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[dem]

Keep fightin the good fight, Al.


http://torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2005/06/22/1099254-sun.html

The NHL is trying to create a new economic system. It has decided that the age-old concept of supply and demand is not viable for its endeavours. (The system has worked since cave men traded mastodon meat for stone axes, but it's not good enough for the NHL.)

The players provided the league with a perfectly workable system back on Dec. 9 and even offered to roll back salaries to the level that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had demanded. But Bettman turned down that offer for the simple reason that he couldn't trust the owners to use common sense.

And no matter what you might have read in some of the other newspapers, they haven't come to terms on the numbers that will be used in that agreement. All they have are the concepts -- what you can do and what you can't.

When this document is finished, it will be far beyond the comprehension of most general managers.

And the fans? The fans won't have a clue what's happening.

The complexities of the new CBA will be far beyond them. They will be told if a trade has been made, but they will have no idea why so many other trades failed or why their favourite team is incapable of addressing its shortcomings.

The NHL has long been a league operated largely by lawyers. Now, it will be a league totally dominated by lawyers.

No wonder the new CBA is taking so long to hammer out. The lawyers are busy creating their ground rules for the league they will run.

God dammit.. i wanted to quote only the silly lines.
I ended up with the whole damned column :lol

 

[VALIS]

Except Strachan and Larry Brooks have been right all along. They're the only people who've called it as it is instead of putting a rosey, pro-league spin on things. They've been telling us for over a year about the hardline faction within the board of govenors who'd rather destroy the league than not get a deal overwhelmingly in their favor.

But you don't have to believe it. Most people are plenty happy with the stock "ZOMG THE PALYERS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEYS!! THEYRE GREEDY!!" opinion that's fed to them from the majority of media outlets.

 

[beto]

Most people are plenty happy with the stock "ZOMG THE PALYERS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEYS!! THEYRE GREEDY!!" opinion that's fed to them from the majority of media outlets.

No I think most people are just happy with the NHL being gone.

 

[dem]

Except Strachan and Larry Brooks have been right all along. They're the only people who've called it as it is instead of putting a rosey, pro-league spin on things. They've been telling us for over a year about the hardline faction within the board of govenors who'd rather destroy the league than not get a deal overwhelmingly in their favor.

But you don't have to believe it. Most people are plenty happy with the stock "ZOMG THE PALYERS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEYS!! THEYRE GREEDY!!" opinion that's fed to them from the majority of media outlets.

Uh.. everyone with a functioning brain knew that the owners would sit until they got their deal. Meanwhile Larry Brooks and his band of idiots were dreaming of the players leaving the NHL.. starting new leagues.. staying in Europe. ANYTHING BUT A CAP IN THE NHL :lol

 

[dem]

You're right dude... Larry Brooks has been right all along!

There may have been confusion within the union this week as to an end-game strategy, but there will be no confusion now as to the identity of the enemy. Believe it. The NHLPA will emerge from this stronger and more united than ever, no matter the identity of its executive leader.

There will be no capitulation this summer. There will be one focus now — to destroy the NHL, even if it costs the players more millions to do so. They've got their cause again.

 

[calder]

Except Strachan and Larry Brooks have been right all along.

:lol Oh god, tell me you'll post in the hockey threads from now on. We need a new GreekBoy!

 

[Kabuki Waq]

No I think most people are just happy with the NHL being gone.

I swear posts like these are really annoying now ...if i was a mod i would ban you and then beat you down with a hockey stick Mcsorely style.

 

[darscot]

I'm not a huge fan of Strachan but on this issue he is right. The current board of goveners and Bettman are flushing the league in the toilet.

 

[calder]

I swear posts like these are really annoying now ...if i was a mod i would ban you and then beat you down with a hockey stick Mcsorely style.

Well, we agree on one thing anyway. If I had The Power entering any sports/movie thread just to tell everyone it sucked would get you an instant 1 day ban.

I'm just glad you clowns can't see me today. It's hot and humid in Winnipeg, and I was forced to pick through the bottom shelf on my dresser for a comfortable short-sleeve shirt to wear and I picked a Maple Leafs golf shirt. Nice golf shirt, got it as a gift last year. Only downside is that, of course, it's a Leafs shirt. I've had 2 ppl today already ask me if I like hockey ("yeah") and then if I like the Leafs ("... no"). :lol

 

[dem]

Well, we agree on one thing anyway. If I had The Power entering any sports/movie thread just to tell everyone it sucked would get you an instant 1 day ban.

