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Another self-inflicted NHL wound

By Scotty15, Section NHL
Posted on Thu Sep 20 2007 at 10:30 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

For whatever reason, the NHL won't make good decisions. It needs to win back the trust of sports fans by making wise and strategic moves. But it hasn't done it, and the latest deed proves it won't any time soon. Here's my thoughts on the latest move by professional hockey.

He had a grim, defeated tone to his voice today. He mirrored a child after another pet has died. The reason bloomed when his commentary went deeper, diving into talk about the NHL's most recent mistake.

I got nervous. Not again, I thought. Please no more foolish ideas.

The league would hold another outdoor game featuring the Buffalo Sabers and Pittsburgh Penguins. Sure, that match-up intrigued me. Then I heard the game's date. A decision, in my opinion, that competes for worst in corporate sports history. Sean seemed to agree.

The game will be played on Jan. 1.

"Wait, what?" I said.

At first I thought it was a joke, until Sean started to fume. Then I realized it was true.

"OH, COME ON!" I shouted with a hint of laughter.

"ARE THEY SERIOUS?"

On New Year's Day, I guarantee very few people have hockey on the brain. Sidney Crosby or the Rose Bowl? New school or old school? In this case, people will probably stick with old school. They've done so for 105 years.

Of all days, why that one?

It'll be great for the city of Buffalo and the 57,000 in attendance. Ratings, though, will again suffer. The game will compete against almost 12 straight hours of college football.

Hockey has no chance in this scenario.

Does the NHL honestly think people will turn down a Bowl Championship Series game, months and months in the making, to watch hockey players outside freezing their jocks off?

I know the 2003 outdoor game in Edmonton succeeded. It should've. It took place in Canada, the home of hockey. They shouldn't expect the same in the United States, home of football. Especially on, arguably, football's biggest day.

I don't care if it has new rules to promote offense, or hi-tech new uniforms, hockey will lose.  Football is number one in this country. Changing a game's scenery or rules won't knock the king off his throne.

Any other day and it's genius. You have Sidney Crosby, the reigning Most Valuable Player. And on the other side you have the reigning President's Trophy winner. What a battle. It could have brought people back on the hockey bandwagon, like Big Mac and Slammin' Sammy's 1998 home run chase did for baseball. This, no doubt, will be NHL hockey at its best.

And very few people will see it.

It'll be another embarrassing moment that proves hockey, despite its drama and thrills, still lives in a deep, dark hole.

But come on, at least give it a chance to climb out.