February 16, 2005, 1:04 PM EST - The worst day in hockey

[Neorave]

Today, I am in mourning of the National Hockey League's 2004-05 season being cancelled. It is truly a sad, sad day in the history of not only hockey, but in sports around the world, and I'm pretty sure almost everyone around the world can agree with me. Will you please join me in a moment of silence:

(The room fills with silence)

Thank You!

[Dave]

No problem!

[Twilight Legionnaire]

*g*, good thing it's over. Did yet another player die? That's like the most violent "sport" I know of, apart from "American Football"

[Neorave]

*g*, good thing it's over. Did yet another player die? That's like the most violent "sport" I know of, apart from "American Football"

Have you ever watched Rugby? That sport, IMO, is very violent, since they have no pads or anything. Hockey can get pretty violent, but it's very exciting to watch. The fans are the best type of fans out of all of the major sports in America.

[MaFiaBoY]

Today, I am in mourning of the National Hockey League's 2004-05 season being cancelled. It is truly a sad, sad day in the history of not only hockey, but in sports around the world, and I'm pretty sure almost everyone around the world can agree with me. Will you please join me in a moment of silence:

(The room fills with silence)

Thank You!

Erm.. could you please explain to us who are NOT americans (yeah, such people exist on this Earth) what the hell you're talkin' about ?

[Equinox]

Today, I am in mourning of the National Hockey League's 2004-05 season being cancelled. It is truly a sad, sad day in the history of not only hockey, but in sports around the world, and I'm pretty sure almost everyone around the world can agree with me. Will you please join me in a moment of silence:

(The room fills with silence)

Thank You!

Erm.. could you please explain to us who are NOT americans (yeah, such people exist on this Earth) what the hell you're talkin' about ?

*EquinoX keeps silence.*

[Neorave]

Today, I am in mourning of the National Hockey League's 2004-05 season being cancelled. It is truly a sad, sad day in the history of not only hockey, but in sports around the world, and I'm pretty sure almost everyone around the world can agree with me. Will you please join me in a moment of silence:

(The room fills with silence)

Thank You!

Erm.. could you please explain to us who are NOT americans (yeah, such people exist on this Earth) what the hell you're talkin' about ?

Well, being that you are from France (which, btw, the Frence do have a decent hockey team), I will give you a shortened (or the shortest I can give) version of the story.

Basically, the NHL was under a thing called the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement), this is a financial system implemented to control the finances within the teams of the National Hockey League. Well, last year, the CBA expired, and the owners of the teams decided not to renew it, but create a whole new system. The league wanted to implement a salary cap, in order to link revenues with the salaries of the players. The Player's Association (the union for the players) did not like this, so they refused to take this system, which led to a lockout. Well, both sides threw proposals at each other (the league and the union), but either sides disagreed to each other's proposals. Well, a few days ago, the commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman, announced that he would place a deadline for last Sunday, if there was no deal made, then the season would be cancelled. Well, both sides worked frantically to get a deal done, so the deadline was pushed to Monday, then Tuesday, then today (Wedensday, Feb. 16). Well, rumors had it that they were very close to a deal, but did not agree to it. Therefore, the announcement came today that the season was cancelled.

(sorry if that's not short, it was the shortest I could make it)
For more info, go here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl

[Wanderer]

It was a pity that they canceled this season. Well. I think both sides were too damn selfish and stubborn coz they couldn't make the deal. Like always, it's about money. But on the other hand it's nice. Steve Kariya and Patrik Stefan are playing now in a Finnish hockey team Ilves which sucked last year, but now they've got the best 1st line of the Finnish premiere league.

[Twilight Legionnaire]

*g*, good thing it's over. Did yet another player die? That's like the most violent "sport" I know of, apart from "American Football"

Have you ever watched Rugby? That sport, IMO, is very violent, since they have no pads or anything. Hockey can get pretty violent, but it's very exciting to watch. The fans are the best type of fans out of all of the major sports in America.

Yeah, I've actually even played rugby a few times. However, I'm not reffering to the violence of the game itself. I often see "extra" violence between hockey players, on TV Most players who play american football and hockey are too aggressive, they're there to kick ass, and not only to play.

