From: schofiel@ug.cs.dal.ca (Ronald Clyde Douglas Schofield)
Subject: NHL Season is over.
Summary: Black Tuesday
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 92 04:34:24 GMT

 Well, A NHL spokesman has said that the NHL season is over. 

 After watching the live reports today on TSN, I have to say that the days
of the NHL as we know it are over. I hate to think that that I have to give
up watching hockey.

 If what I have heard today, I can truly say that the NHPLA are out for
blood, blood of the sport.

 The players union is playing hardball. Since the announcement of the failure
of the NHL to have exemption of the anti-trust laws, and Goodenow's statement
of this at the same time that he was rejecting the owners proposal, I have
to believe that the players have a hidden agenda. They are looking to break
down all barriers to free-agency and the draft. And they don't care if the
NHL becomes history in the process. This comes with Mark Messier's comments
that they should form thier own league.

 We all know that the fans will want to see hockey games. It's too bad it may
not be the NHL and not in Canada. 

 Free-agency does three things:
 1. It allows teams with the most money to buy the best players.
 2. It quickley raises salaries.
 3. It takes your favorite players on your favorite team.

 How many Montreal fans would love to see Patrick Roy leave Montreal and play
for the Boston Bruins. How can a fan follow a marquee players raise to fame
and admire the way he plays, if that player every two years moves to another
team. How can you get attached to a team in that way. That is one reason that
I DO NOT follow baseball. How many of us know what number that Wayne Gretzky
wears. How about Jack Morris, Nolan Ryan, George Bell? I can watch a Boston
Bruins game on the french channel and know the name of every player by the
number. A fan gets attached to his team. Player movement kills this. How many
people in Edmonton thought it was great for Gretzky to leave? How many people
in New York would like Mark Messier to leave the Rangers next year.
 And I feel sorry for the Vancouver Canucks to loose Pavel Bure when his 
contract expires. Hey Vancouver, he sure is something to watch. Sorry that he
will have to leave. This is what free-agency will do for you. Hey Canada, you
may not even have to worry, there may be no hockey in Canada in a few years
under the current NHLPA's management. We were getting tired of watching hockey
anyway, wern't we?

 The players that we have in the NHL today are some of the best we have ever
seen. Although I wouldn't what them to run any business that I own.....

 I know that Sheri and Gerald will flame me, they always do...
 I have always wondered about who you are Sheri and Gerald and your past
playing expirence in the game of hockey. Mabey you could tell us how you
scored the winning goal(s) in any games that you have played, and if you
are still playing. Better yet mabey you could tell us who read your posts
of any war wounds that you have suffered in the process of playing? I don't
know of any player who has played for a while not getting any. I myself have
player hockey since I was 12(16 yrs)in every league that I could find. I always 
played house leagues because I saw too many kids have pressure to play
competitive and loose the love of the game. I did not want that. I also
played pickup games, played for a local bar for three years. My last year
before my war wound, I scored 17 goals in 19 games and accounted for all
but one of my teams goals in the playoffs. I have not played hockey for
a couple of years as I seperated my shoulder in a pick-up game and under the
advice of my doctor, have not played hockey until this year. It sure felt
good to get back on the blades. We play from 6am-8am once a week. I love the
game.

Thanks for listening to me. As you can tell I am for the owners. They pay the
players to play hockey, not run the business.

Ron.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey