To be fair, I only got a snipet of the topic du jour on Sirius XM NHL Homeice this morning. But from what I gathered, Micheal Buble made comments about not buying NHL products to boycott the current lockout.
The pundit remarked if fans stopped buying into the NHL, as in merchandise and other things, then we aren't really hurting the league for the lockout. Fans would just be hurting the little guy who makes the stuff. He was told as much by a person that wrote him a letter urging fans not to boycott merchandise sold by the NHL because it would put the little guy out of work.
My problem with the statement is the guy who wrote the letter should have sent it to the owners instead. The little guy has no future as long as the lockout looms for the NHL. But the fans didn't lockout players or failed to negotiate a deal, the owners and the players did. If you want me to support the little guy, put pressure where it is needed, not on fans but on your owners, players and the National Hockey League.
If a fan doesn't show interest on the league because they are not playing, can you fault them for not buying merchandise even just "to support the little guy"? I don't think merchandisers can whine to fans for wanting to boycott a league because they refuse to put a product on the ice for fans. Their beef lies with some one else.
I don't have a problem with fans who wish to boycott the leagues' merchandise. The lockout already has affected the little guy, but not by the fault of those who do not buy a jersey for Christmas this year. I feel for the little guy, I really do. But I'm not the one who cancelled the season.
Stepping off soap box.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Thursday, December 06, 2012
A Night For Hockey
The Metro bustled with hockey sweaters once more. A few Ovechkin Jerseys peppered the Gallery Place/Chinatown platforms, a few more Hershey Jerseys than normal rounded the rest. Fans gathered to catch a glimpse of professional hockey played once again in the District. Unfortunately, it was not the venomous Penguins come to town to take on the beloved home town Caps. Nor any team in the collective 30 teams of the National Hockey League made their presence tonight at the phone booth.
"It's hockey," A fan said to me as he waited in line for his first beer of the 2012-13 "so called" season at Verizon Center. "I can't run up to Hershey with my family like some can, so we are pretty hard pressed for some action on the ice around here."
It was an announced sell out crowd at the arena where the Capitals once played. Although, there seemed to be a few missing patrons in the stands who failed to show for the AHL Showcase game presented by GEICO. A game featuring the AHL affiliates of the Washington Capitals (Hershey Bears) and the Anaheim Ducks (Norfolk Admirals). Even though it was an ice full of professionals, it was different and somewhat distant from what Capitals fans were used to.
"There is no Ovechkin, no Backstrom," A fan quip to his friend as they walked the concourse between periods. "It is like hockey lite."
Fans were also distracted, checking smart phones through out the game not just to smirk at the snide tweets about the action on the ice, but to get the latest coming out of New York on the future of the League's season. Even as the game continued, the talks between the players and NHL executives blew up in just an hour over a miscommunication. The owners thought they had a yes or no on a proposal, the union thought they were still negotiating. The optimism of a full season quickly faded before the Bears and Admirals took the ice for the second period.
A bittersweet occasion as the Bears overtook the Admirals in a 2-1 victory. Even before the final horn sounded, many in the building knew of the talks blowing up in a hotel north of here. The air of disdain towards players and owners seemed to take away from the night's festivities. Fans wondered if they were ever going to be back to see their hometown heroes take to the ice again. In a building that couldn't hide its purpose, the home for the Washington Capitals, seemed even more empty as fans dispersed.
"I don't know if we will be back," A season ticket holder told me as her family and the crowd migrated out of the building. "What ever their differences are seems minute when compared to what my kids want to see, they want to see their team. They can't, and they don't know why."
"It's hockey," A fan said to me as he waited in line for his first beer of the 2012-13 "so called" season at Verizon Center. "I can't run up to Hershey with my family like some can, so we are pretty hard pressed for some action on the ice around here."
It was an announced sell out crowd at the arena where the Capitals once played. Although, there seemed to be a few missing patrons in the stands who failed to show for the AHL Showcase game presented by GEICO. A game featuring the AHL affiliates of the Washington Capitals (Hershey Bears) and the Anaheim Ducks (Norfolk Admirals). Even though it was an ice full of professionals, it was different and somewhat distant from what Capitals fans were used to.
"There is no Ovechkin, no Backstrom," A fan quip to his friend as they walked the concourse between periods. "It is like hockey lite."
Fans were also distracted, checking smart phones through out the game not just to smirk at the snide tweets about the action on the ice, but to get the latest coming out of New York on the future of the League's season. Even as the game continued, the talks between the players and NHL executives blew up in just an hour over a miscommunication. The owners thought they had a yes or no on a proposal, the union thought they were still negotiating. The optimism of a full season quickly faded before the Bears and Admirals took the ice for the second period.
A bittersweet occasion as the Bears overtook the Admirals in a 2-1 victory. Even before the final horn sounded, many in the building knew of the talks blowing up in a hotel north of here. The air of disdain towards players and owners seemed to take away from the night's festivities. Fans wondered if they were ever going to be back to see their hometown heroes take to the ice again. In a building that couldn't hide its purpose, the home for the Washington Capitals, seemed even more empty as fans dispersed.
