Bettman has always cared more about the fans they dont have yet, then caring about the ones they do have.
At this point I have alot in my life to keep me busy and I've realized I can live without the NHL (atleast for a little while).
Eventually they will damage the very fanbase that has keep this league alive. Continue to bite the hands that feeds you and you might not like what happens.
JJ killed a loyal fanbase, think of markets that don't have the loyal fansbase the bruins have.
Hopefully, but I am more in the Randy category in terms of how I feel right now. I know I will obviously watch and love hockey...that never goes away but I just dont even notice life without it right now. Furthermore I think both sides are making an incredibly stupid business decision because if hardcore fans like myself, Randy and others have sour tastes than imagine the fringe fan mindset.
I have purposely not even paid attention to it so I dont become more disgruntled, but the NHL has a history of shooting themselves in the foot whenever they gain popularity.
Agree 110%.... Would watch it if on, still love it, don't really miss it. Maybe in January when there is no more NFL 3 nights a week, but right now I don't even think about it..This happens every time they don't have an agreement. Neither side cares until it runs out. Hard to get into something where you can basically write it in pen that every 6 years or so you will have an interruption. The players are very likeable on the ice, but when these things happen, and they scatter all over the world instead of unifying and fighting as a whole, day in and day out it irks me....If 400 of these guys picketed outside the NHL offices every day, this would have been over by now IMO. The owners, well they are just never likeable...except at victory parades :-)
Way to undermine any shred of progress that has been made this week.
This is exactly why people shouldn't get their hopes up.
He seems to lightly tred on the 2 most important issues of the lockout, revenue sharing and cap percentages, and focus on somewhat meaningless (in the grand scheme) contractual issues.
Way to undermine any shred of progress that has been made this week.
This is exactly why people shouldn't get their hopes up.
I hope they can work through it. However that letter has killed any optimism I had going into the weekend. I honestly think if these talks break down, we will see the end of the season.
I hope the owners bring in replacement players and break this union. The fact that players are playing elsewhere during a work stoppage gives me absolutely 0 respect for the NHLPA. If I walk off my job, I stand outside in the cold and picket. I don't go work somewhere else.
This league has always cared more about the fans they dont have yet, then caring about the ones they do have.
At this point I have alot in my life to keep me busy and I've realized I can live without the NHL (atleast for a little while).
Eventually they will damage the very fanbase that has keep this league alive. Continue to bite the hands that feeds you and you might not like what happens.
JJ killed a loyal fanbase, think of markets that don't have the loyal fansbase the bruins have.
I dont take any of this personal. Been thru this in all sports- and if I let this stuff get to me I would not follow football, baseball, hockey, or even basketball; if I judged most of my friends on perfection and poor decisions I would have no friends and I'd probably have to learn to shave without a mirror.
I expect them to be back some day- it would be wierd if 200 years from now the last hockey game ever played was the LA Kings winning the Cup; if thats the case I'd have much rather the lockout been been a year earlier so the last goal ever scored in the history of mankind was by Brad Marchand.
by this time next week they'll all be smiling as Elvis Costello's version of Whats so Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding, plays in the background.
This is a lock to get done- once both sides know the other is sincere the 'squeezing every last drop has to take place.'
If it is not done this weekend- after a long weekend they will close this by Thursday the 15th latest
As much as people want the NHL and NHLPA to be close to a deal on a new collective bargaining agreement, they’re not. At least, there’s no real information or evidence that should lead you to believe that an agreement is at hand. There’s lots of guessing and media speculation, but little real information.*
What about the fact they’re still meeting in New York? Sure, that’s good. But it doesn’t mean they’re agreeing on anything at all.
The second thing you have to avoid is believing that we are at a critical stage, or at the brink, or that D-Day is upon us, or any of the terms bandied about to suggest the talks are at a pivotal moment.
The player should agree to a 48-52 split in the owners favor the first year, not reduce the cap, and then slowly put it to 50-50, if the players want the owners to concede on contracts and ufa status they will have to give in the end
This gets done by next week or we lose the season IMO. Point of no return
I know these guys have to write something but I really wish they'd just cork themselves. Right now, nobody knows anything. Even that memo doesn't say anything relevatory.
I never know what to believe with these damn talks. Up one minute, down the next. Unbelievably frustrating. No matter what side is wrong, Bettman needs to be gone. 3 lockouts in 15 years is inexcusable, that wouldn't cut it in any big or small business, nor can i imagine would it fly in the NFL or any highly watched and covered league in the states.
If the NHL expects me to be happy when they come to a deal they can go **** themselves there was no need for this.
Does everyone see this league is a joke by now NFL has a lockout that misses 1 preseason game has mass media on espn all you hear is the lockout every living second. The NHL network is not even said a peep about this lockout they know there is no season and frankly I was rideing it throught but now that its got this far its over. I am not going to be taken advantage and for granted anymore no more NHL merchendise I will not even go to a game for free I might watch but it took 3 years for the NHL to get me back last time.
Issue is Fehr is a hired gun. There is zero incentive for him to back down and give an inch. He is being paid to get the best deal he can period. He doesnt care if it takes 5 days, 5 months or 5 years. The longer it takes the better it is in the eyes of Fehr as it makes him look more like a tough negotiator and worth the insane amount I am sure he is paid.
If the NHL expects me to be happy when they come to a deal they can go **** themselves there was no need for this.
Does everyone see this league is a joke by now NFL has a lockout that misses 1 preseason game has mass media on espn all you hear is the lockout every living second. The NHL network is not even said a peep about this lockout they know there is no season and frankly I was rideing it throught but now that its got this far its over. I am not going to be taken advantage and for granted anymore no more NHL merchendise I will not even go to a game for free I might watch but it took 3 years for the NHL to get me back last time.
Of course you're not going to get anything on ESPN about the lockout. Comparing it to the NFL coverage is ridiculous; ESPN just doesn't cover the NHL, period. As for the NHL Network, it's owned by the league. What do you expect?
I expect it over by next Thursday- however, my guess is Don Fehr will do a good enough job to leave the owners or some of them all grumpy and we will see this all again when the next opening in the CBA happens....in the end I think they all are pissed off to some degree, the players, the rich owners, the small market, the fans....just smells like it will not leave anyone feeling full
Issue is Fehr is a hired gun. There is zero incentive for him to back down and give an inch. He is being paid to get the best deal he can period. He doesnt care if it takes 5 days, 5 months or 5 years. The longer it takes the better it is in the eyes of Fehr as it makes him look more like a tough negotiator and worth the insane amount I am sure he is paid.
I thought Fehr worked for the players and not the other way around
Way to undermine any shred of progress that has been made this week.
This is exactly why people shouldn't get their hopes up.
Is anything that was said in this memo unfair at ALL?
Same thing I've heard since the start of this whole process. The players are expected to make 100% of the concessions - and the fans expect them to just take it.
