NHL strike: I blame it on Bush

[njdemocrat106]

If Kerry had won, I think we would have had hockey by now, with Kerry being a fan of hockey and all.
Flame away :smoke:

[MaineDem]

1. I thought it was a lockout

Granted, I haven't looked into this as much as others, I'm sure, but I thought the owners were locking the players out. No?

[tx_dem41]

2. Yep....not a strike...its a lockout. n/t

[njdemocrat106]

5. Yep, I did mean to type "lockout" (honestly!)

I did hear that the players made an offer to take a 25% paycut or something to that effect (My brother mentioned it to me - he's an even bigger fan than I am). Of course 25% less than what the average player makes is still more money than I'll ever probably see in my lifetime ;-)

[KitchenWitch]

3. yup Lockout - anti-union

Definitely Bush LOL

[Bluzmann57]

4. Another example of owners being so anti-Union

that they are going to kill the product. I worked for a company like that once, hell bent on breaking the Union, broke it all right, also broke the company. The NHL is going the same route. Please remember to mention this fact to anyone who refers to this as a "strike". It's a lockout, the players were willing to play hockey, the owners were not willing to let them. R.I.P. NHL

[MrSlayer]

6. It's all Bettman's fault.

He is the worst commissioner in any sport ever and has flat out ruined the game. They should get rid of his stupid ass, all his expansion teams, give us back Winnipeg and Quebec City and bring back the bench clearing brawl.

[jakefrep]

11. I agree with the Winnipeg & Quebec City part...

...but hockey would be better without the bench clearing brawl.

[MrSlayer]

14. I just loved the game in the 80's so much compared to now.

You had everything. Great skill, great hitting, great fighting, no clutch and grab shit etc. Who can forget the great Montreal-Quebec rivalry and brawls? The Islanders-Rangers? Oilers-Flames? The Flyers and everyone? It was a much better game before Bettman made it corporate. You had all your superstars like Gretzky, Lemieux, Bossy, Yzerman and Hawerchuk lighting it up but you also had your enforcers like Nilan, Semenko, Tim Hunter, Holt, Brubaker and Rissling making sure those guys got their space. The NHL was never going to be the NFL or NBA and Bettman ruined the sport but trying to make it so and failing miserably. Pro Hockey is a niche sport in the US, always has been, always will be. It is at once base brutality and classic grace. I hate what it has become.

[devilgrrl]

7. All due respect for unions, however...

it's a little difficult sticking up for people who make 6 figure salaries and most likely - vote Republican!

There are no innocent parties in this lock-out - they're all assholes!

[hasbro]

9. I really don't agree with representing the NHLPA as a Union

It strikes me more as a cartel. Using a limtied resource to drive the price up on the customer.

I would have alot more sympaty for them if they didn't act like it was Harlan County USA.

Not much love of either side.

[hasbro]

13. Expanding on my comments

I think one thing the NHLPA fails to realize is collective barganing and union protection is something the workforce by and large lacks and could be considered a comparative luxary.

I also hate how this is strictly a money issue for the players. They don't concern themselves with quality of play, safety issues ect...

[Forkboy]

8. This is the first time I've ever sided with owners

:shrug:

[chyjo]

10. As a Buffalo Sabres fan I have to side with Tom Galisano

Despite the fact that owning the sabres already not being a very profitable team he still cut Ticket prices to try to boost attendance last season. It's ridiculous that hockey players like Satan make millions when the sport is itself does not make money. And calling it a union is laughable ;they are looking out for the high end players, and not at all for the low-end players who are really being hurt by the lockout.

[hasbro]

12. As much as I hate Wal-Mart

I have to admit Stan Kronke is a pretty good owner and has done alot for the sports community. I'll give Kronkesports alot of defference because (underplans set forth by previous ownership) the new arena was built with private funds. the city owns the unviersity campus across the street and gets more money that way and the arena being in LoDo injects money into the econmy that way.