You Don't See Them Brawl

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by suckerpunch

Spider, I tend to agree with your posts, but your rant grows a little tiring.

I am fortunate to live in a Hockey-rich environment where rivalries have always made the game more intense and engaging. I also grew up on old-school hockey (in my 40's) and had the pleasure of seeing many Habs games live in the old forum (saw Gainey raise the cup) as well as many classic Leaf games in the late 70's and early 80's.

Sure the product is different and perhaps less physical in general... but I am still a big hockey fan and am drawn to the game for it's combination of skill, speed and physical intensity. Take any one of those components out of the sport and it's incomplete. There is no other sport that comes close to hockey for it's combination of grace and brutality.

What I want to know if you are an advocate of an NHL boycott and can't tolerate the game anymore, then why are you here and why are you still watching it???

1) This thread was designed for NEW NHL
ranting. If the rants are "TIRING" you,
you shouldn't read them. If you REALLY
want to hear "ranting", go to the
"You see them fight" thread. You can
hear posters constantly complaining
about scratches and NO FIGHTS.

2) I'm only watching the NHL FIGHTS from
the Video Clips on this website, because
I like fighting in the NHL, because it is
spontaineous action. This is very
consistant with what I want.

3) I have been a LOYAL, PAYING and
SUPPORTING NHL FAN for 40 PLUS YEARS.
Like you, I'm entitled to my opinion.

4) I'm hoping that the NHL returns to its
former days. This is the reason I have
advocated a Boycott, hoping it will force
these changes. If someone has a BETTER
idea of how to accomplish this, I'd love to
hear it! If you want to ACCEPT the game
today, that's your right.

5) If the NHL played all of its games like
Saturday Night 10/14/06, I would be
changing my signature about advocating
a boycott, because I would be a loyal,
paying fan once again! But I guess that's
not up to you or me is it? Bettman and
company are the only ones that can make
that happen!

I hope this addresses your questions. Just so that you know where I stand, I normally don't just watch NHL HOCKEY FOR THE FIGHTS! Yes, Fighting is a big part of the game because it is in the flow of an INTENSE, HITTING, PASSIONATE and RIVALRY BUILT GAME that features amazing goals and great goaltending. THAT"S THE PACKAGE I LOVE. The fights should be spontainous, not "STAGED". I"M NOT ADVOCATING GOON HOCKEY! If I wanted to just see FIGHTING, I can watch the UFC or Boxing!

[Smerri1029]

I never thought I'd see the day where I refused to buy Bruins tickets. A friend of mine has season so if I can get some for free, I'll go, however, I probably won't buy concessions. I don't care how the B's do, it is just to boring and frustrating to watch and is a waste of money for me to buy tickets.

[suckerpunch]

I think you (spider and OBA) missed the point. Thanks for your inventoried response Spider, I think we all know where you stand, you've made that pretty clear, no one is arguing with you.

We are all in agreement that the recent changes to the game have compromised what we see as integral to the great sport of Hockey... fighting.

With the influx of players from Russia and Europe and a rapid expansion of the game into non-traditional markets, the style of play has become dilluted, just as traditonal fan support has.

In the short term, you are going to have an adjustment period as players, coaches and officials find a balance within the parameters of the new rules. This game is constantly changing and you are going to see it continue to evolve.

In the long term, I think you will see teams disappear from certain US markets and over time, NHL Hockey will return to a more Northern (Canadian) style of game. Let's face it, it's somewhat of a niche sport to begin with. It's not for everybody.

That said, Spider, you are preaching to the choir here. No one is arguing with you and you are entitled to your opinion... essentially I share it (I just haven't given up on the league... yet).

If you want to be heard, then complain to the sports media and the NHL. Let them know that you are not a happy fan and why you will no longer support the NHL and what you are doing about it. You can rant all you want until you are blue in the face, but unless the league knows WHY you are no longer watching and buying they will not do anything about it.

[suckerpunch]

Originally Posted by OBA

I think it is warranted, suckerpunch. You being on older poster as well, should know that the game today can't come close to what is was.

I agree 100%...

While I'll be the first to admit that the intensity of the game does not compare to what it once was, the opposite is true. Todays players are generally more skilled, faster and bigger than 25 years ago.

If you could time travel back to the good old days you'd find the game slow in comparison, with a lot more hitting perhaps, but also a lot more grappling along the boards, clutching and holding, hooking, hacking, and freezing of the puck along the boards to get a whistle. Remember that? Thrilling.

What I miss most (besides the obvious) is empowering the defense to clear the slot. Gone are the days when a player paid the price for standing in the slot. Now you have to take a holding penalty to clear them out. It's BS. In the day, a player would take 3 or 4 crosschecks to the lower back to get a chance at a deflection.

Teams used to play every game like it was game 7.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by suckerpunch

I think you (spider and OBA) missed the point. Thanks for your inventoried response Spider, I think we all know where you stand, you've made that pretty clear, no one is arguing with you.

We are all in agreement that the recent changes to the game have compromised what we see as integral to the great sport of Hockey... fighting.