I'm just glad you clowns can't see me today. It's hot and humid in Winnipeg, and I was forced to pick through the bottom shelf on my dresser for a comfortable short-sleeve shirt to wear and I picked a Maple Leafs golf shirt. Nice golf shirt, got it as a gift last year. Only downside is that, of course, it's a Leafs shirt. I've had 2 ppl today already ask me if I like hockey ("yeah") and then if I like the Leafs ("... no"). :lol

Well this isnt going to be good for your teamslut rep :lol

 

[bishoptl]

No I think most people are just happy with the NHL being gone.

Don't troll wrestling
Don't troll hockey
You'll go far in this business, my friend.

Oh yeah, if anyone wants to lend credence to *anything* Al Strachan says, they're nuts. That fool loves nothing more than stirring up the pot for the players with as little basis in fact as possible. The main reason why I watched the Hotstove regularly was in hopes that Brian Burke would one day snap and strangle Strachan live on camera.

I was forced to pick through the bottom shelf on my dresser for a comfortable short-sleeve shirt to wear and I picked a Maple Leafs golf shirt.

...

......

*archives thread*

 

[Fifty]

Well, we agree on one thing anyway. If I had The Power entering any sports/movie thread just to tell everyone it sucked would get you an instant 1 day ban.

I'm just glad you clowns can't see me today. It's hot and humid in Winnipeg, and I was forced to pick through the bottom shelf on my dresser for a comfortable short-sleeve shirt to wear and I picked a Maple Leafs golf shirt. Nice golf shirt, got it as a gift last year. Only downside is that, of course, it's a Leafs shirt. I've had 2 ppl today already ask me if I like hockey ("yeah") and then if I like the Leafs ("... no"). :lol

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness, inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

 

[VALIS]

Uh.. everyone with a functioning brain knew that the owners would sit until they got their deal.

What I hoped would happen is eventually the REAL teams would step in and put an end to the union breaking nonsense. Teams like the Leafs, Rangers, Flyers, Habs, Blues, Stars, Wings... teams that weren't struggling financially even under a system that was heavily in favor of the players. The teams that matter in this league. That the stable, solid franchises who aren't going anywhere tell those teams who will ALWAYS be on shaky ground like the Hurricanes and the Predators and Panthers and Penguins and Oilers (Oilers because of economics rather than support) to cram it up their ass. That they tried the hardline stance, it didn't work, so now (we're talking January/February here) we have to take the PA's generous 24% rollback offer and compromise a little just to get the sport back on the ice instead of further dragging it through the mud. Like this league would be in economic chaos if they agreed to that 42m cap back in February? Bullshit.

Those teams losing the most money are mostly cracker ass franchises who offer very little to the sport and will probably be gone in 10-15 years no matter the system. There was already great parity in the league, so don't hand me that crap about "competitiveness." It all boils down to the NHL wanting a fool proof guaranteed profit system for all 30 teams, now matter how unstable they are, and I can't believe people support this nonsense. Yes, the league did need a new CBA to assist those teams who are usually struggling. But a system to make them and everyone else automatically profitable? What the fuck?

 

[dem]

Yes.. because theres alot of successful 6 team leagues :lol

Btw.. the blues and wings lost money last year

Blues lost A LOT of money. Infact i believe they were the biggest loser in the nhl.

 

[VALIS]

Yes.. because theres alot of successful 6 team leagues :lol

As I said, the economic system does need changing. Those teams usually on the bubble between making and losing money could use the help. But that's not what the NHL has been trying to get at all costs. They're trying to get a system that says no matter how weak the franchise is, no matter how poor the area that team is in either for hockey fans or economics, no matter how much the GM or ownership screws things up, THAT TEAM DESERVES TO MAKE MONEY!

That's not fairness, it's a joke. And yet all I hear from 95% of hockey fans is "PLAYERS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY!" What a riot. So easily manipulated.

 

[Manics]

I think the players make too much money for the revenues that the league generates but that's neither here nor there at this point. I just want these asses to settle on a new agreement so that hockey can start on time on October. I can't take another missed season.

Go Leafs Go!

 

[dem]

As I said, the economic system does need changing. Those teams usually on the bubble between making and losing money could use the help. But that's not what the NHL has been trying to get at all costs. They're trying to get a system that says no matter how weak the franchise is, no matter how poor the area that team is in either for hockey fans or economics, no matter how much the GM or ownership screws things up, THAT TEAM DESERVES TO MAKE MONEY!

