Superstar badge Chargers&Wings

Killing time at work  RSS - Killing time at work

Name: Private | Gender: M | Member Since December 12, 2006
Current Level: Superstar | Email: Private
Favorite
Teams
Blog Home

Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan

Posted on: May 7, 2008 9:04 am
 

Gentlemen, I was listening to your program as I usually do on Monday morning, and you were talking about the NHL playoffs. After I cleaned up the coffee I spit all over my dashboard, I listened to what you said. You (specifically, Golic) said that the NHL needs Pittsburgh in the Stanley Cup playoffs more than they would have needed New York, because the NHL needs a "face" to market their product. You then said that "this sport is dying" and "this sport is in trouble". Greeny did not say much because he was too busy thinking about that 5K he ran over the weekend.

I have a few issues with what you said. First, while I commend you for actually including hockey in your football-lovefest that is your radio show, maybe if you actually took the time to talk about it more, you would have some credibility when discussing the state of hockey. I find it laughable that you say "this sport is in trouble" when attendance, tv ratings and revenue are up pretty much across the board. I don't really care what you have to say about hockey since you NEVER TALK ABOUT IT. Perhaps part of the reason that hockey "is in trouble" is because your very own network refuses to give it even 5 minutes of airtime in it's 4 hour marathon Sportscenter shows. Game 2 of an NBA basketball game ends, and we get 2 hours of coverage. But Game 6 ends in a 4 OT thriller, and we get a casual mention of it. Plus, when you have Barry Melrose as your "face" of hockey on your network, we all know you don't take hockey seriously. Please, for the sake of hockey fans everywhere, either learn something about the sport so you can talk about it intelligently, or don't mention it at all. If I want true NHL coverage and analysis, I'll stick with TSN.CA and the NHL Network. Just continue to talk about what you know best: football, baseball, a tiny bit of basketball, and Roger Clemens.

Signed,
A True Hockey Fan

Category: NHL
Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar
Since: Apr 3, 2008
Posted on: May 7, 2008 10:31 am

Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan

Well said Chargers....your blogs are always a great read!



Reputation: 98
Level: Superstar
Since: Apr 21, 2008
Posted on: May 7, 2008 2:06 pm

Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan

Although I do agree with the statements you've made in this blog I do have a question. Would ESPN's pathetic hockey coverage be the fault of ESPN, or could we focus some the blame on Bettman. I don't want this to sound like I'm defending anyone, or trying to throw Bettman under the bus, but it certainly seems as though this could be mostly his doing (if even inadvertantly). ESPN dropped their coverage of hockey during the lockout. Though I find this intriguing since baseball can suffer through 2 lockouts and still not suffer any consequences for doing so.

I don't want this to sound like I am sloely blaming Bettman for the lockout, but he certainly could have done more to repair the relationship with ESPN. As it stands for someone like me living in a non NHL market it is very expensive for me to get the ability to watch hockey. a deal with ESPN would certainly help with that. I find it appalling that the NHL would resort to having their PLAYOFF games on such an obscure station as Versus. My case as an example for me to have the ability to watch the playoff games on Versus, I would have to pay my satelite provider TWICE as much as I currently do, and the only reason why I would even consider doing so is so I can watch NHL Playoffs. It seems like Bettman is doing more to keep hockey down, than he is in trying to build it up.

Please let me know your thoughts.



Reputation: 99
Level: Superstar
Since: Dec 12, 2006
Posted on: May 8, 2008 8:39 am

Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan

wingnut, the lockout effectively destroyed any exposure or love hockey got from ESPN. In terms of the lockout, I blame not only Bettman and the owners, but also the players to some degree. If you remember, the main sticking point was a salary cap, which the NHLPA did not want (specifically, Goodenow). However, what is in place now? If the players had of accepted the cap and forced the owners to make concessions on other things, they might have avoided an entire season of no hockey. My rant here was to Mike & Mike specifically, since a lot of people listen to them in the morning, and they are on the "Worldwide Leader of Sports". The problem is that ESPN does not give enough airtime (IMO) to one of the 4 major professional sports leagues in this country. How they can ignore this sport that is literally watched by millions of people every year in this country is baffling to me. But, yes, Bettman and the NHL are partially to blame here.



Reputation: 97
Level: Superstar
Since: Apr 21, 2008
Posted on: May 8, 2008 8:46 am

Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan

I tend to see more soccer highlights than I do hockey on espn, but then again I don't watch ESPN very often for the simple fact the know absolutely nothing about hockey. I completely agree with your blog.



Reputation: 98
Level: Superstar
Since: Dec 22, 2007
Posted on: May 12, 2008 7:59 pm

Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan

I have given up on ESPN except for the NFL, although even that is starting to wane with the NFL network.

With hockey launching its own network and their expanded website not to mention all of the user blogs and Canadien newspapers to get, I don't need them anymore.  No more patiently waiting for some minimal exposure.