With the influx of players from Russia and Europe and a rapid expansion of the game into non-traditional markets, the style of play has become dilluted, just as traditonal fan support has.

In the short term, you are going to have an adjustment period as players, coaches and officials find a balance within the parameters of the new rules. This game is constantly changing and you are going to see it continue to evolve.

In the long term, I think you will see teams disappear from certain US markets and over time, NHL Hockey will return to a more Northern (Canadian) style of game. Let's face it, it's somewhat of a niche sport to begin with. It's not for everybody.

That said, Spider, you are preaching to the choir here. No one is arguing with you and you are entitled to your opinion... essentially I share it (I just haven't given up on the league... yet).

If you want to be heard, then complain to the sports media and the NHL. Let them know that you are not a happy fan and why you will no longer support the NHL and what you are doing about it. You can rant all you want until you are blue in the face, but unless the league knows WHY you are no longer watching and buying they will not do anything about it.

I guess as the saying goes, talk the talk and walk the walk. Which is exactly what I have done my whole life and this will be no different. I will be drafting a letter that I will be sending to the powers to be at the NHL over the course of the next month. Obviously this is subject to the continued lackluster, non physical, minor penalty laiden play that we have experienced this year with the exception of Saturday, October 14th, 2006.
I have very strong opinions about the NHL because it has always been a MAJOR part of my life. That letter will be posted on this thread as well and I will request a POLL to see if my sentiments are fully supported by my collegues in CRIME! While I agree that targeted action is NEEDED, I DISAGREE that ONE PERSON, speaking for SO MANY, can make that big of a difference, especially when that person (ME), has already stopped using the product and is NOT PUTTING MONEY IN MR. BETTMAN'S OR THE OWNER'S POCKETS! I'm easily replaced, but a body of many is not as easily replaced and THAT'S MY POINT. "UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL". Better words were never spoken IMO. But like SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14th, we have to start somewhere. The problem for me with this issue is that this is the SECOND year of this product being like this, not the first and I don't know WHEN and IF it will ever revert back. The evolution of hockey that you speak of is true with any sport but as is the case with any development, sometimes things don't turnout the way you plan or want them to when you have NO CONTROL over the situation. The only real way to ensure it happens YOUR WAY is to take it in your own hands and make it happen! In the mean time, I will continue to state my opinions about HOCKEY FIGHTS, whether its the NHL or not, these comments maybe positive or negative depending on the ear of the listener, as is the case with every other poster!

[suckerpunch]

Originally Posted by spiderarms

I guess as the saying goes, talk the talk and walk the walk. Which is exactly what I have done my whole life and this will be no different. I will be drafting a letter that I will be sending to the powers to be at the NHL over the course of the next month. Obviously this is subject to the continued lackluster, non physical, minor penalty laiden play that we have experienced this year with the exception of Saturday, October 14th, 2006.
I have very strong opinions about the NHL because it has always been a MAJOR part of my life. That letter will be posted on this thread as well and I will request a POLL to see if my sentiments are fully supported by my collegues in CRIME! While I agree that targeted action is NEEDED, I DISAGREE that ONE PERSON, speaking for SO MANY, can make that big of a difference, especially when that person (ME), has already stopped using the product and is NOT PUTTING MONEY IN MR. BETTMAN'S OR THE OWNER'S POCKETS! I'm easily replaced, but a body of many is not as easily replaced and THAT'S MY POINT. "UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL". Better words were never spoken IMO. But like SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14th, we have to start somewhere. The problem for me with this issue is that this is the SECOND year of this product being like this, not the first and I don't know WHEN and IF it will ever revert back. The evolution of hockey that you speak of is true with any sport but as is the case with any development, sometimes things don't turnout the way you plan or want them to when you have NO CONTROL over the situation. The only real way to ensure it happens YOUR WAY is to take it in your own hands and make it happen! In the mean time, I will continue to state my opinions about HOCKEY FIGHTS, whether its the NHL or not, these comments maybe positive or negative depending on the ear of the listener, as is the case with every other poster!

How about an electronic petition? Completely autonomous to this site?
Maybe one of the local "geeks" (no offense intended) could set that up and we could all undersign. I'd develope it myself but I am a luddite.
It's a start.

There is this out there already, with a palsy disgusting 232 signatures. Should be 232,000...

http://www.petitiononline.com/bw185678/petition.html

[Thrillhouse]

Originally Posted by suckerpunch

How about an electronic petition? Completely autonomous to this site?
Maybe one of the local "geeks" (no offense intended) could set that up and we could all undersign. I'd develope it myself but I am a luddite.
It's a start.

There is this out there already, with a palsy disgusting 232 signatures. Should be 232,000...

http://www.petitiononline.com/bw185678/petition.html

Online petitions are useless.

Signed,

"Geek"

[suckerpunch]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

Online petitions are useless.

Signed,

"Geek"

What makes you say that?

Thay have been effective politically and in other forums. Electronic letter writing is the core of many contemporary protests.

So what would you suggest?

