Tag Archives: sports

Dear GB, NHL execs, Don Fehr, and Players

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Dear Gary Bettman, NHL execs, Don Fehr, and Players,

This letter is dedicated to all of you out there who will determine the future of the pending season and the game that captivates us all.

This is a letter to remind you of a simple fact that you keep overlooking…the fans. The fans do not care about the numbers and percentages or which side gets more money. The fans do not care how each side chooses their words extremely carefully in addressing the media following each round of meetings.The fans simply put, care about the game that has been cancelled temporarily[at least for now…]. The fans just want the game they love to return.

Do you really think this game of tug of war over the numbers waiting to see who blinks first, is worth the risk of losing the fans? Some fans have vowed to not return back to the game after yes the third lockout of your career, GB. Seems absurd that a few words could cause such an uproar…but the words “lack of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement” and “lockout” go hand in hand when neither side is willing to see beyond the numbers. The longer this war of words over who gets the bigger slice of the pie continues, the bigger the risk.

Are numbers important to hockey? YES. Take 82 for example. 82 is the number of total league-wide regular season games that YOU have cancelled. 82 is also the number of regular season games EACH team plays in one season [unless shortened by a lockout such as 1994-1995…and now 2012-2013]. Effectively you have already taken away a season’s worth or games from ONE team already….how far are you willing to go to make a point?

Some players have begun to flee abroad just to keep themselves viable should you finally come to a new agreement. Ovie, Datsyuk, Malkin and Gonchar are just a few of the notable players making their presence felt in the KHL. Each day brings more news of more players signing to play elsewhere during this “work stoppage”. It is concerning that the best players in the league are playing elsewhere when they should all be participating in what should have been the first week of the regular season. What is more concerning…that Sidney Crosby is READY to freaking play symptom-free for the first time in more than a YEAR! The face of the NHL in recent years and he is still holding out hope unlike many other players that a deal can be reached. Has he considered running abroad…probably…but instead he is waiting to see what you can accomplish. It concerns me that should Crosby finally cave and go abroad….the hope for the season will grow dimmer. Does it not concern you all that each day brings news of your best players signing to play else where….and that any day now, Crosby and more just might join those already overseas?

Thursday marks what was supposed to be the beginning of the 2012-2013 regular season..but thanks to all you and your money squabbles, it will simply be a plain old Thursday. You keep saying that the fans of the NHL are the best fans….yet you are not listening to US. Somewhere along the way of these negotiations, you all lost sight of not only the fans, but the game that once came before the numbers. The game that you are dreamed to be a part of back when you were a kid. The game that captured you all when you saw a great player such as Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, or Mario Lemieux bring the game to new heights with a play that you could never have imagined possible. The game that gives every player or the team the opportunity to rise above their expectations. The game that you all claim to play or work around because you love it and it defines you. How can it define you or be something that you love if none of you are a part of it right now? The game that you all claim is what you all want back…..is the one that none of you seem to be fighting very hard to bring back. It is time to stop merely discussing secondary issues at these scheduled CBA meetings and get down to the heart of the matter. Start talking those numbers that you all are fighting over and lets get all those NHL super stars back in North America [ahem…such as Malkin who once again is playing ridiculously good…just at the moment it is not for the NHL…time to change that!].

The fans just want the season back. Will we accept a shortened season?…that’s the only option you have left us after canceling the first 82 games, GB! Do you really want to make the financial colossal mistake or canceling the Winter Classic? I must say that really truly would be an all-new low for the league. All people will remember of the Bettman legacy at this point is the 3 lockouts endured during your tenure as commissioner. The fans do have a voice. The question is will you hear us? Does the NHL have the best fans? Yes…but how long will you, GB, NHL execs, DF, and players make us endure this ever loathed state of a lockout? The fans do not have a choice in the matter…but it is the common opinion that we all despise the lockout. That is all, nucksaid.

Sincerely, a fan who just wants to watch hockey again!

Sarah E.L.