That's not fairness, it's a joke. And yet all I hear from 95% of hockey fans is "PLAYERS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY!" What a riot. So easily manipulated.

The system isnt going to guarantee Atlanta or Pittsburgh makes money. How could the purposed system GUARANTEE money? Theyre still going to have the same payroll expense that they did before. They were already in the 20-30 million dollar range.

All the new system does is guarantee that they will be able to field a competitive team. If they still lose money while theyre competitive im sure they will be contracted or moved.


The only people who could possibly be upset with this are fans of teams who rely on buying up talent to better their team.

 

[calder]

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

:lol In my defense, I'd like to point out that years ago my neighbor worked as a trainer for the Jets and moved with the team to Phoenix. He still works for them and sends us free stuff occasionally, we have dozens of sticks, practise shirts and equipment from about a dozen teams. For whatever reason he swaps gear with the Hawks, Stars, Leafs and Blue Jackets a lot and as a result me and my brothers all have training camp outfits for those teams. I have probably 5 or 6 shirts/sweat pants/hoodies with the hated Leafs logo on it, I did donate Blackhawks clothes and stuff from the Rangers rookie camp to the Salvation Army last year so I do have some standards. I thought about ebaying a bunch of the Leafs stuff I never wore but it was a gift really so I didn't.


I don't have the energy to debate the whole league vs PA thing, and it's all been said a few times in other threads. I would however like to ask for opinions about the PA's biggest media apologists. My list:
1) Al Strachan - still the King of sucking up to the players
2) Larry Brooks
3) that Lyle Richardson guy who somehow has a column on Foxsports. "From his home in Prince Edward Island, Lyle "Spector" Richardson spews an endless stream of pro-player bias and mindlessly repeats whatever the NHLPA memo."
4) Nick Kypreos - not as much of a tool for the PA as the other guys, he's just an ex-player who at least admits that Goodenow put food on his table for years. Hearing Nick get teased for being a puppet by other media guys on air is still pretty fun, the other day Bob McCown asked him on his show whether he preferred being called a puppet of the PA or just a flunky. :lol

It's not really the right thread for it, but I wonder if any Canucks fans have mentioned Brian Burke getting hired by the Ducks at all. Seems like a bit of an odd fit, but maybe Burke will do better in an organization that's owned by a big company that doesn't really give a shit about press reaction or "controversy" if the GM feuds with a newspaper.

 

[dem]

You really made that list and forgot Glen Healy?

 

[calder]

Ever since Brian Burke, in what surely is his shining hour (makes up for the Sedin draft), snapped on "Heals" the week the season was cancelled and basically told him to shut up about shit he does not understand Healy's been less annoying. I'm sure that it's because TSN didn't bring him out as much over the summer as news dried up and that once he's on the That's Hockey! roundtable again the hate will start to flow for me. Ahh, I can just imagine how much he'll bitch and moan about those poor, poor goalies and how The Man should just let goalies wear whatever they want.

Just to be sorta fair, the top pro-league media guys:
1) Stan Fischler - 10000% pro NHL, which is odd considering he's a big market guy through and through. Of course he's a moron as a hockey scribe in general, so no matter what side he took he'd be a tool about it.
2) all the small market Canadian writers. They are at least semi-logical about it, but there's no doubt which side they come down on. They don't want to become AHL writers.

 

[bishoptl]

Quick comment on the Brian Burke hire - good for him. You can put me firmly in the camp that feels he was unfairly run out on a rail. Each year he was here the team improved exponentially, our season ticket base exploded, the product on the ice was more entertaining, and you knew without a shadow of a doubt that Burke would have some awesome quote about driving holdout FAs to the airport, or calling the Vancouver media scumbags and whatnot :lol I sincerely wish him all the best in Anaheim (not at the expense of my boys, mind you, but still), he deserves another shot in the NHL and the Mighty Ducks are as good a place to start as any. I'd shake Burke's hand and buy him a shot of whiskey any day.

True story - the Team 1040 has David Pratt and Don Taylor on in the afternoons (I know you love Don like a long-lost brother calder :lol), Pratt and Burke have had a hate-on going back YEARS. Anyways, about a month ago Burke's wife Jennifer Mather (who has a show on the other competing Vancouver sports radio station) called into the Pratt/Taylor show out of the blue and started ripping the shit out of David live-on-air. Hearing it as it was happening was one of the most surreal radio listening experiences I have ever - EVER - had. Download the mp3 right here for the hilarity. It's a 9 MB download and utterly, utterly worth it.