As far M&M, they cater to things that don't interest me and I am liberated from their content and "takes" on what they "think" is popular.

BTW...Are they still on?



About Killing time at work
I don't always have a lot to do here (well, I probably should be working, but what are you going to do?). I'm a Canadian boy (born in Toronto) who moved to the burbs of Chicago for a girl. This is my take on sports that I care about (mostly hockey, no basketball).
Recent Blog Entries
Dear Mike & Mike - from a hockey fan
CBS Sports Blogs
Advertisement  

Chargers&Wings' Favorites
Featured Community Writer badge Superstar badge LTowns515's blog about the chargers
3 to blame to lost against steelers
1
November 18, 2008 6:53 pm
Top 1000 badge Superstar badge Tarkus Malarkus' Corner
Idiot of the Week Honors: Week Eleven
4
November 18, 2008 6:44 pm
Staff badge Superstar badge Shulaces
Photo caption contest: Two guys on a motorcycle?
75
November 18, 2008 11:26 am
Featured Community Writer badge Superstar badge In the Crease
Johnny Hockeyseed: Thoughts after a 4-0 Red Wings
1
November 17, 2008 11:49 pm
Superstar badge cmc18v
"Hot" Relationship
2
November 17, 2008 8:56 pm
Superstar badge Keepin' Score -- Bengals, Reds, Wings
OFF-TOPIC: CFB -- polls fairly stable for now
0
November 17, 2008 12:36 pm
Featured Community Writer badge Superstar badge Guaranteed To Raise Sports IQs
NBA Power Rankings Through November 16th, 2008
0
November 17, 2008 12:56 am
Superstar badge The Bakery
Lions vs. Titans - Thanksgiving Day
18
November 15, 2008 11:27 am
Staff badge Superstar badge Backhand shots
This time it's for good
1
November 14, 2008 8:45 pm
Featured Community Writer badge Superstar badge I'll mouth off. You peons will listen.
Wild Begin "Alternation Streak" with a Bang
2
November 14, 2008 7:06 pm
Superstar badge Greatest Goalie of all time
What does a Goalie do at 1:13 am?
0
November 11, 2008 1:22 am
Superstar badge JJ's Jests
Bobcats 2-4, MJ still looking to add pieces
0
November 11, 2008 12:35 am
Featured Community Writer badge Superstar badge Mind of The Big B
Big B's Fav 5 Pistons
10
November 10, 2008 7:52 pm
All-Star badge overreacting media
Ramblings Via Yawk
14
November 6, 2008 10:34 am
Superstar badge The Checkout Line
Red Wings Bye Week???
4
November 5, 2008 7:35 pm
Top 1000 badge Superstar badge And now, it's baseball time
From a sad old white guy....on election day
8
November 4, 2008 6:13 pm
Superstar badge Cheerleaders ... Who's better ?
CHARGERS BEAT THE PATRIOTS !!!!
1
October 12, 2008 11:45 pm
Staff badge Superstar badge Changing Lines
Welcome home, Z
1
October 11, 2008 10:32 pm
All-Star badge Detroit Sports Central
Red Wings future signings
0
October 11, 2008 5:29 pm
Superstar badge Chargersgrl's musings...
Wow. How did this happen?
5
September 30, 2008 10:39 am
Superstar badge The Wayward Son of Steeltown
The logo shouldn't make you hate the player.
0
September 23, 2008 10:23 pm
Superstar badge The Kansas City Royals 2008 Edition
My thoughts on Hillman so far
0
September 18, 2008 11:50 pm
Superstar badge Life, the Universe and Everything Sports
NFL 2008-09-- First Impressions
2
September 7, 2008 11:20 pm
Superstar badge The Blog of TDB
Fantasy Football Team
3
August 28, 2008 12:17 am
Top 1000 badge Superstar badge All around sports
I'd like to get to know why all the Yankee hating
30
August 13, 2008 3:07 pm
Superstar badge We've lost a Renaissance man
We've lost a Renaissance man
4
August 12, 2008 1:39 pm
Superstar badge A Baseball Obsession
Grady Sizemore...Next Member of the 40-40 Club?
1
August 6, 2008 10:31 am
Superstar badge Open up and say AHHH!
Can you believe we almost got football already?
6
July 22, 2008 1:44 am
Superstar badge The Stanley Cup Finals Sizzle or Fizzle?
Give me your thoughts on Hockey!
11
July 7, 2008 12:09 am
Top 1000 badge Superstar badge Rabble Rousing
Back with a Vengeance
3
June 25, 2008 11:49 pm
Superstar badge the cardinals blog
all star voting at an all time low
1
June 21, 2008 7:07 pm
Superstar badge Tigertowner's Corner
"At the Dish" Imploding Indians, Tanking Tigers
0
June 18, 2008 4:24 pm
Top 1000 badge Superstar badge Detroit Sports/America's Team
Detroit Redwings Group
3