No hockey ... how are you coping?
Yes, the title is a bit tounge in cheek ...
I don't think the owners have been very smart for many years and I think it's time the players were weened off the teat.
I've said, in many hocky rants over the years, that hockey players should be paid at a flat rate. This could be depending on their seniority, I don't care but all players fall under this pay scheme. Then at the end of the season you determine, based on performance/incentives what their bonus could be.
Someone mentioned today that this is how some quarterback gets paid (CFL I think?) and I think it's totally awesome. They said he got paid so much at the start and at the end of a season made close to 9 million. If this is close to accurate then that's is just great.
I can't stand the fact that there are people fighting over so much money. I can't stand the fact that I will be unable to take my kid (I don't dare think of bringing both of them or my wife also) unless I start saving now for a game in the 2008 series (that is if I can get a ticket too).
As for the NHL cancelling, I don't think I care. I miss the games on Wednesday and Saturday nights. I miss the playoffs. Since this began I have started to find other things to do/watch. If/when the NHL come back I doubt I'd be on board right away (if at all).
I looked into taking my son to a Guelph Storm game. Total cost for tickets for he and I will be $20.00. I think I'll be catching a few of those games from now on.
I don't think the owners have been very smart for many years and I think it's time the players were weened off the teat.
I've said, in many hocky rants over the years, that hockey players should be paid at a flat rate. This could be depending on their seniority, I don't care but all players fall under this pay scheme. Then at the end of the season you determine, based on performance/incentives what their bonus could be.
Someone mentioned today that this is how some quarterback gets paid (CFL I think?) and I think it's totally awesome. They said he got paid so much at the start and at the end of a season made close to 9 million. If this is close to accurate then that's is just great.
I can't stand the fact that there are people fighting over so much money. I can't stand the fact that I will be unable to take my kid (I don't dare think of bringing both of them or my wife also) unless I start saving now for a game in the 2008 series (that is if I can get a ticket too).
As for the NHL cancelling, I don't think I care. I miss the games on Wednesday and Saturday nights. I miss the playoffs. Since this began I have started to find other things to do/watch. If/when the NHL come back I doubt I'd be on board right away (if at all).
I looked into taking my son to a Guelph Storm game. Total cost for tickets for he and I will be $20.00. I think I'll be catching a few of those games from now on.
Comments
9 million for one player in the CFL? hahaha most teams dont even have that as a total payroll..
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050211/CALVILLO11/TPSports/Football
(400k is about tops).
I'm sure you meant NFL..
As for hockey, both sides are stupid.
In the long run this whole thing may be good for the game. I think they should fold about 10 teams.
flush with talent, and perhaps even playing in front of a
Full House, but, negotiations have been a flop!!
I thought it was going to take a turn today...but, all the fans in the
end were left up sh*ts river.....
no hockey leaves TSN with more time to show poker...
As for coping, June is just around the corner, I've always been a big CFL fan. I've been spending more time with my family, watching more movies and have had more free money (That I spent on Canucks tickets and pay per views) for other things. When the league does resume I'll still be a big fan but they will not be seeing any money from me for at least 2-3 years. I will buy no tickets, I will watch no pay per views and I will buy no merchandise. I hope others do the same and hurt them where it hurts most, the pocketbook.
Since the start, I have leaned to the owners side more so than the players. I just feel that the owners need to get control of the game back in order to make it profitable for everyone again. The players have taken advantage of weak ownership for several years, and rightly so...I remember quite well when it was the the other way around, and the players were getting screwed. But now is the time to heal the game and create a new league, preferrably with the current player base. Working together will create more synergy than this constant conflict going on recently.
Now all offers from both sides are off the table, as there is no longer any deadline to meet. They have until next fall at the earliest to come up with something, but I doubt they will even get together before Sept'05...and it will all start all over again.
For shame, NHL. Shame, shame NHLPA. It's time to grow up and work together to solve this and get the game back into action.
but really tho you know theres a problem when an NHL player wont play for Nashville for 1.5 mill per season but moves his wife and kids to europe to play for 2-3 hun thousand???
They need to adress the issues and get the game back on.This should of started when the last strike ended..(working on this proposal) but there are obviously some things we arent seeing thats going on to prevent this from happening.
Just an overall sad situation.I like the idea of a flat salary with the bonuses at the end of a season ,not a bad idea!