Wayne’s World…

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Well from the words of my blog to the words of Bobby Orr to the words of Wayne Gretzky…there is still hope for the upcoming season[albeit more than likely a shortened one…I’ll take it!]. Just as Orr is one of the best defencemen that ever played in the league and set the bar high for those who followed as he revolutionized his position…Wayne Gretzky redefined the game and set records of such heights that none will ever reach. Gretzky…a Canadian grown boy…dreamed of playing the game he loved for the country he loved…and guess what? He did so with style. Remember that 51 straight games point streak?? He helped lead Canada to a record win in the 1987 Canada Cup and helped Edmonton become the city of Champions they proudly state today [leading them to 4 cups in 5 years!]. He made Los Angeles a legitimate hockey town way before they made their historic run last spring. Did I forget to mention the trade that rocked the hockey world and broke the hearts of many Oilers fans before Gretzky become an LA all-star?  He did eventually retire in 1999. Then there was his aid in putting together the 2002 gold medal winning Olympic hockey team or his infamous carrying of the 2010 Olympic torch. In 20 NHL seasons, Gretzky played in 1487 regular season games scoring 894 goals and 1963 assists [amassing an astounding 2857 points!!]. In 208 playoff games Gretzky scored 122 goals and 260 assists[382 points!]. There has never been another player to play the way the Gretzky did. Many players have had their numbers retired by their respective teams…but NO player has ever had their number retired league wide…except Wayne Gretzky. The number 99 shall be worn by no other player and it will be hard for another player to ever impact the game the way Wayne Gretzky did. Yes there are other great players in the league today [Crosby, the Sedins, Malkin, Datsyuk, Ovechkin] but NONE will ever quite change the face of the game as he did. Maybe Crosby [at least in Canada] will come closest. Crosby has become one of the current prominent faces of the game…there was him helping Pittsburgh find their spark again in the playoffs [eventually led to a Stanley Cup in 2009] and Crosby has one thing Gretzky never got…an Olympic Gold medal. Crosby has set many records himself and will probably set a few more….but do I think he or any other player will ever eclipse Gretzky’s 2857 points? Probably not. Wayne Gretzky record of 292 points in one season and his all-time 2857 points are records that seem almost impossible to break in today’s league. Gretzky knew the game inside out better than any other player…and today his opinion of the game is still valid. Gretzky was quoted as saying that there will be a season by January 1st[aka the Winter Classic]. Do I wish there to be an agreement sooner?…heck yes….but alas these pesky negotiations seem like they will take some time. If Gretzky is allowed to optimistic about the season…so can I! #WaynesWorld #Excellent #endthelockoutalready #becauseGretzkysaidso

The NHL and the NHLPA met for 3 straight days [Friday-Sunday] and are expected to meet up once more on TODAY in NYC for another round of negotiations. Lets hope that their progress goes beyond the secondary issues. As I have said previously…there is room for optimism up until the Winter Classic. I think the league would be pretty stupid to cancel that particular game and lose the anticipated revenue that two Original Six teams will bring to the table. Here’s hoping that Bettman, the NHL executives, Fehr, the NHLPA executives, and the Players can meet somewhere in the middle sooner rather than later. #fingerscrossed

As the great CBA debate continues to dramatic, I encourage all fans to be optimistic.It is still early in the year…there is room for the season to be salvaged. We may not get the full season as we all desired…but I would take a shortened one rather than none at all.  As always, until next time, nuck said. #waynesworld

Sarah E.L.

Lockout Limbo

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This is a story about how we got stuck in limbo. Lockout Limbo. That is where the fans, players and NHL executives are trapped until this CBA business is all tied up. It was only a matter of time before the NHL announced to canceling of the remaining pre-season games of 2012. Who cares about the pre-season! Just please tell me that these next  three days of meetings between the NHL and the PA will finally amount to something in regards to the long awaited CBA. Could their agreement on secondary issues be a sign that negotiations are finally becoming that…negotiations?  After 5 hours of meetings yesterday…the two sides were scheduled to meet again this morning at 7:00AM [pacific time] and again at some point on Sunday. Only time will tell if this round of meetings hold any wait. I’d like to say that with both sides agreeing on some secondary issues that there is hope that there will be some progress moving forward[probably not as quick as all the fans would like…but progress of any kind right now is a step forward!]. Oh how nice it would be to hear that these weekend discussions have led to some serious progress!

In other news Mr.Katz [aka the owner of the Edmonton Oilers] issued a public apology to the city of Edmonton for not taking the fans and their passion into consideration when he toured Seattle as a possible relocation destination. Maybe good old GB[aka Gary Bettman] should consider issuing an apology to ALL the fans of the NHL for this THIRD lockout limbo he has forced upon us.

Oh Lockout Limbo…how I hope you end so very soon. I am tired of it already…and all we have missed so far is the pre-season. Yesterday was National Jersey Day in Canada…and well you all know how I’ve been itching to sport the blue & green again…so I couldn’t resist:

MY FINGERS ARE CROSSED that as the pre-season is officially off the table that SOON GB & Fehr will announce a new CBA and the re-instate the season!!