"I don't know if we will be back," A season ticket holder told me as her family and the crowd migrated out of the building. "What ever their differences are seems minute when compared to what my kids want to see, they want to see their team. They can't, and they don't know why."
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Blah, Blah, Blah
I can not tell how many times the words "meeting again today" has flashed on my twitter feed just to have me roll my eyes and sigh heavily. SIGH. The NHL (now known as the NO Hockey League) is quickly becoming a parody upon itself. All the while we have seen jabs sent back and forth between the players union and the owners and, after a while, it just becomes white noise.
The league has probably killed the casual fan for a year or two and will lose more fans as the lockout drags on. While the hard core fans can only shake our heads as both sides claim us as a collective are for one side or the other.
It is the hardcore sides of the players union and owners that keep the boys off the ice which some have claimed are the wrong ones to be in talks in the first place. If the owners who can withstand a year (or two) with out the sport playing and the players who are dug in for that duration are the front liners in talks, I doubt the league will do much to get the ice back in the arenas.
I have heard of an idea to end the impasse a few times, both on twitter and talking with others disgruntled fans. Why not let the players and owners who want to get back to playing hockey do the mediations? It is a sound question and a solution may present itself faster than hearing the dreaded white noise of both sides "meeting again today".
In the end, the fans really don't care which side wins, because both sides are losing the longer the lockout continues. Maybe we should call it the NO Hockey, Losers!
The league has probably killed the casual fan for a year or two and will lose more fans as the lockout drags on. While the hard core fans can only shake our heads as both sides claim us as a collective are for one side or the other.
It is the hardcore sides of the players union and owners that keep the boys off the ice which some have claimed are the wrong ones to be in talks in the first place. If the owners who can withstand a year (or two) with out the sport playing and the players who are dug in for that duration are the front liners in talks, I doubt the league will do much to get the ice back in the arenas.
I have heard of an idea to end the impasse a few times, both on twitter and talking with others disgruntled fans. Why not let the players and owners who want to get back to playing hockey do the mediations? It is a sound question and a solution may present itself faster than hearing the dreaded white noise of both sides "meeting again today".
In the end, the fans really don't care which side wins, because both sides are losing the longer the lockout continues. Maybe we should call it the NO Hockey, Losers!
Monday, October 08, 2012
Ovi On ESPN
No hockey you say? Nay, nay. ESPN has you covered. Because over the pond in the eastern block are a series of games in the Kontinental Hockey League (or KHL for short). A mostly Russian league that was supposed to keep local prospects from jumping the Atlantic for the NHL, has struck a deal with an American sports network, ESPN.
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at 1 pm (mark it on your calendar) Alex Ovechkin and the Dynamo Moscow will take on Lev on ESPN 2 (originally all games were going to be on the online channel of ESPN 3, but looks like they will spare some time on the dos).
This will be the first time Ovechkin has skated live on any of the ESPN channels since the NHL made their deal with the then OLN network that would eventually become the NBC Sports network.
You will be at work you say, and can't watch. Well, they have you covered again with a re-air at 8 pm. If you really want to watch it online, they will broadcast on ESPN 3 as well.
From what I can gather, there will be English speaking play-by-play done by announcers in Connecticut watching the KHL feed in Russia. Not like ESPN has the budget to send anyone over there.
Future dates for KHL action include Sunday Oct. 14 DM vs. Amur - 9 am, Tuesday Oct. 16 DM vs. Sibir - 11:30 am, Thursday Oct. 18 SKA vs. Sibir - 11:45 am. All slated to be on the online channel ESPN 3. If you have a smart phone and cable, you can download the "Watch ESPN" App and get all the channels by signing up for free. You can also access it online at espn.go.com.
Tuesday, October 9th, 2012 at 1 pm (mark it on your calendar) Alex Ovechkin and the Dynamo Moscow will take on Lev on ESPN 2 (originally all games were going to be on the online channel of ESPN 3, but looks like they will spare some time on the dos).
This will be the first time Ovechkin has skated live on any of the ESPN channels since the NHL made their deal with the then OLN network that would eventually become the NBC Sports network.
You will be at work you say, and can't watch. Well, they have you covered again with a re-air at 8 pm. If you really want to watch it online, they will broadcast on ESPN 3 as well.
From what I can gather, there will be English speaking play-by-play done by announcers in Connecticut watching the KHL feed in Russia. Not like ESPN has the budget to send anyone over there.
Future dates for KHL action include Sunday Oct. 14 DM vs. Amur - 9 am, Tuesday Oct. 16 DM vs. Sibir - 11:30 am, Thursday Oct. 18 SKA vs. Sibir - 11:45 am. All slated to be on the online channel ESPN 3. If you have a smart phone and cable, you can download the "Watch ESPN" App and get all the channels by signing up for free. You can also access it online at espn.go.com.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Just Can't Get Along
At midnight the NHL owners triggered a lock out of the players as a result of lack of a new collective bargaining agreement. The owners blame the players, the players blame the owners. The rest is silence. The NHL fans will go through their third player lockout since 94, their second in just seven years.
