Let's face it, the NHL has officially made itself the punchline in its own joke. Now there have been some funny (not haha) rulings in the NHL playoffs over the years, but the two decisions this week leave even the most casual fan scratching their head trying to figure out the real meaning.
Now I'm not very old, contrary to what my co-workers say, but I remember way back in '87 when Ron Hextall brought the axe down on Kent Nilsson. In the wisdom of the day, Hextall was suspended 8 games, the next season. What? So he is allowed to play at the most crucial time of year, but then has to sit out the next year? WOW! That was a doozie.
But at least there was no real precedent. But what happened on the ice this week seemed to have something to go from in the very recent history.
In Game 1 between Philly and Pittsburgh, with the game out of reach and single digits on the clock, Daniel Carcillo lined up for a face-off with Max Talbot. As the puck was dropped Carcillo threw a roundhouse punch with the top hand on his stick, right to the kisser of Talbot. Suspendable offence? In the eyes of the League, Yes. Fine the Coach, Yes. Case closed.
Move one day forward, the scene Chicago. The Blackhawks are taking on the Calgary Flames. Early in the third period in a tie game, Mike Cammalleri lines up on the wing across from Martin Havlat. At the drop of the puck the Calgary forward spins and punches the Hawks Havlat in the face with the top hand on his stick. Virtually an exact replay of the incident in Pittsburgh 24 hours earlier. Suspension? Fine? Nope....Hmmm. Something smells rotten here and it isn't the players equipment.
The League says it takes into account that Cammalleri is a first time offender. Umm. Actually he still is a no time offender, because he received no discipline for his action. The NHL also states that the game situation is also a factor. It was late in a loss for Carcillo, but Cammalleri did it with 20 minutes to go in a tie game.
So by this wonderful logic, the NHL is stating that its ok to go out and murder a person, as long as they don't make more money than you and if its not on a weekend. You can drive drunk, just do it in the afternoon in a nice car. If you are good looking, you're allowed to slap your wife around a little.
Boy, am I glad that the NHL doesn't govern the real world!!!
With this extremely hypocritical set of rulings, the NHL is once again setting two standards on the ice. It's undeniable. Both acts were the same. Should it really matter who and when? Isn't this a League that says a penalty in the 1st period is a penalty in overtime? (Ask Claude Giroux that one)
Now, for the record, I don't think either player should have faced suspension. And if you recall, Brett Hull's fot was in the crease. Nuff said!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Poor Puck Timing
Wow. The sun is shining, the temperature rising and hockey is finally heading to the post season. About damn time. Is it me or does the NHL regular season feel like it never ends? This mid-April rite of spring is nothing new, but maybe that's my beef. I shouldn't be throwing slabs of beef on the barbecue while watching hockey.
The NHL needs to seriously look at things. I know there is no clear solution on when to start the season. And reducing the number of games stands about a snowball's chance in June, oh wait, they are still playing hockey then, maybe there are snowballs. Owners don't want to give up revenue dates and really, isn't that what the game is about, money?
Its not only a Pro hockey thing. The WHL is still weeks away from wrapping up before the Memorial Cup even begins in May. The SJHL, bless its soul, has crowned a champ, but the Royal Bank Cup, still in the future.
To me, once the snow blindness of winter is gone, all I can see is golf, biking, and ball. Even in hotbeds of hockey such as Saskatchewan, the appeal of getting out of a cramped stuffy house that most of us have been held prisoner in for 6 long winter months, is far more exciting than Game 7 of the Cup finals.
Solutions? I have but a few. I just think that hockey is doing itself a disservice by not showcasing its best product at an optimal viewing time. Summer ends in late September. Let's drop the puck then. There we gain two weeks. Now scrap that entire sham of an all-star weekend/break. Now we have another week. Cut the schedule back to 70 games. That will give you another three weeks. There, We just gained five weeks and are playing for the Holy Grail at the end of April, before the links, paths and diamonds are open.
And if these changes were even marketed the right way in the least, there could be a chance that revenues could actually go up. Really! In Canada all the dates are sold out already, but now with 6 fewer home dates, you drive up demand. Games now are at a premium. As well, TV rights should also be clamoring to pay top dollar for fewer dates. And now, when the playoffs roll around in late February, there is no competition for the almighty buck on the sports scene. If you're the only show in town, then you should be the most watched, even in the US of A. More viewers equals more advertising money.
Maybe just maybe you could grab some of the NFL junkies looking for a sports fix after the Superbowl and suck them into the excitement that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Right now these chronics are just biding their time for the first pitch of MLB, but catch them while they're weak and they might just like the fastest game on ice.
The playoffs are truly the greatest time in sports, so maybe this makes no sense at all, but then again, does playing hockey in June?
The NHL needs to seriously look at things. I know there is no clear solution on when to start the season. And reducing the number of games stands about a snowball's chance in June, oh wait, they are still playing hockey then, maybe there are snowballs. Owners don't want to give up revenue dates and really, isn't that what the game is about, money?
Its not only a Pro hockey thing. The WHL is still weeks away from wrapping up before the Memorial Cup even begins in May. The SJHL, bless its soul, has crowned a champ, but the Royal Bank Cup, still in the future.