Its time for this ridiculous Lockout Limbo to end. None of us enjoy this state of uncertainty as the *pending season* hangs in the balance. This story of the fans, NHL executives and NHL players being stuck in Lockout Limbo is driving me crazy! I just want the season to freaking start already!! Who’s with me?! I know, I know…this lockout has many people down…BUT I’m choosing to remain optimistic. You can join me or decide not to, the choice is yours. There is always room for hope even when some say no. I say what is the harm in having a little faith? There is none as it is my choice. I choose to be optimistic because there is point in being negative about something that I have no control over. Just because we are stuck in this oh this so terrible Lockout Limbo…does not mean that my love of the game is stuck in limbo. My love of hockey will continue regardless of the length of this Lockout Limbo corner that Bettman has forced us all into until that new CBA is reached. I must say…this corner of Lockout Limbo is crowded….it is high time to officially reward the fans with the remainder of the 2012-2013 season.

Do you remember when fans all around the league razzed one another about their ridiculous loyalty to their teams? That is the usual practice. The ONE positive thing about this Lockout Limbo is that ALL fans from ALL different teams are uniting together [regardless of their regular season loyalty] to make their voices heard as one

Oh Lockout Limbo….how tired of you I grow every day! Oh Lockout Limbo…how I look forward to [SOON…I hope!] hearing that you are no more. As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

Back to you, Bob! Believe it ORR not…

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If it’s not me or the Winter Classic trying to convince all the fans around the world that there just may be hope for the season yet…maybe you will at least consider hearing one of the all-time greatest defenseman to lace the skates voice his opinion on the matter. There is a statue of him near some arena in Boston. On a good night in some games, they say it seemed as though he could fly. His style and ability to move the puck from one end of the ice to the other almost effortlessly made him nearly unbeatable. He put the pedal to the metal in the setting of many records. How many defensemen in the league have won the Art Ross[most points in the regular season] more than once?! When was the last time a defenseman put up 100+ points let alone 139[the closest to that mark last season was Karlsson with 78 points]?? I am of course talking about Bobby Orr. Sincerely one of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates before his much too early retirement[at age 30!] due to injury. A career that was ended earlier than many had hoped…but in his 12 year career he amassed many NHL records….including 8 consecutive Norris trophies and 3 consecutive Hart trophies, 2 Art Ross Trophies, 2 Stanley Cups & 2 Conn Smythe Trophies. Not too mention that twice he scored the cup clinching goal. Bobby Orr knows hockey. Am I a fan of the Boston Bruins? NO. Will I ever be? NEVER. I am however a fan of Bobby Orr and the player that he was…how can one not admire his career an undeniable stats that by themselves nearly demand respect? Bobby Orr is one of the all-time greats that ever laced up the skates…and his opinion on the subject is one worth at least considering.

Bobby Orr was on the morning show “Breakfast Television”  Friday morning and offered up his professional opinion on the great debate that is the CBA debate. Orr said he absolutely “believes that there will be a season and that it would be outrageous not to have a season.” He also said that a fair deal can be reached and believes a new [and fair] CBA will be signed sooner than later. Orr also explained that is not only players and owners who are being affected, BUT the arena employees, businesses near the arenas, and minor league players who are losing their roster spots are feeling the hurt of the lockout.  Orr further stated his belief in the upcoming season by saying: “I think we’ll get most of the season in. Don and Gary are two smart guys, and there’s so much good in our game right now. There’s a lot at stake here. I think it can be done”

Believe it ORR not but I’m sticking by this Bruin[& only this Bruin] and his belief that a fair deal can be reached sooner rather than later and that we WILL get a season. It is too soon to cave to Bettman’s will and lose hope. There is still room for optimism. Just ask Bobby Orr and he will tell you that there will be a season…that is all.

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

Wake me up when September ends…

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Well it’s official. Wake me up when September ends. The NHL has announced that there will be no pre-season games prior to or on September 30th. In the days that have followed since the lockout was enacted there has been no formal communication between the NHL and the NHLPA. Both sides are expected some type of formal communication to take place next week.The aim is for both sides to come to an agreement that will please everyone…but as we all know that is hardly ever possible. Most of the time, each party has to give a little. The NHL and NHLPA will only be meeting this week together with the Alberta Labour Board to determine whether it is legal for the Calgary and Edmonton players to be locked out. The Quebec Labour Board sided with the NHL so we will see how Alberta sides. Pre-season does not mean a whole lot other giving most prospects a chance to preview the NHL level. At this point only the pre-season that would have taken place in September has been cancelled officially.

