For the Love of the Game?

The NHL lockout is now over 80 days old and all we've learned so far is a few fancy acronyms related to the business side of things, and that most people in the US still couldn't care less. As they days pile up fans grow more and more weary of the petty squabbling and finger pointing of millionaires and billionaires fighting over our money. Like spoiled children they put themselves ahead of the best interest of the game itself and do so under less than plausible premises. Is it necessary to look out for the long term viability of the league? Sure. Do the players feel obliged to get a fair shake and ensure future players will as well? Of course. But there has to be a reasonable way to accomplish both these means. Perfect? No. In such a situation there will never be a completely satisfactory resolution for everyone but there is no reason a practical and fair solution can't be reached. As I've said I don't believe a fifty fifty split is unreasonable, and that the players currently under contract should have those honored. If they need to give back some of their revenue share to help support the overall health of the league, that  isn't a bad thing, though I would suggest the league itself ought to contract or move several teams, but that's an entirely different column. The one thing they seem to have in common is that they're willing to let their egos get in the way of progress. Neither sides seems to want to cave and all this bickering is only proving that regardless of the lip service nobody in this argument is putting the game before their wallets. I understand it's big business and that the quaint notion of people playing for the love of the game is quickly quashed under the weight of such lofty revenues, but to what end? Where would they be without it? These rich owners need tenants for their building, and, especially in Canada, could they make a go of it without the game? As we wait hoping, praying that they will come to their sense and find a resolution, is it us who ought to be making one of our own? Should we stay away? Should we send these spoiled fat cats a lesson? Sure. If you want to. But the reality is they have done so well and will continue to when this is eventually sorted out because of the product. Because there are those of us out there who really do care about it. The fans, the people who truly love the game, will be back. Are we gluttons for punishment? Foolhardy? Naive? Sure. But it's because we care about the game, something larger than the individuals that draws us in. No matter what they say in their interviews, they're not bigger than the game, and they can never take it from us.

Agree to...Agree

The NHL has made it's latest proposal to Donald Fehr and the NHLPA. Optically it's a good proposal at a 50/50 split of the coveted HRR (Hockey Related Revenue) and is as most will agree a good PR move for the NHL. They condition of the offer is that it is accepted by next week in order to still be able to squeeze a full 82 game schedule in. The are also changes to free agency which would start at 28 instead of 27 and max contract length which would be 5 years. I think the players will certainly have an issue with that last one. The fact is this offer is much closer to getting them to where they need to be and the onus is now on the players to be reasonable and come back with a counter offer that fits this framework. Anyone would be naive to think they'd just rubber stamp the leagues offer, but it is a very significant starting point from which to work. Mark Spector suggests in his latest column Gary Bettman ought to be fired as commissioner of the league after roughly 20 years and three lockouts. And while I have been saying that for years, I'll give the league credit for at least getting the ball rolling here and trying to get the game back on the ice. They, meaning the owners, are starting to realize how much money they stand to lose and have want Bettman to start earning his ridiculous $8 million dollar a year salary and get the fans back in the stands. Hopefully in most markets that will be the case. But I fear there will be many fans who are sick and tired of being treated like hostages between bickering little children as they moan and cry over who has it worse. The fact is the people suffering in bars, restaurants, sporting goods stores and those who work for the team are the biggest losers along with the fans so this is a deal that needs to be worked out. The players and owners need to put ego's aside and think about what's best for the long term future of the game so that we don't have to go through this song and dance every 7 years. It's a great game, the best in the world, so let's see the best back where they belong.

Eye on the, Ball?

You're Alex Rodriguez. One of, or at least you used to be, the best in the game. You're struggling. You're team is struggling and about to go down 2-0 in a playoff series. You're intense focus and competitive spirit is honed in on...two women in the crowd? Such is a report that came out the other day suggesting that A-Rod sent autographed baseballs to two women he had been talking to during the game asking for their phone number. Now I'm not suggesting that he's wrong in trying to get a woman's number, Lord knows if I would if I could, but is there not a time and a place? Shouldn't he have more important things on his mind? Also, he's Alex Rodriguez. He could go to any number of restaurants, bars or other locals to meet women. Why then and there? I mean, you have to admit the guys got, well, balls, but it doesn't exactly endear him to everyone, or at least doesn't show any kind of commitment to the team. Then again that's never been his MO, but still, a little effort would be nice.

