Enough is enough. As a hockey fan and an Oiler fan I’ve had enough to endure this last decade on the ice. I’ve had to watch the Flames and Canucks reach the Stanley Cup finals (yeah I know they lost but two months of it was enough) not to mention the dagger in the heart when the Oilers lost game 7 in 2006. Oh did I mention I had to go through a lockout in 2005 without any hockey what so ever? Finally the game was back with all cylinders pumping when we the fans get slapped in the face one more time with another lockout…I know I cant be the only one in saying this but I’m sick of the NHL Lockout.
I cant believe Im going to say this but Im actually looking forward to seeing some NBA highlights, not because I want to watch basketball on the big screen but more importantly because Im sick of all the “he said, she said” BS we the fans are stuck listening to each night watching sports highlights. We get it, you all want more money but I dont think you’ll find much sympathy from the fans who want to pay to watch you or the team you own play.
Third Lockout in Eighteen Years
Thats right, its not bad enough we have to endure a lockout to begin with but this is the third time its happened in the last eighteen years…and lets not forget that the NHL is the first North American sports league to cancel an entire season which it did in 2005. The way things are going it appears that its set to take place again for the second time in under ten years. I dont know what to say anymore, I can bitch all I want about the nonsense taking place as a fan and can enjoy reading all the fans comments about cancelling season tickets, not attending games but who am I (we) kidding. If you’re Canadian, you’ll be back in some form, whether it be on your keester in your favorite teams arena or on your keester on the couch cheering on (or yelling if your an Oiler fan) that same team on the boob tube.
Do I have the right to be pissy with both the NHL and NHLPA? I think so. But it’s fair to say its an equal pissy towards both sides. I won’t ever claim to be an expert on the CBA but in the last NHL lockout I found myself more involved in the finer points of the discussion. This year, fat chance. I honestly could care less at this point, especially with the ample amount of local hockey available and the new found ability to watch KHL highlights and games online. The season is over, can we all just regroup when an agreement is reached please? I’d rather watch actual sports highlights on a sports channel then listen to the he said she said saga taking place.
Speaking of Agreements
Here you are tarnishing the game for the fans and we cant meet multiple times weekly or at least a few times every week? Ridiculous, I’m sick of it. I get it, you’re both trying to get your way but not talking to one another isn’t going to speed up the process, we’ve already cancelled the first section of games and from all accounts no meetings are set anytime in the near future. Why even cancel the first two weeks worth of games? You’re not meeting and certainly not talking, don’t waste our time and keep what little hope we have left, just cancel the entire first half at least, we all know that’s what is going to happen anyway.
I’m thinking perhaps we need to get everyone in a bomb shelter, slam the door shut and lock it until an agreement is reached. It might work, it worked on the Simpsons when Principal Skinner and Mrs. Krabappel had to come to an agreement…Im sure if those jokers can do it these two can.
To Much Propaganda
Worst of all both the NHL and NHLPA know how to use the media to try and play the fans. We’ve seen countless videos from players blaming owners and owners blaming players. “It’s the owners lockout!” says the Players while on the other hand we have the owners crying “We’re losing money!” Videos of empty arenas and upset fans, twitter messages coming from not only players but player agents as well and a constant bevy of media interviews along with talk show and shitty public relation schemes.
Judging from my Twitter feed I think we’re all in agreement that the propaganda being used by both sides has been irrelevant. We don’t care who you think is to blame, what we care is that you stop wasting time and fix the problems that you’re causing to the game.
So Long
I don’t know what else to say, I’m not siding with anyone in this case because I think they’re both to blame for the issues surrounding this current lockout. The problem is they’re tarnishing the game I love. I know there is more then an ample amount of hockey out there and believe me I watch a lot of it. AHL, Major Junior, AJHL, NWJHL, or Minor Hockey there is more then enough hockey to go around but it’s the teams we all grew up watching and sitting in awe of the players that play for them. Sure there is other hockey but the NHL is the best league in the world, it’s time the management and representation started acting like it.
In the meantime can we please get all this crap off the TV, I dont care if the first block of regular season games got cancelled nor do I care when the owners and players are meeting (or aren’t meeting for that matter). Fix the problems and think about those who want to support you by spending their hard earned money on merchandise and games or by not having to lay off John or Jane Doe who worked for your organization and relied on you to pay their bills.
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way but god dammit I’m sick of the NHL Lockout!
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