What is hair pulling about this lock out, it sort of just happened. No last minute effort to save the season, no midnight sessions to protect the league from another work stoppage. They sort of met, disagreed and left. The fans were left in the cold.
The collective response of the NHL fans is more of a "Get your stuff together, NHL."
It didn't take long for some players to land new homes. A slew of players have been assigned to the AHL while others are ready to sign their contracts to the KHL. What should be the early selection process for young guys making NHL squads in training camp will now be silent. No hockey, no training, nothing.
The owners are betting on another let down by the players and the players have stood their ground. Which means good bye 2012-2013 season (most likely). The NHL lost the casual fan tonight and as every day passes with no hockey they will lose more. If the season fails, I predict the NHL will have more than just a good PR to get fans back in line.
For the moment this is just frustrating and disheartening. The longer it drags on, the more the NHL just becomes a memory.
What is hair pulling about this lock out, it sort of just happened. No last minute effort to save the season, no midnight sessions to protect the league from another work stoppage. They sort of met, disagreed and left. The fans were left in the cold.
The collective response of the NHL fans is more of a "Get your stuff together, NHL."
It didn't take long for some players to land new homes. A slew of players have been assigned to the AHL while others are ready to sign their contracts to the KHL. What should be the early selection process for young guys making NHL squads in training camp will now be silent. No hockey, no training, nothing.
The owners are betting on another let down by the players and the players have stood their ground. Which means good bye 2012-2013 season (most likely). The NHL lost the casual fan tonight and as every day passes with no hockey they will lose more. If the season fails, I predict the NHL will have more than just a good PR to get fans back in line.
For the moment this is just frustrating and disheartening. The longer it drags on, the more the NHL just becomes a memory.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Brouwer Re-Upped
Troy Brouwer has been resigned by the Washington Capitals. What is interesting about this particular press release from the Caps has the breakdown of Brouwer's contract numbers when before it has been team policy not to discuss the details of the contract other than the length. Per Caps PR:
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Troy Brouwer to a three-year, $11 million contract extension, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. Brouwer will earn $3.6 million in 2013-14, $3.65 million in 2014-15 and $3.75 million in 2015-16.
“We are pleased to sign Troy Brouwer to a contract extension, said McPhee. “Troy is a physical and versatile power forward who can play both wings and who has averaged close to 20 goals in the past three seasons. He is a Stanley Cup winner and a great leader. We are thrilled that he will continue his career in Washington for many years to come.”
Brouwer, 27, collected 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) and 61 penalty minutes in 82 games with the Capitals last season. He finished the season ranked ninth in the NHL in hits (247) and fourth on Washington in goals scored. His 60 blocked shots ranked second among Capitals forwards and he was one of six Capitals players to appear in all 82 games. In 14 postseason contests, Brouwer recorded four points (two goals, two assists) and eight penalty minutes.
The 6’3”, 213-pound forward helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 2010 Stanley Cup while tallying a career-high eight points (four goals, four assists) in 19 playoff contests.
During the 2009-10 campaign, Brouwer registered a career-high 22 goals and 40 points in 69 games with the Blackhawks. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native ranked third on the club with a career-high seven power-play goals despite ranking seventh in power-play ice time. In 320 career NHL games with Washington and Chicago, Brouwer has recorded 136 points (67 goals, 69 assists) and 222 penalty minutes.
Brouwer was originally drafted by Chicago in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-signed forward Troy Brouwer to a three-year, $11 million contract extension, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. Brouwer will earn $3.6 million in 2013-14, $3.65 million in 2014-15 and $3.75 million in 2015-16.
“We are pleased to sign Troy Brouwer to a contract extension, said McPhee. “Troy is a physical and versatile power forward who can play both wings and who has averaged close to 20 goals in the past three seasons. He is a Stanley Cup winner and a great leader. We are thrilled that he will continue his career in Washington for many years to come.”
Brouwer, 27, collected 33 points (18 goals, 15 assists) and 61 penalty minutes in 82 games with the Capitals last season. He finished the season ranked ninth in the NHL in hits (247) and fourth on Washington in goals scored. His 60 blocked shots ranked second among Capitals forwards and he was one of six Capitals players to appear in all 82 games. In 14 postseason contests, Brouwer recorded four points (two goals, two assists) and eight penalty minutes.
The 6’3”, 213-pound forward helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 2010 Stanley Cup while tallying a career-high eight points (four goals, four assists) in 19 playoff contests.
During the 2009-10 campaign, Brouwer registered a career-high 22 goals and 40 points in 69 games with the Blackhawks. The Vancouver, British Columbia, native ranked third on the club with a career-high seven power-play goals despite ranking seventh in power-play ice time. In 320 career NHL games with Washington and Chicago, Brouwer has recorded 136 points (67 goals, 69 assists) and 222 penalty minutes.
Brouwer was originally drafted by Chicago in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)