Ace Up Your Sleve

There's nothing like being able to play an Ace. And Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia showed up why over the last two evenings. They both went the distance in deciding game 5's and lead their respective teams to the ALCS. And While things didn't work out so well for Adam Wainwright this evening, it's hard to argue, if not impossible, to downplay the importance of a dominant pitcher. Like a stellar goaltender in hockey, it gives the entire team an extra boost of confidence. They know he's got their back if they make a mistake and they can play a less nervous game. They have complete faith knowing that each and every time out he gives you an opportunity to win. In contrast he often gets into the head of your opponent leading to the exact opposite reaction where every move is over analyzed and you over think instead of react. This is shaping up to be a great series and will likely come down to whose Ace has the better stuff. I think Detroit has more pitching depth with Schurzer and Fister, but it will be interesting to see who handles the pressure better. The benching of A-Rod adds another bit of intrigue that will no doubt be pondered endlessly until there is some sort of resolution. The series is set to kick of in NY tomorrow, Play ball!

Baseball Bliss

It doesn't get any better than October. This is why they play 162 games a year to get to the fall with a chance to win it all. The momentum is more important, the stakes higher the drama amped up to new levels. Every nigh there's a hero, and every night someone is left wondering what could have been. There are champs and there are chumps. The scapegoats who are left in the wake as teams move on to the next round. The short five game series of the opening round is truly about momentum and it forces teams to adjust and plan accordingly and differently than they would in a longer series which is all part of the intrigue.

With four games yesterday and today you couldn't ask for much more, especially after the drama in the AL last night. Who would have seen the A's coming back like that or A-Rod sitting on the bench while Ibanez played the hero. Granted Johnson and Vlaverde, the O's and Tiger's respective closers haven't been good in the post season, it lends itself to making the game more intriguing. A's manager Bob Melvin said they never feel like they are out of it and we say why. This ragamuffin team of nobody's is proving everybody wrong. They have another huge test in reigning Cy Young winner Justin Verlander tonight but never count them out.

In NY the Yankees do what the Yankees do, win. But this was different. Never before in the history of the game has someone done what Raul Ibanez did, tying the game in the bottom of the 9th and winning it in the 12th with home runs. it was incredible, unpredictable and more so because it was A-Rod he was hitting for. A-rod said all the right things after the game and handled it very well, and with his numbers he couldn't have been shocked, but I'm sure there's a part of him that wanted that chance.

In Cincinnati the Reds again failed to advance blowing a 2-0 series lead to the SF Giants. The Giants were clutch and found their offense when they needed it. The Reds now have a long off season and a lot of questions to answer after letting it slip away. The pitching of the Giants, especially in Cincinnati shut down the Reds for the most part and going forward will be tough to beat as it as in 2010 when they won it all.

The Nationals forced a deciding game 5 in dramatic fashion with a Jason Werth walk off home run, and will play St. Louis tomorrow to see who goes on the NLCS. The stakes only get higher from here on and I for one can't wait to see how it plays out.

Stike Out ... Why the NHL lockout needs to end

The fans are getting apathetic. Something I thought I would never say as a Canadian talking about hockey, but sadly it's true. The NHLPA and the NHL need to get this sorted out in a hurry because they are alienating their fan base and it will come back to haunt them in the less traditional markets. The biggest issue, billionaires and millionaires arguing over the fans money. It's getting tough enough for the average fan to even afford to get tickets to a game, let alone hear about the rich people benefiting from those hard earned dollars fighting over them like spoiled children. I know, no players no game. And I agree that they deserve a good share of the revenue as a result because they are the product. They owners should honor the promises and contracts they signed and it seems hypocritical of the league to cry broke why signing players to 100 million dollar contracts. Still, the players have to wake up and realize that salaries and profits have been on the rise so why muck that up? Why go steal jobs from other players in other leagues when you could sort your own issues out and get the greatest league in the world back where it belongs, on the ice. Think about the thousands of people who are effected by this, at the rink, in the bars and in the stores. But mostly think about the little kid who just wants to watch his favorite player. Think he understands why you're all too selfish?

