From: 91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca (gut feelings...)
Subject: Re: What the world needs now is an AMERICAN TV CONTRACT.
Organization: Dept. of Computer Science, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 1992 01:33:37 GMT

In <allan.703120112@kitscoty> allan@cs.UAlberta.CA (Allan Sullivan) writes:

>>!?!  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.

>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.)

Olympic hockey is extremely popular in the US, mostly because of Network
promotion.  Take the fighting out - the fans won't mind!  The best games, 
Olympic games, Canada Cup games, etc. have managed to do without it.  But 
they aren't promoted by the likes of Bill Wirtz are they?  

>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

To not try and improve the game is unfair to fans - new and old.  The type
of thinking that you are promoting is rampant in the CFL.  Just worry
about filling the stands and the game will sell on merit...

>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
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
glad we are being objective here...Take the fighting out, give the players
contracts competitive with other sports - like basketball - and you are
going to attract more athletes and fewer cement-heads.  I would rather
watch athletes.

>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.

basketball seems to do ok with 80 games schedules and smaller arenas.

>(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.)

what? Mike Illitch makes tremendous profits!  He sells out 20,000 per
game and shoves his pizzas down their throats.  Twenty thousand pizza
customers is what he sees...

> Sudbury, eh? My home town North Bay 'Cents swept you guys in the
> playoffs. (gloat gloat)

yeah well I am a hard-boiled Torontonian.  I don't know how the hell
I ended up here...I like to blame the recession...

>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>   \  \                   |Allan Sullivan (allan@cs.ualberta.ca)
>    \  \                  |Department of Computing Science,
>     \  \_______          |University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
>      \    ###  \     _   |---------------------------------------------------
>       \___###___\   (_)  |My opinions are mine and mine alone.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>"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)
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>        
-- 
roger l. maynard                              
91287041@ramsey.cs.laurentian.ca             
Sudbury Ont.                                
Canada