It has been made official that many players have signed to play else during the duration of the lockout. Malkin, Datsyuk, Gonchar and Ovechkin have returned to Russia to play in the KHL. Thornton, Weber[Yannik], Couture, Nash have gone to Switzerland and many more have gone abroad to keep themselves game ready should the lockout be temporary. Alex Ovechkin has been more than willing to openly admit his dislike of the now real lockout and is sticking by his belief that many players will not return to the NHL should the lockout persist. He does think the players should have to endure the owners distaste of contracts and numbers as it was those same owners that signed every one of the players on their team. Ovechkin signed a one year contract with the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow that could see him spend the season in his home country however there is an out clause[of the contract] if and when the season does in fact begin. If the season resumes and Ovechkin does not return it would violate his current contract with the Washington Capitals and result in sanctions from the IIHF[International Ice Hockey Federation]. It is hard to say whether Ovie would really go as far as not returning…but odds are he is just speaking out in frustration. NHL’s other face of the game, Sidney Crosby has yet to go abroad as he and his agent feel it is too soon to believe that the entire season is lost….me too. It is not over until someone named GB throws the hammer down on that final nail. I do hope that while some players get exposure to the game internationally that it will end soon and the season resumes sooner rather than later.

Where oh where have you gone, September? We have lost you to a lockout. In the very least September in Vancouver we have been blessed with an amazing stretch of weather…it still feels like summer in the city! Not too mention we do still lots of hockey to watch,not at the NHL level, but still some exciting games. We have the Vancouver Giants, Chilliwack Bruins and yes the Chicago Wolves[many #Canucks prospects a few veteran players will be on the team!] to cheer for as they all move forward with their WHL and AHL seasons. September may bring me new teams to focus on and be nearly gone but I have not lost all hope for the NHL season.

In the mean time wake me up when September ends and October begins! I want get out the jersey & get myself canuck’d up & to a game….so come Bettman and Fehr. Become that dynamic duo that will preserve the majority of the 2012-2013 season…otherwise Ovie[at least in his frustration] and others may not return to the league. There is sure to be drama as the Albertan Labour Board meets with the NHL and NHLPA through Friday and as meetings between the two sides eventually take place as early as next week. All we can do now is wait. Wait for the 30th to come and go and hope that when the Calendar turns to October all is not lost on the season. Wake me up when September ends. I will still cheer for the blue & green regardless of when they return. As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

QUESTION….lockout conflict style with a side of ranting…

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Today’s ambition is to look at some [not all] major questions surrounding the stalled CBA talks and maybe just maybe rant a little more [if possible] in regards to the ever increasingly real possibility of a 2nd lockout in less than 10 years.

Question: WHY are the OWNERS, and BETTMAN dragging out these negotiations?!
Answer: They want MORE money and want to the players to make LESS money!….interesting concept as it does not match their current actions….[see below questions].

Question: IF playing the game is not about the money…WHY do the players keep signing BIG money deals?

Question: IF the owners want the new CBA to limit the length of years a player can sign for at 5 years…WHY do OWNERS keep signing big name players to insanely LONG-TERM deals?

Question: WHY is it that both sides have very different views of the new potential CBA agreement?
Answer: I’ll tell you a few of the answers that are swirling around. The OWNERS want the players to give back a large % of their salary and as expected…the players do not like it. The OWNERS new CBA would drop the current salary cap by more that $12 million. The PLAYERS want to keep their salaries BUT also help teams that are not comfortable financially. It’s a little confusing with the LEAGUE & OWNERS stating that they want to limit PLAYER contracts to 5 years…and yet THEY KEEP signing their PLAYERS to these crazy BIG MONEY, LONG-TERM contracts[Crosby, Staal, Weber, Suter, and Parise, etc.]!!!  As always its all about the numbers and large discrepancy between the numbers on each side. Good grief….if it is about the numbers….why not just meet some where oh I don’t know in the middle?[50/50…call me crazy but would that not be easier than both sides fighting over who should get more of the dang revenue/bonuses % etc.?!]

Question: WHY….WHY tease the fans with the release of the broadcast schedule?
Answer: I will tell you this, it certainly is a cruel way to raise the fans hopes of their being a season only to have taken away if Bettman throws the gavel down with his desired ruling of a lockout.