The Puck Drops Here...Why Hockey is the World's Greatest Sport

Everyone has a personal favorite. Weather it's a restaurant, pet or a movie we know what we like. And I love hockey. I'll say that going in. It's my favorite sport and millions of others share that same view. Like myself most of them probably grew up or are still playing the game. For many of us the game itself congers up memories of early morning trips to practice or a late night on an outdoor rink under the gently falling snow.
It's a part of our heritage as Canadians and something we're very proud of. As a result many of us consider it to be the best sport in the world. But why? Because it's ours? Well sure, we can always defer to that, but endearing as that is, I believe there's much more to the argument. More empirical evidence to prove that it is in fact the ultimate team game.

The question is what makes a sport great? I think there are certain key attributes to any sport that are challenging and add to it's appeal. Like any team sport hockey shares it's key attributes with most others. Many sports have more complex play structures, I mean have you seen an NFL playbook? Or a superstar that can single handedly take over a game but hockey not only shares these attributes, it takes them all and pushes them to an incredible pace. 

And for those of you who may not be in Canada reading this, please, there's no need to refer to it as ice hockey. We're aware of where it's played. If you need to use the prefix field, or road to differentiate, have at it but it will always be a winter sport! I mean after all they don't call it the Indoor Basketball Association do they?

Physicality - Hockey is as physical a sport as there is. It's full contact with no our of bounds. No place to run, nowhere to hide. The speed and force at which players are hit is tremendous and it's no wonder so many are injured as a result. Like Lacrosse and Football players wear a lot of gear to protect themselves but even that it not often enough. The game's physical nature is demanding and a big hit has the ability to alter the course of a game.

Dexterity - Skating itself requires a tremendous amount of dexterity, especially with the speed and quick turn around within the game, but think of those who tend goal. Their acrobatics and flexibly is incredible and many of their teammates have taken to limbering up more and more before games to prevent serious injury. The ability to absorb a hit and continue or quickly adjust your body to better handle the puck are second to none when it comes to this attribute.

Hand Eye Coordination - Like baseball, lacrosse or cricket, hockey requires a tremendous amount of hand eye coordination. Handling the puck deftly is hard enough but imagine trying to tip a puck moving at over 90 miles an hour or to knock a pass out of mid air...No easy task. This ability is vital for players at such a high level and the skill and wizardry these athletes preform at such high rates of speed is truly incredible.

Speed - Hockey is the fastest team sport going. Basketball may have it's fast break but that's nothing compared to what happens when a hockey puck is turned over. The shift in speed and momentum at such a quick pace gives these athletes only a second to respond to the change in flow and react accordingly. Football has its moments of fast burst but these come in shorts spurts as is the case in baseball.

Variations - Many people would argue that soccer is a superior sport because it enables more of the world to play. However Field hockey and even road or indoor versions enable people to play in all climates.

International Competition - Like Baseball or Soccer hockey has a strong international presence, certainly nowhere near the level of these sports but a solid one nonetheless. Long gone are the days when Canada and the USSR were the juggernauts and dominated every tournament. There are at least seven or eight countries whose best can beat anyone at any given time and numerous up and comers like Switzerland, Denmark and Norway who are now developing players capable of playing in the NHL. A sport like football is basically a national one and only really exists in the US and Canada. There's no international flavor to it. Baseball and basketball have strong international appeal and soccer is the most played game across the globe but the NHL is the most diverse in terms of it's athletes of the big four sports leagues and this is directly reflective of the international appeal of the game.

Rivalries - No sport is complete without great rivalries, it's what makes the game more intriguing, and due to the amount of teams playing at a high level, there's no shortage in hockey. Weather you look back at the classic Canada Russia or more modern US Canada or Sweden vs. Finland hockey has always had these great rivalries. Even within the NHL itself there are still great ones left. Even after all these years people still get fired up when the Leafs play the Habs or the Habs play the Bruins. The Red Wings and Blackhawks have had a long time rivalry but the playoffs had bred new hate like the Canucks and Blackhawks or Caps and Pens. I'll never forget watching the classic series the Red Wings and Avalanche met up in several times in the late 90's. This ability to generate rivals allows for the sport to continue to entertain and grow. 