[Neorave]

It was a pity that they canceled this season. Well. I think both sides were too damn selfish and stubborn coz they couldn't make the deal. Like always, it's about money.

You know, fuck Bettman and Goodenow, they should be fired. All they really cared about is showing off their negotiating tactics, which, btw, was shit. Both sides didn't even care about the sport of hockey, they just saw it as a profit.

But on the other hand it's nice. Steve Kariya and Patrik Stefan are playing now in a Finnish hockey team Ilves which sucked last year, but now they've got the best 1st line of the Finnish premiere league.

Temu Selanne, who plays for the San Jose Sharks, is also playing for a Finnish team. They're a lot of NHL players that are playing in the Russian hockey teams too.

Yeah, I've actually even played rugby a few times. However, I'm not reffering to the violence of the game itself. I often see "extra" violence between hockey players, on TV Most players who play american football and hockey are too aggressive, they're there to kick ass, and not only to play.

I'm pretty sure thats what most foreign people think about american sports, but really thats just not really true. You have to realize that a majority of the players in the NHL are really players from outside the USA. Plus, there are big rivalries, like Detroit and Colorado, and they can get pretty heavy in games (like one game i saw, both goalies [Hasek and Roy] were beating the living shit out of each other). So, you have to realzie that tempers do fly, but there are reasons. As far as American football...well, most players act like they're tough shit (like Terrell Owens), which makes them think they can beat the living shit out of another guys. It's that great ego of football players that makes them aggressive and violent. A majority of hockey players are smart; they know that their ego will not save them in the long run.

[NeonVomit]

Ok, first of all, I love ice hockey. I think it's a wonderful sport that requires heart, skill, and endurance. I played field hockey for many years so I undersand how it is.

BUT

I think the NHL season being cancelled is a GOOD thing. Yes, GOOD thing.

This just makes it totally plain and obvious that the sport was being totally overtaken by money and that's what everyone cared about.

Noone cares about the sport anymore except the fans, many of whom were too disgusted by the whole situation to care anymore. Instead of being a beautiful game which it was meant to be, it degraded to a big pissing contest between the (mostly overpaid and spoilt) players and the (mostly money-grabbing tightfisted uncaring) owners. What a load of shit! Hopefully now that the season has been cancelled pressure will increase on all parties to get their act together before next season.

Even better would be for the whole NHL to be scrapped.

Yup, that's right, SCRAPPED. Bye-bye, for good. Replaced with a new organisation. If the NHL dies, what will happen to all the professional players? Move back to Europe? Most of them are from Eastern European countries anyway. I think not, I think they'd be anxious to swallow their pride and their massively overhigh wages and settle for a new organisation where the focus would be less on money, and more on HOCKEY.

Wow, what a novel cocept! Sports coming BEFORE money!

[Neorave]

Ok, first of all, I love ice hockey. I think it's a wonderful sport that requires heart, skill, and endurance. I played field hockey for many years so I undersand how it is.

BUT

I think the NHL season being cancelled is a GOOD thing. Yes, GOOD thing.

This just makes it totally plain and obvious that the sport was being totally overtaken by money and that's what everyone cared about.

Noone cares about the sport anymore except the fans, many of whom were too disgusted by the whole situation to care anymore. Instead of being a beautiful game which it was meant to be, it degraded to a big pissing contest between the (mostly overpaid and spoilt) players and the (mostly money-grabbing tightfisted uncaring) owners. What a load of shit! Hopefully now that the season has been cancelled pressure will increase on all parties to get their act together before next season.

Even better would be for the whole NHL to be scrapped.

Yup, that's right, SCRAPPED. Bye-bye, for good. Replaced with a new organisation. If the NHL dies, what will happen to all the professional players? Move back to Europe? Most of them are from Eastern European countries anyway. I think not, I think they'd be anxious to swallow their pride and their massively overhigh wages and settle for a new organisation where the focus would be less on money, and more on HOCKEY.

Wow, what a novel cocept! Sports coming BEFORE money!

You share a good point, HOWEVER...I don't think the players were spoiled, but the players UNION is very spoiled. The union was complaining about that they didn't want a salary cap, but the players themselves were willing to take a salary cap with minor circumstances. Well, we all know who's more powerful as far as this labor dispute.