 

[Shinobi]

Except Strachan and Larry Brooks have been right all along. They're the only people who've called it as it is instead of putting a rosey, pro-league spin on things. They've been telling us for over a year about the hardline faction within the board of govenors who'd rather destroy the league than not get a deal overwhelmingly in their favor.

But you don't have to believe it. Most people are plenty happy with the stock "ZOMG THE PALYERS MAKE TOO MUCH MONEYS!! THEYRE GREEDY!!" opinion that's fed to them from the majority of media outlets.

Yep...as much as I hate Strachan and his chalk white dinosaur ass (who a year ago had his head buried in the sand and thought the NHL game was just fine, like most of the hockey zombies in this country), I agree far more with him then the people who seem to think a CBA that caters to Atlanta and Nashville is something great. It's pure stupidity, and that fact will be bore out when those teams will STILL cry about losing money in a couple years with half empty arenas.

Having said all that...

Uh.. everyone with a functioning brain knew that the owners would sit until they got their deal. Meanwhile Larry Brooks and his band of idiots were dreaming of the players leaving the NHL.. starting new leagues.. staying in Europe. ANYTHING BUT A CAP IN THE NHL :lol

...this is also 100% correct. Everyone new the NHL had to reform their shit, and was going to reform their shit, and a cap was going to be one of the factors involved. Had the PA just gone in with the acceptance of a cap from the start, they probably would've only missed a month or two of hockey, and could've gotten a max cap closer to $45 million.

Instead they listened to that blowhard Goodenow, who somehow got this rep of being a masterful negotiator (an easy thing to acheive when you've beaten nothing but pussies like he had the previous ten years), insisted FIVE YEARS AGO that they'd NEVER accept a cap (leaving themselves no room to exit gracefully should they be defeated), agreed to a cap at the last second (on top of a salary rollback), still got fucked out of a year of pay anyhow once those talks fell through, and are now being humbled, humiliated and embarassed in the biggest CBA ass kicking since the NFLPA folded like a bad poker hand in '87. Now they've got egg white all over their faces, looking like a group audition for a bukkake video.

It's just another reason why I'll never suscribe to bunk mentality, where you just follow the leader and bleat out whatever catchphrases he feeds you until you're blue in the face.

I'm just glad you clowns can't see me today. It's hot and humid in Winnipeg, and I was forced to pick through the bottom shelf on my dresser for a comfortable short-sleeve shirt to wear and I picked a Maple Leafs golf shirt. Nice golf shirt, got it as a gift last year. Only downside is that, of course, it's a Leafs shirt. I've had 2 ppl today already ask me if I like hockey ("yeah") and then if I like the Leafs ("... no"). :lol

:lol After all your Leafs hatin', you not only own a Leaf shirt, but decided to WEAR it??? In public??? I'm very disapointed in you.

 

[Shinobi]

What I hoped would happen is eventually the REAL teams would step in and put an end to the union breaking nonsense. Teams like the Leafs, Rangers, Flyers, Habs, Blues, Stars, Wings... teams that weren't struggling financially even under a system that was heavily in favor of the players. The teams that matter in this league. That the stable, solid franchises who aren't going anywhere tell those teams who will ALWAYS be on shaky ground like the Hurricanes and the Predators and Panthers and Penguins and Oilers (Oilers because of economics rather than support) to cram it up their ass. That they tried the hardline stance, it didn't work, so now (we're talking January/February here) we have to take the PA's generous 24% rollback offer and compromise a little just to get the sport back on the ice instead of further dragging it through the mud. Like this league would be in economic chaos if they agreed to that 42m cap back in February? Bullshit.

Those teams losing the most money are mostly cracker ass franchises who offer very little to the sport and will probably be gone in 10-15 years no matter the system. There was already great parity in the league, so don't hand me that crap about "competitiveness." It all boils down to the NHL wanting a fool proof guaranteed profit system for all 30 teams, now matter how unstable they are, and I can't believe people support this nonsense. Yes, the league did need a new CBA to assist those teams who are usually struggling. But a system to make them and everyone else automatically profitable? What the fuck?

Once again, on point. Eventually people will wake up and smell the coffee beans once the ramifications are felt.

BTW, Bob McCowan rules...he's easily my favourite broadcaster on TV or radio, and has been ever since I started listening to him in late '89.

 

[Joe]

i dont give a fuck what the hell they do lets just play some hockey. i miss it.