- The NHLPA has funds in their war chest to continue paying the players but the question is how long will it last. Speculation is months, not years.
- It has been assured that there will be hockey in the fall. With all offers having been pulled from the table and the Owners/PA back at square one, this likely means that replacement players will be used. I personally think this is a great idea. Bring in some people that may never have gotten a chance to play at this level. It's like a team of Chris Moneymakers.
- If/when replacement players are used a lot of Europian hockey players will likey not come back.
GO <insert profitable team here> GO !!!
If anyone thinks that prices will come down when salaries do, they are naive. The owners will charge what the market will bear (viz. the 11 dollar beers at the ACC for Raptors games). Any extra revenue in Toronto will go straight to the teacher's pension fund.
Pro hockey has generally been out of reach for my family and myself for years, except as the occasional treat. We do watch on television though, and would like to see it return.
Anyway, Go Storm Go!!! Hope they make the playoffs.
For the first time in seven months, NHL hockey is front and centre on a Satruday, albeit in a very different way.
Just three days after cancelling the 2004-2005 season, both the NHL and NHL Players' Association are now meeting in New York in an effort to table a new collective bargaining agreement and perhaps save the season - again.
Watch TSN and SportsCentre and click on to TSN.ca throughout the weekend for updates as they are made available.
Suggestions that a deal was reached to end the NHL lockout were at best premature and at worst dead wrong, multiple sources told TSN late Friday night.
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The optimism was fueled first by news that the two sides were set to meet today, and then by the arrival of Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux to join the discussions.
There were also several reports that Gretzky and Lemieux had actually managed to broker a deal, but both reports were quickly denied by both the NHL and the Players Association.
"The report is absolutely false," an NHLPA spokesman said late Friday night in reference to the first such story, which came from The Hockey News website.
That sentiment was echoed by NHL vice president Bill Daly, who told TSN it was "entirely untrue and without foundation."
While it's still possible the two sides could reach an agreement Saturday, a source close to the talks called the chances of that taking place "very remote".
Still, the fact that the two sides are talking again was greeted as welcome news.
"I've said all along that the most important thing is coming to an agreement," said New Jersey Devils CEO and GM Lou Lamoriello. "Even after the season was cancelled it was just so important to get together as soon as possible.
"And I commend both of them for agreeing to do it. And now, get it done."
Since NHL Commissioner announced the cancellation of the season Wednesday afternoon, there has been a flurry of activity in hockey circles, with general managers, agents and players desperately trying to resuscitate the talks.
"I think both sides took a step back the next day and realized 'we were that close,"' Calgary Flames superstar Jarome Iginla said Friday night from Edmonton. "And I think both sides realized that for the big hit hockey would take, maybe we needed to take another crack at it."
"I can only hope that both sides realize they owe to the game to allow common sense to prevail," veteran agent Don Meehan of Newport Sports said Friday night from his Mississauga office.
But there remain serious differences that must be bridged.
There are several owners upset with the league's final offer of a $42 million dollar salary cap, feeling it was too high.
"That number ($42.5 million) would have been a tough sell at a governor's meeting," said one high ranking team executive contacted by TSN.
On the players' side, there are those who felt betrayed by the union's decision to agree to a salary cap so late in the process, after vehemently refusing even to consider one previously.
Several participants on both sides of the divide have been discussing a "laddered" salary cap - one that would start at $42.5 million, and gradually work it's way up to $45 million, and those suggestions were mentioned frequently by those who felt there was a deal imminent.
But as of now, no such deal exists.
You sure about the average player's career being 4 years? Thinking of all the players names I know, it seems like a lot longer. Are you also factoring in the endorsment deals the players make?
Sorry but I feel little to no sympathy for the players.
I honestly think that will change. Call me naive if you like but I don't think the current trend of salaries for the players will continue and I don't think the current trend of cost for a game for Joe Average will continue either.
I'm also at a loss as to why CBC hasn't taken the opportunity to show other hockey games in the Saturday time slot.
I've read the same thing elsewhere. As an average 4 years sounds right. Many many players don't last that long. For a journeyman it's a tough job to hold.
Good point, unfortunately the "big show" is the only game in town as far as ratings are concerned. But you would/should expect better from a public broadcaster.
lol ... Ya think they'd at least play HOCKEY movies. hehe