Hockey is Over...Almost

Here's the thing: I'm usually on the players side in these kinds of disputes. I hesitate referring to it as "labor" vs. "management" because, well, labor doesn't make millions per year. But, in any event, I usually side with the players.

Except this time.

Hockey players' salaries are escalating. Do the owners share in the blame? Of course. They were greedy and took all those entrance fees from the new teams when the league expanded. But they don't have a national tv contract, they don't have the advertising the other sports do, and the local tv contracts aren't great. And the salaries are approaching football levels.

The NHL is the sports version of Arrested Development. Hey - or even Sports Night. Great shows, but no one watches. Here in the States, besides me, there are a couple dozen people in Buffalo and Detroit, 5 guys from Saskatchewan named Gordie or Barry living in Tennessee and an entrepreneur from Burnaby, British Columbia who lives in Florida who care. NO ONE ELSE CARES. This is what hockey players don't get. Is the sport great? YES!!! I love it. But like I said, it's me and a bunch of Canadian ex-pats who feel this way. There's no money for these huge salaries.

I am (was) a RABID fan. But oh well. Thanks for caring. I really appreciate it, guys. But now I care less and less each passing minute. Who needs hockey? I've got my Sports Night and Arrested Development DVDs.