The Ultimate Team Game - Hockey has obviously had it's share of superstars, but unlike the other major sports they don't have as much of a direct influence on the game as say a quarterback or an NBA superstar. Obviously a Crosby or a Roy could take over or dominate a game, but Gretzky never won those cups alone. Hockey has much more of a dependency on chemistry than other sports, predominantly basketball. This sin't to say that chemistry isn't important in the NBA, it's just that with only five guys on the court and a short bench, less players are involved and so overall there is less dependence on role players and more importance given to the likes of Lebron or Kobe as they have a disproportionate impact on the game because they have the ball so much of the time. Like football it has more role players and requires this mix of skill, grit and defensive prowess in order to succeed. There are face off specialists, penalty killers, offensive play makers, goal scorers, grinders, scrappers, it's a complete package. Many sports have players who excel at various traits within the sport, the defensive substitution is very common in soccer or baseball, but not to the same extent are these players utilized as they are in hockey, nor is there often such a distinct difference in their particular roles.

Fighting - Yes this one may be a bit questionable but hear me out. I think fighting has it's place in the game though personally I'm not a proponent of the guy who's solely there to fight and can't play a regular shift. I think those days are over and that's fine with me. I'm talking about guys who go out there and hit and can contribute to the team offensively the odd time and drop the gloves to protect their teammates or get them going when things are down. If you don't think this works, ask the other guys on the bench. Fighting also allows these guys to settle disputes on the ice instead of whining like some passive aggressive little kid. I'm not suggesting we apply to our everyday lives, believe me, but in the context of such a physical game tempers boil over and I believe this is a way to get out that frustration and get it over with. It's a code of honor within the game. And I'm interested to see the statistics as to how many guys suffer concussions as a result of fighting vs. how many are caused by cheap shots. Fighting is supposed to be a deterrent to those kinds of actions and keep players honest. It's the players themselves who have turned their back on this code of respect for one another, not the game. Running guys from behind or stick work has lead to more injuries and is a more serious cause for concern.

Tempo - The game itself, especially with the new rules implemented after the last lock out, is a fast paced a sport as there is and keeps the flow going.  I mean football is great for a few seconds then it's back to the line, huddle up and go again, and baseball is well, let's just say nobody's in a hurry.

Conditioning - This is a direct follow up and a direct result of the tempo as those beads of sweating poring off them in interviews aren't for show. Hockey players are among the top conditioned athletes in the world, not my words there have been studies to prove this, and so the game benefits from this. Unlike others like baseball or football where being a shall we say, larger gentleman may be an attribute, hockey requires you to be in peak physical condition and you're iced if you fail to keep up. The top athletes train year round to ensure they can continue to perform at such a high level.

Strategy - While the playbook may not read like an NFL team's there is a great deal of strategy to hockey. Line matching and chemistry are of vital importance. Knowing who to put out in what situation, who plays well with whom, which way they shoot, how to line up on the draw, which centerman to use and how they will react if they win the draw all give you that much needed edge and can tip the game in your favor. The powerplay is often a game decider and moving the puck well is pivotal. This again is all dependent on knowing how to set up in the attacking zone and how they'll defend you. Like drawing up a play off a time out in basketball, NHL teams often employ a set play or structure in a given situation or much like going to the bullpen in baseball may have a specific guy to win the draw late in a game or in a defensive situation. It's the little things in sport that can decide the big picture and the intricacies of hockey are no different.

The Shoot Out - While I may personally may not be a hue fan, I have to admit it is highly entertaining and has provided many a highlight reel finish. It's a skills competition of sorts and many complain that teams with high end talent will play for the shoot out, but goal tending has a decided edge statistically and there is never a sure thing.

Traditions - Like most major sports hockey is steeped in tradition. From the ceremonial face off to the shaking of hands at the end of a playoff series, or it's annual awards hockey has it's time honored rituals that make the game what it is. 

So case closed right? Hockey is number one. Well, again, like anything in life it's subjective. Many people love football. basketball, baseball or soccer for many of the reasons stated above. Millions around the world love cricket or rugby for their esoteric appeal. They are all great sports and while I truly enjoy them all, I don't think any other sport combines all these attributes as well as hockey. Baseball may be the ultimate numbers game, and football one of the most complex but they are not without their flaws. And neither is hockey. Hockey like football, requires a lot of equipment that may not be accessible to everyone and in the case of hockey you need an arena. Many people dislike the violence or simply prefer a non-winter sport. I'm not sure if I'd grown up in Alabama that I would love hockey, but that  doesn't change the arguments made here. It doesn't alter the facts nor does it mean they're going to persuade anyone. The evidence is there for us to decide on our own what we prefer so with that in mind, take this argument for what it is, a closer look at a game we love.