R.I.P. NHL
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Finally, there is something that can take my sports-oriented mind off of the Eagles Super Bowl defeat to the New England Patriots. But this isn't necessarily a good thing. Yes, the Phillies start spring training today with their pitchers and catchers, but I can honestly say that this isn't even the event occupying my mind right now.
The National Hockey League canceled their entire season today. In an event so monumental that it made me, of all people, create a Blogger, it was announced that there would be no recipient of Lord Stanley's Cup. The thought of any miraculous saves, triple overtime playoff games, heavy-weight fisticuffs, or grueling seven game series is now just that; a thought.
So now while the few of us who actually enjoy or follow hockey frown at the money-starving league and it's players, we look forward. Will there be a season ever again? Or is the NHL officially dead? It's hard to think the NHL can possibly make a comeback with any level of success. It has been losing money at a very fast pace and it is hard to recover form the bullets that they have already been impaired with. The NHL needs more than a stitch-up. They need a full reconstructive surgery.
The NHL is now the league with the dubious distinction of being the first to cancel an entire season. Only major league baseball has lost more games to work stoppages, and to be honest, who wants to be in the same boat as baseball when it comes to this? Polls left and right show that a large majority of this nation does not care. ESPNews did a state by state breakdown and just like election time gave us an illustration of red states (that don't care about the NHL being canceled) and the blue states (those that miss hockey). Or, after seeing the map, should I say the red states and red states? All fifty states showed that they do not care about the lock out.
NHL merchandise sales have plummeted,, teams have been fighting bankruptcies, and fans are going away. Now that this NHL lockout has canceled the season, we can focus on everything else. March Madness is right around the corner, followed by baseball opening day, NFL draft, and the NBA playoffs.
The National Hockey League canceled their entire season today. In an event so monumental that it made me, of all people, create a Blogger, it was announced that there would be no recipient of Lord Stanley's Cup. The thought of any miraculous saves, triple overtime playoff games, heavy-weight fisticuffs, or grueling seven game series is now just that; a thought.
So now while the few of us who actually enjoy or follow hockey frown at the money-starving league and it's players, we look forward. Will there be a season ever again? Or is the NHL officially dead? It's hard to think the NHL can possibly make a comeback with any level of success. It has been losing money at a very fast pace and it is hard to recover form the bullets that they have already been impaired with. The NHL needs more than a stitch-up. They need a full reconstructive surgery.
The NHL is now the league with the dubious distinction of being the first to cancel an entire season. Only major league baseball has lost more games to work stoppages, and to be honest, who wants to be in the same boat as baseball when it comes to this? Polls left and right show that a large majority of this nation does not care. ESPNews did a state by state breakdown and just like election time gave us an illustration of red states (that don't care about the NHL being canceled) and the blue states (those that miss hockey). Or, after seeing the map, should I say the red states and red states? All fifty states showed that they do not care about the lock out.
NHL merchandise sales have plummeted,, teams have been fighting bankruptcies, and fans are going away. Now that this NHL lockout has canceled the season, we can focus on everything else. March Madness is right around the corner, followed by baseball opening day, NFL draft, and the NBA playoffs.
Do you believe in miracles?