Sorry to disappoint you, but you are not the intended GEEK.

[TaskerVsSenn]

Originally Posted by suckerpunch

How about an electronic petition? Completely autonomous to this site?
Maybe one of the local "geeks" (no offense intended) could set that up and we could all undersign. I'd develope it myself but I am a luddite.
It's a start.

There is this out there already, with a palsy disgusting 232 signatures. Should be 232,000...

http://www.petitiononline.com/bw185678/petition.html

Yes that is a good idea. But we should start one with Spiderarms future letter as statement.

[Thrillhouse]

Originally Posted by suckerpunch

So what would you suggest?

Sorry to disappoint you, but you are not the intended GEEK.

But you said geeks...

Well, what do you think is better, submitting an online petition with "LOL you suck" comments or a couple hundred well-written letters.

If you want to address the problem as a community, don't go with an online petition; there's not enough of us. Letters, emails, etc. are the way to go IMO. And if you do that, PLEASE write something intelligent, otherwise you won't be taken seriously.

Just my opinion.

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

But you said geeks...

Well, what do you think is better, submitting an online petition with "LOL you suck" comments or a couple hundred well-written letters.

If you want to address the problem as a community, don't go with an online petition; there's not enough of us. Letters, emails, etc. are the way to go IMO. And if you do that, PLEASE write something intelligent, otherwise you won't be taken seriously.

Just my opinion.

I have already started the letter. It has to be professional and NOT VULGAR. Just put yourself on the otherside of the fence guys! You don't want to read something thats insulting. I will write something you will all be proud of, I PROMISE

[spiderarms]

Originally Posted by TaskerVsSenn

Yes that is a good idea. But we should start one with Spiderarms future letter as statement.

I will get a sample asap. The online petition is VULGAR. We want them to read this not throw it away.

[suckerpunch]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

But you said geeks...

Well, what do you think is better, submitting an online petition with "LOL you suck" comments or a couple hundred well-written letters.

If you want to address the problem as a community, don't go with an online petition; there's not enough of us. Letters, emails, etc. are the way to go IMO. And if you do that, PLEASE write something intelligent, otherwise you won't be taken seriously.

Just my opinion.

And it's a valid opinion... I agree 100%.

What if we all undersigned on a really well composed letter.... a manifesto of sorts. It could be Spider's letter... don't give people the option of adding a potentially damaging comment and it won't be vulgar.
I thought this site had 20K + members. That's a good start...

Regardless of the method, it needs to be simple, extremely credible and have impact.

And just because you like Mars Volta and wear Tilley Hats doesn't make you a Geek

[Humpzilla]

Hate to break it to you guys, but the most you'll get back from any letter or petition is a ridiculous form response.

It doesn't matter how powerful & persuasive your words are, or how many people sign your petition - the NHL powers that be just simply don't care about the collective interests and complaints of fans like us.

You could get every hockey fan in Canada to write a letter or sign a petition, but the only person who would look at it before its deleted or thrown away would be some 20 year old New Yorker who hates his job, doesn't watch hockey and is half asleep in his cubicle all day long.

[spiderarms]

Dear NHL Board of Governors,

As an avid NHL hockey fan and supporter for well over forty years, it greatly saddens me to be writing to you in this forum, with this subject matter and about a sport that I so reveled in for such a long time.
A sport that was the foundation of my development and growth during my formative years and the stable companion for my present years of maturity. Hockey as I knew it was played with an unmatched passion, intensity, speed, skill and creativity.
The players were larger than life and there were no limits to the extremes I would take to be present at their arenas to view their performances. If this were not possible for any reason, rest assured my TV Set was on whether it be a local or cable TV broadcast. It is with this in mind that it pains me to watch today's product and its LACK OF ALL these aforementioned characteristics. For two years now, I have endured this complete betrayal of the sport I have come to appreciate and love. As is the nature of every individual, we pay what we can afford but our expectations are to receive the product that we pay for. This is clearly not the case with the "NEW" NHL product which followed the strike after the 2003/2004 season. What we see today is a lackluster, snooze fest with little to no physical play, no signs of a competitive edge or spark and a parade of short handed and power play situations that is as appalling as it is unbearable to watch. For REAL fans of HOCKEY, the game of the past that I know and love, the attraction is a powerful one. The game provided continious action, passion, intensity, bodychecking, fighting, rivalries, scoring, great defense, amazing goaltending, character and history. It was the sum of all parts and nothing without each and every component being in place. What you have decided to provide us with these past few years is a disgrace to the LEGEND AND ESSENCE of this wonderful game. I therefore,will not under any circumstances, support your league any longer, in any means, shape or form, whether in attendance, TV viewing or merchandise purchases until one of the most enjoyable events in my life has been returned to me in its entirety and at the same level of satisfaction that I have been accustomed to in the past. I write this letter alone and with the best of intentions but by no means is my message one that is not shared by many hockey fans who presently buy your product. I thank you for your time and hope to once again be able to support your league and its sport again.

Sincerely,

A FORMER, LOYAL FAN OF OVER 40 YEARS