Americans, in general, don't like hockey. I've heard all the excuses: "I can't see the puck", "I don't know the rules", "the only cool part is the fighting". Ok, fine, but all it takes is a little bit of effort and a little bit of patience (neither of these are attributes displayed by the average American male, but I'll leave that for another time) to enjoy the sport.
Hockey and the NHL will never be immensely popular in the U.S. A small fraction of American children grow up playing hockey. Even I can admit that it is pretty odd that both LA and Phoenix have hockey teams. But besides the NHL's minor flaws, it really is a shame that more people aren't interested in the game. Hockey contains all the elements of an exciting and intriguing sport: speed, skill, contact, and bonus...fighting. The NHL contains all the elements of a great league: young stars in Ovechkin and Crosby, parity (13 teams in the West have a shot at the playoffs), the best jerseys in sports(the Blackhawks, sorry Yankees), and the best trophy in sports to name a few. There are a plethora of sports entertainment opportunities in this country, and hockey is often disregarded, but here is how the NHL stacks up against its major competitors.
NHL vs. NBA
The NBA puts out a pretty good product these days. Lebron and Kobe are unstoppable, the Celtics and Lakers are at the tops of their respective conferences, and...ok that's all I can think of. In what other sport do you find yourself changing the channel more at the end of a game, when teams exchange fouls and free throws for a seemingly infinite amount of time? Is it really that intriguing to watch Lebron walk down the court with the ball, make one move and chuck up a 25 footer at least 12 times a game? Hockey is played at a break-neck speed for 60 minutes, the last five minutes of a close game are unbelievably exciting, and you will never see a player bitch slap another player and back away as he pretends to struggle against his teammates' restraint (see, Carmelo Anthony).
NHL vs. MLB
Baseball is my favorite sport. Even if it wasn't, as an American, I'm contractually obligated to say I like it more than hockey. It is the great American past time, and it is America's sport. Those that argue for football being such were either dropped as children or are simply communists. There is truly nothing better than going to the ballpark in September to watch your team in a pennant race. However, let's remember that Major League Baseball was carried by cheaters and liars for about a generation. One great thing about hockey is the honesty and integrity that the players exhibit. You can almost be certain that there are no roids in the game, because if there was any suspicion within the league, the guy would get his face bashed in.
NHL vs. NFL
This could be tough. The NFL is incredibly popular. It markets itself extemely well, and the ease of fantasy football only adds to the popularity. But for me, some things are missing. Where are the intense rivalries? Niners Cowboys was good in the early 90s, but they play each other twice a decade or something. Packers Bears? I don't have a logical argument against that one, but intrigue is not a word I would use to describe it. There are rivalries in the NHL that compare only to those of European soccer clubs. Try wearing a Canadiens jersey to the Boston Garden, or an Oilers jersey to the Saddledome in Calgary. I'll save you the blackeye...don't do it.
NHL vs. MLS
Haha, no, just kidding.
Since it would be sacrilegious not to mention Barry Melrose in my first hockey blog, he says that hockey is the greatest game in the World. Agree or disagree, I can with 100% honesty tell you that he has an argument. So, if you don't like hockey (and still want to listen to me preach), please take the four minutes it takes to learn the rules, and go to a game. You will enjoy it.
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The point you make about the NHL relative to the NBA is very true and it definitely makes my heart beat faster in the last few minutes of a hockey game.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the NHL really suffered from the recent rule changes that upped scoring. I know that adding offense is the only way to draw in a wider fan base, but my more traditional leanings are showing and I think that the game you see played today is very (almost radically) different than what you saw 15-20 years ago.
Scott McCarron is out of bounds on his Mickelson comments and should be assessed a two-stroke penalty or just a good slap in the face. Said slap should be gentle and respectful and designed to awaken Scott's senses.
ReplyDeleteGolf is a game of rules and honesty. Mickelson and other players using the Ping Eye 2 wedges are playing by the rules. They are being honest about the use of the clubs - not concealing their use or deceiving other players.
So I will here advise Scott McCarron to stop wasting his energy fretting over the actions of others and 1. Spend more time practicing and 2. Get a Ping wedge.
As football season drops below the horizon of our American consciousness, we former linemen shove into position for the last word. And the last word is "ball". Not "balls" but "ball".
ReplyDeleteFor years we have remained silent while football commentators and wiz kids made reference to the "skill" positions. Last weeks run-up to the Super Bowl was no different. We former linemen sat by quietly as analysts disected the Saints and Colts. The "skill" players this and the "skill" players that. This personal interst story, that celebrity date. Oh, the "skill" players are so handsome, so clever, so athletic, so fast, so strong. They drive Jags.
But no more.
Please. What the analysts are really talking about are players that touch the ball. Big deal. These are players, men, that were born fast. Born with "hops". Sons of sprinters. Sons of leapers. Gods. They catch the ball. Run with the ball. Throw the ball. The camera follows the ball and oh yea, it follows them.
But no more.
We linemen won't take it any longer.
"Skills"? Running from danger? Let's see, that would be the tailback and that skill would be about 25,000 years old. Jumping higher than your opponent, yes, about 500,000 years in the making.
Oh, but skill players, don't they date Kate?
Now blocking, that's a skill. Try it some time. Try pushing up against someone who is trying to escape you. No grabbing. All you can do is shove and move. That's just not natural. Try to stay on your feet and stop a fellow who has had a running start. Try it some time.
So we're done. From now on, all football analysts will stop referring to "skill" players. Say it, they touch the "ball". We're all football players. And if you don't like it, tough. Come get us. We'll sit on you.