Hockey barbaric?

[thecuz]

With all the recent hulabaloo over the Chris Simon incident, I'd like to take the temperature of the Americans in the room as regards the sport of pro ice hockey.

There seems to be a belief at NHL headquarters in NY, NY that it is only a matter of time until pro hockey is truly a North America wide success on a par with the NFL, MLB, etc. However, it seems to me that hockey is regarded as at best a fringe sport in may areas of the USA and is viewed as a kind of glorified wrassling on ice.

To most Canadians the NHL is, by far, THE major sport and that's fine. We all grow up playing it and watching it. In the US northeast the game is and has always been very popular. I don't understand why the powers that be can't live with the fact that people from more southerly climes are unlikely to become big fans seeing as A) They did not grow up skating and B) Their major exposure to the game comes when something like the recent Simon incident happens.

[roni]

Never have been a hockey fan, even when I lived in rabid St. Louis Blues territory. It never appealed to me. Would much rather sit out in the heat, drink beer and watch baseball

[NorthMinnesota]

Hockey's pretty popular in this part of the woods!

[Rissask]

Would much rather sit out in the heat, drink beer and watch baseball

baseball...*yawn*...it's so SLOW! (just buggin' ya Ron)
(sorry cuz, I shouldn't be in here, I am not American, but hockey is the only sport I can actually watch, because of the pace. I am glad they are cracking down on the cheap shots though, it's unnecessary and bad for the sport's reputation.)

[Snowdogs]

I'm a University of Maine hockey fan. I graduated from Maine, live and work near the University and have the pleasure of attending many home games.
While hockey in general may be a fringe sport in many parts of this country it continues to grow in popularity, especially college hockey. IMHO, collegiates unlike the pros play for the team and the glory of winning and not for the almighty buck and bashing out another player's teeth.
No, I'm not a real professional sports fan, baseball, football or even hockey. It just lacks the spirit - I'm not talking about skill or pace or level of play but the spirit that comes from with in and not from the $'s.

[Aimee'n'Bill]

I grew playing hockey and it is still my favorite sport. Went to Red Wings games as a kid, held season tickets right after Stevie Y was drafted (and they stunk) and was lucky enough to see them win the Cup. The Chris Simon incident was a barbaric attack and I think the penalty should have been steeper. That being said, it should not reflect negatively on the sport, just the individual.

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by thecuz

There seems to be a belief at NHL headquarters in NY, NY that it is only a matter of time until pro hockey is truly a North America wide success on a par with the NFL, MLB, etc.

it's been a fringe sport
it will remain a fringe sport
it can't get a network tv contract
it can't even get a decent cable contract

[DavidB]

When your other sports choices are the Lions and the Tigers (except for 2006) it makes it really easy to love the Red Wings.

[Aimee'n'Bill]

Originally Posted by DavidB

When your other sports choices are the Lions and the Tigers (except for 2006) it makes it really easy to love the Red Wings.

Absofrigginlutely!!! Pistons, too!

[flyingpig11]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

it's been a fringe sport
it will remain a fringe sport
it can't get a network tv contract
it can't even get a decent cable contract

so true..yet I dont care. I think it is an incredible sport. I also happen to think that regrdless of the vioent aspect of it, its athletes are by far the most down to earth, grounded, coolest cats playing. No major pretension, no one searching out the media to feed their ego like TO. I like football. I like baseball for what it is..watch and drink and talk... Basketball..college preferably. Dont understand the appeal to nascar, and probably never will, but more people say that about Hockey than they do about nascar.

[roni]

Originally Posted by Rissask

baseball...*yawn*...it's so SLOW! (just buggin' ya Ron)

Hot weather sports means people wearing less clothing.
Slow means more time to people watch.
It's all good

[Ginger]

Originally Posted by Snowdogs

No, I'm not a real professional sports fan, baseball, football or even hockey. It just lacks the spirit - I'm not talking about skill or pace or level of play but the spirit that comes from with in and not from the $'s.

My hubby is a big hockey fan, HUGE football fan. (if we had NFL and college football closer, that would be his main ticket). However, he much prefers minor hockey compared to the NHL...he and our son have season tickets to our WHL team, the Vancouver Giants and he says he prefers this hockey not because of the level of play obviously, but because of the spirit involved on behalf of both the players AND the fans. NHL fans (in Vancouver anyway) it's all about having the expensive hockey tickets to give to your clients, to brag, half the people at the game aren't even real hockey fans. He feels the players are more in it for the money now than for the game. ALL the fans at the Giant's games are there for one reason...they love the game.

[MikenJulie]

Always loved hockey, played in my youth, I can still smell the ice in the arena. Simon should of recieved a stiffer suspension and a fat fine, he has been in trouble for his "stick use" before, never this severe though. Regardless, 25 games (from what I've heard) is not enough for smashing out someone's teeth in retaliation of a clean hit.

Hockey is not barbaric, fighting is a part of the game. There will always be hits, trips, rough games, players trying to get away with as much as possible. Policing hockey, as in local officials and bringing on-ice issues in the courts and lawyers fighting it out, I have always felt was absolutley rediculous, much like the "blue line-pass and red line-shoot" stunt Fox Sports tried years ago. How embarassing.

I don't see the future of hockey being a bright one. Eventually, there will be two different leagues of Hockey, American and Canadian. It is only a matter of time the ultra-deep pockets of my southern brothers come up with salaries that Canuck franchises can't match, and insanely-priced games (which I believe is already quite evident), for the fans to endure.

15-20 years ago, the NHL was 1,000 times better than what it is now, it was affordable, fun, no one was in fear of being sued or arrested by the local officials for offences, on purpose or not. Fighting is part of the game, and everyone on the ice is well aware of the degree of violence that may occur. I couldn't handle hockey if every game was an "All Star" game, I'd probly end up watching golf.

Barbaric, maybe to those who didn't grow up loving the game, but those who did, loved every bit of it, past tense that is. NHL hockey was much better before people decided to change it.

I wouldn't watch "touch" football either, for the record.

[Parrothead]

Hockey is a great sport both of my boys played since 5 yrs old. They will both play recreational hockey forever because they love the sport that much. That being said I believe it will never reach football or basketball status in the US as far as spectators go because the average fan doesn't understand the sport. As far as NASCAR goes this is the #1 spectator sport in the US I don't watch much myself but alot of people must. What Simon did was terrible and he should have been fined much worse. These things are not tolerated in football, basketball, or baseball (imagine using a bat on someone) and hockey hurts itself if they don't react accordingly.

[DavidB]

I agree, Simon should have got the rest of this year and half of next year off.