To me, once the snow blindness of winter is gone, all I can see is golf, biking, and ball. Even in hotbeds of hockey such as Saskatchewan, the appeal of getting out of a cramped stuffy house that most of us have been held prisoner in for 6 long winter months, is far more exciting than Game 7 of the Cup finals.
Solutions? I have but a few. I just think that hockey is doing itself a disservice by not showcasing its best product at an optimal viewing time. Summer ends in late September. Let's drop the puck then. There we gain two weeks. Now scrap that entire sham of an all-star weekend/break. Now we have another week. Cut the schedule back to 70 games. That will give you another three weeks. There, We just gained five weeks and are playing for the Holy Grail at the end of April, before the links, paths and diamonds are open.
And if these changes were even marketed the right way in the least, there could be a chance that revenues could actually go up. Really! In Canada all the dates are sold out already, but now with 6 fewer home dates, you drive up demand. Games now are at a premium. As well, TV rights should also be clamoring to pay top dollar for fewer dates. And now, when the playoffs roll around in late February, there is no competition for the almighty buck on the sports scene. If you're the only show in town, then you should be the most watched, even in the US of A. More viewers equals more advertising money.
Maybe just maybe you could grab some of the NFL junkies looking for a sports fix after the Superbowl and suck them into the excitement that is the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Right now these chronics are just biding their time for the first pitch of MLB, but catch them while they're weak and they might just like the fastest game on ice.
The playoffs are truly the greatest time in sports, so maybe this makes no sense at all, but then again, does playing hockey in June?
Monday, April 6, 2009
There is Crying in Curling
With just the slightest of kicks, the tears poured forth. That was the scene at the Optimist U-18 Curling Finals on Sunday.
With a 2-point lead, the girls from the Yukon played their last stone, a draw to the four-foot. As the rock lowed, it was suddenly spurred on just a little bit further by the foot of second Linea Eby. A mistake. An error. A tragedy. As soon as it happened, the young girl's face went pale. You could see the horror in her eyes as the decision of what to do was being made. But in her stomach the poor curler knew there was only one thing to do. Pull the rock off.
Immediately Eby began to cry. It was an unsettling feeling as Marlee Powers stepped into the hack to throw the final Nova Scotia stone that would eventually find the paint and score the win. Never have I heard the call to the sweepers overshadowed by the crying of one heartbroken girl.
Eby composed herself just long enough to shake hands, only to collapse again. To their credit, the Nova Sc0tia team were gracious in victory. In fact, the looked like they felt bad for winning, but after all, they did.
So often we only see the glory of sport and the winners. The tragedy that is losing seemingly is forgotten. For one poor girl from the Yukon, this will be a cross she will bear. Right or wrong.
Truth be told, the game was not lost on the mistake. In fact, had the rock stayed in play it was an easy takeout and the result would have been the same. But it was obvious in her mind that her error was the difference. Never mind its an 8-end game with 64 separate shots per team. This one little mistake certainly couldn't be any worse than sliding long on a draw in the third end.
The girls from the Yukon will head back north with silver medals around their necks, and should be proud of the medal hanging down in front of their hearts, even if they are broken.
------------------------------------------------
The Callie will host this event again next year and I for one hope to spend a lot more time at it. Real cool to see teams of kids from Canada, US and Asia go at it! I also hope to run into Linea Eby again at a curling rink somewhere and see her with a smile on her face. What doesn't kill you makes you better and nobody bounces back like kids!
With a 2-point lead, the girls from the Yukon played their last stone, a draw to the four-foot. As the rock lowed, it was suddenly spurred on just a little bit further by the foot of second Linea Eby. A mistake. An error. A tragedy. As soon as it happened, the young girl's face went pale. You could see the horror in her eyes as the decision of what to do was being made. But in her stomach the poor curler knew there was only one thing to do. Pull the rock off.
Immediately Eby began to cry. It was an unsettling feeling as Marlee Powers stepped into the hack to throw the final Nova Scotia stone that would eventually find the paint and score the win. Never have I heard the call to the sweepers overshadowed by the crying of one heartbroken girl.
Eby composed herself just long enough to shake hands, only to collapse again. To their credit, the Nova Sc0tia team were gracious in victory. In fact, the looked like they felt bad for winning, but after all, they did.
So often we only see the glory of sport and the winners. The tragedy that is losing seemingly is forgotten. For one poor girl from the Yukon, this will be a cross she will bear. Right or wrong.
Truth be told, the game was not lost on the mistake. In fact, had the rock stayed in play it was an easy takeout and the result would have been the same. But it was obvious in her mind that her error was the difference. Never mind its an 8-end game with 64 separate shots per team. This one little mistake certainly couldn't be any worse than sliding long on a draw in the third end.
The girls from the Yukon will head back north with silver medals around their necks, and should be proud of the medal hanging down in front of their hearts, even if they are broken.
------------------------------------------------
The Callie will host this event again next year and I for one hope to spend a lot more time at it. Real cool to see teams of kids from Canada, US and Asia go at it! I also hope to run into Linea Eby again at a curling rink somewhere and see her with a smile on her face. What doesn't kill you makes you better and nobody bounces back like kids!
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