay the players $400 a week. That'd work. That's pretty much the going rate for a player in the ECHL or UHL, and there's some pretty good hockey for the ticket prices at that level.
Campy Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 That is true, we can't compete with the US money. Which is sad. The thing that bothers me me the most is that there is no love of the game anymore, ther eis just love the the dollar. That goes for almost any sport. 164018[/snapback] That was one of my favorite things about the NHL, that the players played for the sake of the game. Sure, getting off the farm in Alberta and being paid to play was a huge part of it, but it was to make themselves a living. Nowadays, they make themselves, their kids, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren a living. It's killing/killed the game.
Hooligan Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 no red line would do wonders for the sport...nothing more exciting than a tape to tape pass from blue line to blue line...in stride.... 164019[/snapback] There's more you can do, no touch icing to speed up the game aswell. Change the offside rule to go back like in the good ol days. Full penalty time served. You do a mistake you serve the whole time. Even if the other team scores you still serve your time until the last second. this will have another effect that a player will thenk three times before committing a penalty, which in turn will open up and speed up the game.
kasper13 Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 I'll really miss NHL hockey after football season although I do miss no Sabres games during the week now. The players are just incredibly stupid. I don't know if they feel entitled or they are spoiled or what. They work for the owners. Do they not realize that the NHL is saying "salary cap or no deal" is for real? If there is no agreement reached and there is no season, the owners and the NHL will just implement their CBA with a salary cap next year anyways. That would end the lockout and anybody who wanted to could tryout to play in the NHL next season under the new CBA. The players are negotiating now by banging their heads off of a brick wall. What they made in the past is history so nobody is really losing anything except this year's salary by not agreeing to a salary cap when there will be one next year anyways. Nobody will be crossing picket lines next year because there is no strike or lockout as the new CBA will be in place by default. How many guys are going to say "I'm not playing hockey for $1 million a season because there is a salary cap?" Probably not one person in the world. Just insane.
Alaska Darin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 That's pretty much the going rate for a player in the ECHL or UHL, and there's some pretty good hockey for the ticket prices at that level. 164020[/snapback] It's actually the league minimum for the ECHL. I won't disagree that the hockey is decent (most nights). The NHL has everything it needs to fix the game if everyone involved would stop being greedy and stupid. They'll need some luck to fix those.
Alaska Darin Posted December 17, 2004 Posted December 17, 2004 That was one of my favorite things about the NHL, that the players played for the sake of the game. Sure, getting off the farm in Alberta and being paid to play was a huge part of it, but it was to make themselves a living. Nowadays, they make themselves, their kids, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren a living. It's killing/killed the game. 164029[/snapback] Alot of guys still play for that reason - just not the spoiled rich guys. That's why the first person to basically break ranks was a guy making close to the minimum.
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