From: allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan)
Subject: Re: What the world needs now is an AMERICAN TV CONTRACT.
Organization: University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 1992 23:08:32 GMT

91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca (gut feelings...) writes:

>In <allan.703112405@kitscoty> allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan) writes:

>>If Don Cherry was running the league, the NHL likely wouldn't be in
>>the trouble it is now.

>!?!  The league is in the fix it is in now because Don Cherry's immature
>attitude is the norm.  The reason the league does not have a US tv contract
>is because it is perceived as minor league roller-derby crap.  The concept
>of hockey that is spreading through out the world does not have too much
>to do with Bob Probert-Tie Domi bouts.  I would rather watch Gretzky and
>Lemieux. if i want to go to fights I will go to boxing - or WWF.

Maybe I should have put smilies in my last line. Anyways, Don Cherry
was fired from pretty much all of his coaching jobs. Why? Because
he was TOO CLOSE TO THE PLAYERS. (He has taken a relatively neutral
attitude towards the strike though.)

You are under the assumption that what is preventing the NHL from getting
a long term contract is because of the fighting in the sport, and that
once fighting is removed it will become popular.

I disagree; hockey will likely never be widely popular in the US for a multitude
of reasons (most of which other people have already mentioned): No
cold conditions across most of the US, the perception of hockey as a
'Canadian' sport, the presence of NBA, NFL, MLB, etc. already, and the
idea that fans support their own local team, rather than the sport itself.
Hockey IS popular in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, etc. and has been for
a long time, and will continue to be so for a long time to come.
Why? I don't know; maybe these places just identify with the game better.
(And fighting certainly hasn't turned them off the game.)

To try to change the style of hockey, in an attempt to gain American
support, is unfair to fans who enjoy hockey the way it is now; rough
maybe, but still the most exciting, fast-paced game around. If the
American Network management doesn't like that, I'm not about to change
myself to accomadate. Let people accept the game for what it is.

>The NHL owners are committed to short term profits i.e., keeping the arenas
>full and making money off of concessions parking etc.  It is this attitude
>that keeps the players relatively underpaid.  If the players demand more
>money the owners will have to get it from US TV and to do that they will
>have to take the immature "goon" element out of the league.  Why should they 
>change things if they don't have to?  Everytime a player signs a million
>dollar contract the NHL inches closer to becoming a real sport.

Wrong... Every time a player signs a million dollar contract, the sport
becomes more congested with overpriced whiners. In terms of what hockey
players do on a per-night basis, they ARE worth lots (much more than
Baseball players)... Unfortunately, the shorter hockey season, and
relatively small arena capacities mean there's less money available.
(Some players ARE worth millions of dollars, but many players are
getting paid more than necessary.)

Owner greed is a big problem... Pocklington (Edmonton Oilers owner)
is perhaps the worst. On the other end of the spectrum are owners
like Mike Illiach (Detroit) , who are generous to players. (Mike
owns the Red Wings because he likes sports, not to make a profit.
We need more owners like him in the league.)

>roger l. maynard                              
>91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca             
>Sudbury Ont.                                
 ^^^^^^^
 Sudbury, eh? My home town North Bay 'Cents swept you guys in the
 playoffs. (gloat gloat)


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   \  \                   |Allan Sullivan (allan@cs.ualberta.ca)
    \  \                  |Department of Computing Science,
     \  \_______          |University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
      \    ###  \     _   |---------------------------------------------------
       \___###___\   (_)  |My opinions are mine and mine alone.
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"It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the
 credit..."          - U. of A. Golden Bears Hockey Motto (C. Drake)
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey