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http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/174781
Damien Cox
Hockey Columnist
Ah, the Great Scheduling Debate. May it live forever.
The most boring story of the hockey season got a little more boring on Tuesday when, after much anticipation that spectacular, earth-shaking changes were at hand, the NHL once again voted to maintain the status quo.
“It’s been a long walk down a very short trail,” one general manager quipped.
The only new matter of interest was the thick layer of hypocrisy that enveloped the GSD in Dallas, emanating chiefly from western Canada and thinly disguised as protecting the best interests of the game.
What a bunch of prairie baloney.
Understand this: If Sidney Crosby was playing in Anaheim and Alexander Ovechkin in St. Louis, we’d be hearing none of the current uproar from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver about more inter-conference competition.
This isn’t about right or wrong, it’s about money and gate receipts.
In Edmonton, for instance, they want to host Crosby and Ovechkin more frequently to sell tickets and fuel their drive for a new arena in the city where hockey, they can tell you, was actually invented in the 1980s.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with trying to increase profits.
But be honest. Where western Canada teams really load up on the propaganda is when it comes to their interest in getting the Maple Leafs to town.
On a 24/7 basis, you never hear the end of complaining from west of Kenora about how Hockey Night In Canada favours the Leafs (true), about how snooty old Toronto considers itself the Centre of the Universe and what a joke the Leafs are for failing to win a Stanley Cup for four decades.
But for the good of the game, of course, the Leafs should appear in Alberta and British Columbia at least once a year.
Patriotism and history and Pierre Berton and all that.
Hogtown-wash.
It’s for the good of the coffers of those teams, period.
And the Leafs? Why would they support scheduling alterations that would take them to Western Conference cities more often?
Hmmm, let’s see. It could be because (a) they’re trying to do the right thing, putting the health and prosperity of the sport above their own needs and considerations, or (b) they’re trying to make more money.
Call me crazy, but I’ll go with the second option.
See, while other teams cater to their towns and regions, the Leafs arrogantly view themselves as a pan-Canadian “brand.” They consider Canada as their market, not just the GTA, so they’re happy to get out west like missionaries and spread the good word.
Meanwhile, teams that wish to maintain the schedule as is are unreasonably painted as wretched, selfish organizations.
Well, the Buffalo Sabres might want to argue that point.
Bankrupt a few years ago, the Sabres have rebuilt themselves through new ownership and a strong draft-and-develop philosophy.
They’ll sell out every single game this season with an attractive team and good rivalries that appeal to the fine residents of northwestern New York.
Having actually turned a profit last year, the Sabres are now being lectured to by western Canadian teams and columnists, informed that they should sacrifice so others can see more of Crosby, Ovechkin and the Leafs.
Then there’s the New Jersey Devils, a team that has won three Stanley Cups since a Canadian team last hoisted the big milk jug but nonetheless has to listen to teams from the Great White North telling them how to run their business.
Well, why shouldn’t the Devils vote against increased travel costs and bringing in teams that will be of little or no interest to their already limited fan base?
At least Lou Lamoriello is being honest about putting the needs of his franchise first.
Fact, is, this is 2007, not 1960 when your only chance to see the greats of the game was to go to the arena.
Most hockey fans in Canada and North America watch NHL games at home, not at the rink and many of them, if they want all Sid all the time, can order it as part of their cable package for far less than the cost of a pair of NHL tickets.
Look, it’s of little interest to this space who plays who how many times.
Change the schedule; don’t change the schedule. Whatever.
But end the GSD. Please.
The hypocrisy alone is just too much to bear.
I hate this guy what an SOB........in my opinion he has nothing to offer......... Ahhhhh that's better
Damien Cox
Hockey Columnist
Ah, the Great Scheduling Debate. May it live forever.
The most boring story of the hockey season got a little more boring on Tuesday when, after much anticipation that spectacular, earth-shaking changes were at hand, the NHL once again voted to maintain the status quo.
“It’s been a long walk down a very short trail,” one general manager quipped.
The only new matter of interest was the thick layer of hypocrisy that enveloped the GSD in Dallas, emanating chiefly from western Canada and thinly disguised as protecting the best interests of the game.
What a bunch of prairie baloney.
Understand this: If Sidney Crosby was playing in Anaheim and Alexander Ovechkin in St. Louis, we’d be hearing none of the current uproar from Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver about more inter-conference competition.
This isn’t about right or wrong, it’s about money and gate receipts.
In Edmonton, for instance, they want to host Crosby and Ovechkin more frequently to sell tickets and fuel their drive for a new arena in the city where hockey, they can tell you, was actually invented in the 1980s.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with trying to increase profits.
But be honest. Where western Canada teams really load up on the propaganda is when it comes to their interest in getting the Maple Leafs to town.
On a 24/7 basis, you never hear the end of complaining from west of Kenora about how Hockey Night In Canada favours the Leafs (true), about how snooty old Toronto considers itself the Centre of the Universe and what a joke the Leafs are for failing to win a Stanley Cup for four decades.
But for the good of the game, of course, the Leafs should appear in Alberta and British Columbia at least once a year.
Patriotism and history and Pierre Berton and all that.
Hogtown-wash.
It’s for the good of the coffers of those teams, period.
And the Leafs? Why would they support scheduling alterations that would take them to Western Conference cities more often?
Hmmm, let’s see. It could be because (a) they’re trying to do the right thing, putting the health and prosperity of the sport above their own needs and considerations, or (b) they’re trying to make more money.
Call me crazy, but I’ll go with the second option.
See, while other teams cater to their towns and regions, the Leafs arrogantly view themselves as a pan-Canadian “brand.” They consider Canada as their market, not just the GTA, so they’re happy to get out west like missionaries and spread the good word.
Meanwhile, teams that wish to maintain the schedule as is are unreasonably painted as wretched, selfish organizations.
Well, the Buffalo Sabres might want to argue that point.
Bankrupt a few years ago, the Sabres have rebuilt themselves through new ownership and a strong draft-and-develop philosophy.
They’ll sell out every single game this season with an attractive team and good rivalries that appeal to the fine residents of northwestern New York.
Having actually turned a profit last year, the Sabres are now being lectured to by western Canadian teams and columnists, informed that they should sacrifice so others can see more of Crosby, Ovechkin and the Leafs.
Then there’s the New Jersey Devils, a team that has won three Stanley Cups since a Canadian team last hoisted the big milk jug but nonetheless has to listen to teams from the Great White North telling them how to run their business.
Well, why shouldn’t the Devils vote against increased travel costs and bringing in teams that will be of little or no interest to their already limited fan base?
At least Lou Lamoriello is being honest about putting the needs of his franchise first.
Fact, is, this is 2007, not 1960 when your only chance to see the greats of the game was to go to the arena.
Most hockey fans in Canada and North America watch NHL games at home, not at the rink and many of them, if they want all Sid all the time, can order it as part of their cable package for far less than the cost of a pair of NHL tickets.
Look, it’s of little interest to this space who plays who how many times.
Change the schedule; don’t change the schedule. Whatever.
But end the GSD. Please.
The hypocrisy alone is just too much to bear.
I hate this guy what an SOB........in my opinion he has nothing to offer......... Ahhhhh that's better