Rumor has that the CBA meetings will not pick until next week sometime. There are NHLPA meetings scheduled and the NHL Board of Governors also have meetings scheduled in NYC…albeit not together. In a slightly shocking development Ron MacLean is not standing in his typical belief as one of Bettman’s regular rule-followers that agree there will be a lockout..he has stated “there will not be a lockout in 2012”. We shall see about that…I’d really like to for once believe something MacLean says…it would be AMAZING to hear that there will be no lockout…unfortunately his statement is NO guarantee or in any way settling to me. That is not a guarantee…not even close…the clock is ticking with only 10 days until Bettman drops the final nail in these negotiations. In a not so shocking reveal…Alex Ovechkin has openly stated that players will consider leaving the NHL should a year long lockout occur and that “The NHL is being stupid” with their expectation that players salary get cut by 24% for “nothing” and if they are so set on cutting out long term-deals WHY[again] do THEY keep signing players to these deals?…I’ve got to say you have a point with that Ovie! The NHLPA has included helping out teams that struggle financially…but the NHL’s version of that would cut out long-term deals and cut down salaries all around….not exactly what one would call close ideals. The Maple Leafs Mike Komisarek has had this to say regarding the CBA debate: “The PA has been more than willing to negotiate a fair deal. I don’t think the same can be said for other side.”

There is bound to be many more sparks to fly before all is said and done but we shall all continue to hope for the unexpected from Bettman & company come the 15th. Only time will tell. #nolockoutPLEASE&THANKYOU #hockeyin2012PLEASE

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

all quiet on the Western & Eastern Fronts…for now

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Halfway through the off-season & all is suddenly quiet in both the Western & Eastern conferences. Parise/Suter sweepstakes, where will Doan land & the Weber offer sheet drama have kept people running around the rumor mills. Things have gotten eerily quiet as the arbitration period looms before us, almost as though something big is coming, the calm before the storm. All the GM’s are quietly biding their time to make that one move that will make their teams legitimate contenders, to find that one missing piece to complete the puzzle. Each team has the same goal, but ultimately when all is said and done, only ONE team can accomplish that ONE goal. I can never decide if I hate or enjoy the off-season of the NHL. Ultimately its exciting to see what new players will be joining the team & who stays, but then there’s also the losing of some players to other teams. This year so far the Canucks re-signed, Ebbett, Pinnizotto, Raymond & newly signed Garrison(SO much potential!!). However the Canucks lost Sami Salo to Tampa Bay, I always hoped he would finish out his career as a Canuck. I’m happy he got a great contract with Tampa, but I do think the price was slightly high at Salo’s age & his proneness to injury(however that last 1 1/2 years he was especially incredible for the Canucks). I am sad to see him go, but very glad the Canucks only have face his slapshot one time next year. As for this Weber drama, it would have been nice to see him finally don Canuck colors next year especially since he’s from BC and he’s a great defenseman, BUT the price was set by Philly & unfortunately for the Canucks and everyone else that bar is TOO high. Nearly 3 days have gone by with no reply from the Nashville camp….meaning they are edging ever closer to losing the 2nd half of their strongest defense pair, having already lost Suter. Nashville could still match the offer, but will they and should they? I think no. I mean yes it would help them immensely to have Weber on their team BUT it would also cripple the team financially making it nearly impossible to build a team around him. Philly possibly made this insane offer to insure that should Pronger not be available to play or forced to retire due to his concussion then they would have a guaranteed top notch defensive powerhouse in their pocket. Like I said things have gotten oddly quiet today with all 3o teams, not just the ones involved in any off-season drama, at least for  now. Until the drama ensues again, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.

Rumor has it….

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Rumor has it Shane Doan has been offered a 3 year contract by the Canucks….along with offers from 5 or more other teams including Phoenix. Rumor has it he has yet to decide where he will play next year though most people expect him to remain loyal to the only franchise he has ever played for.

Rumor has it that Luongo may or not be traded in the near future. I despise this idea, but that is because I think it is wrong to trade a proven #1 starter and depend on a yet proven goalie who (yes he has been exceptional, extremely so) has only played 59 games. I like Schneider, really I do, but he will never Luongo, maybe he will be great, but maybe he won’t be. I’m not sold 100% on this idea just yet. I respect Luongo’s decision to leave if the opportunity presents itself as the media & many others have forgotten the amazing things he brought to this city(a desire to win, 2010 Olympic gold medal, playoffs in 5/6 years, 2 presidents trophies!, a Western Conference championship, etc.). I really do not wish for Luongo to leave, but if he were to be traded it had better be for more than simply draft picks because despite what some people in the media say, Luongo’s value is high. Like I said I really do not like this idea, but I know that it is a possibility.

Rumor has it there is still drama to be had in this NHL off-season to come. Mind you probably nothing quite as dramatic as both Parise & Suter signing identical $98 million deals in Minnesota or the J.Staal trade to Carolina, but you just never know what might happen.
Nuck said.

Sarah E.L.