What they need to do is fire the Commissioner of the NHL and the Executive Director of the Players Association. They were both, by-far, the biggest assholes in the dispute. They never cared about the sport, but about the finances. Indeed, there should be pressure on both sides, and firing those two individuals would definitely be the breaking point of this whole thing.

And, yes, Sports before money would be a novel concept. That's why I don't watch American baseball. But, in order to get hockey back, there has to be a financial system set up where both players get paid fairly, and the franchises get paid fairly too without folding. Thay's why a salary cap needs to be in place. Already, at least 4 teams are in financial trouble if a salary cap is not in place.

[Wanderer]

Teemu Selänne is injured at the moment so he's not on the field. But however I got a thought when I watched the sport news last night. They said that "It wouldn't be a surprise to me if this lockout would end NHL". A Finnish coach said so. Hmm..

[htcdude]

I did my silence with SYmphony X playing in the background...hope that's ok

[Neorave]

Teemu Selänne is injured at the moment so he's not on the field. But however I got a thought when I watched the sport news last night. They said that "It wouldn't be a surprise to me if this lockout would end NHL". A Finnish coach said so. Hmm..

NO No no...the lockout will definitely NOT end the NHL. They still have some funds to keep the league going. There is a possibility that a few teams may fold after the lockout. That sucks about Selänne, he's an excellent player for the Sharks.

I did my silence with SYmphony X playing in the background...hope that's ok

Oh, good choice!

[NeonVomit]

I still think it would be better if the NHL ended now and a new league came up. Its reputation is damaged enough and i wouldn't be surprised if people tried to distance themselves from it.

[Wanderer]

The NHL and the NHLPA had a negotiation ín NYC. Of course, they couldn't make a deal.

[Warrior]

The NHL and the NHLPA had a negotiation ín NYC. Of course, they couldn't make a deal.

Surprise. Every time they're negotiating there are rumors that NHL will start soon. Imo the NHL is a joke now.

[ElDiablo]

Only few months until the World Championships. The only hockey that interests me.

[Wanderer]

There is one good thing with the lockout; there will be better players in the world championship. Once again, Finland will suck and Sweden will rule. Take my word fellows, that's how it's gonna be. Finns are not good in world championship.

[Neorave]

There is one good thing with the lockout; there will be better players in the world championship. Once again, Finland will suck and Sweden will rule. Take my word fellows, that's how it's gonna be. Finns are not good in world championship.

Well, you have a point there. I'm doing a mock hockey season using EA Sports NHL 2000 on the Playstation, and Sweden is so far undefeated: 5-0-0. They recently just beat the USA 5-4.

But, I can understand why they're so good, because you have a goddamn Colorado Avalanche player playing for Sweden. But, then again, Russia has the majority of excelent players from the NHL.

[Neorave]

The NHL and the NHLPA had a negotiation ín NYC. Of course, they couldn't make a deal.

Surprise. Every time they're negotiating there are rumors that NHL will start soon. Imo the NHL is a joke now.

Here's how the negotiations are in a nut shell:

NHL: do you guys want a salary cap?

NHLPA: NO!!!

(a few minutes later)

NHL: How about a salary cap?

NHLPA: HELL NO!!!!

(repeat the process)

Well, part of it is you can thank ESPN for bullshitting people that it may come back. They like to do that to hockey fans, you know.

[Wanderer]

Hah haa! U're right, buddy! I think that's how it's going. I only wish that Teemu Selänne would come back. It would be worth to go to see the games. The tickets are quite expensive: 13 euros (the cheapest) it is about the same in the US dollars.

[Neorave]

Hah haa! U're right, buddy! I think that's how it's going. I only wish that Teemu Selänne would come back. It would be worth to go to see the games. The tickets are quite expensive: 13 euros (the cheapest) it is about the same in the US dollars.

Actually, that's pretty cheap compared to ticket prices here in america. I think ticket prices can range from $20 to almost $100 (depending on the seating that you order and such). That's about 15 to 75 euros. It's pretty damn expensive.

[Wanderer]

Oh man that's expensive! Chees and I thought that the ticket's are high in here... Well the tickets are cheaper in the central and western Finland but somehowe the tickets are more expensive in Helsinki.