Hockey? What's That?

Do you notice the outrage over the absence of NHL hockey in our lives? Oh, you missed it? It's about as loud as the outrage over the unemployment rate in the US and the world. Oh, you missed that one too. Does anyone care? Don't get the idea that I'm comparing joblessness to a hockey lockout. No way. I'm just relating the level of interest in both. For joblessness it is pathetic. For hockey it is laughable.

Hockey became more laughable with the news that the Absentee Owner of the Rangers is getting involved in the hockey negotiations. This is after Fed negotiators got involved. More laughs. But, no one cares. Most of the NHL players are playing in Europe and the lame street media are preoccupied with other sports like college football and if the Jets win another game, or will Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens make the Hall of Fame. Remember, Bonds won 7 MVP's and Clemens won 7 Cy Young's. But their elections are in doubt because of the suspicion that they were using something besides B-12 vitamins.

But the big interest in the hockey lockout is the lack of interest. This is not surprising. Since its inception hockey has always been a niche sport. Strong in Canada, spotty and limited in the U.S. It has picked up below the NHL level in the U.S. with more and more young people and High Schools picking up the sport. States like Minnesota and Massachusetts led the early spurt but now most schools, especially in the Northern states have hockey teams.

So if you are like me you are getting your hockey 'ad hoc'. Mine is watching my grandson, Nicholas, play for the Connetquot Sayville Thunderbird Freshman team. I've only seen a couple of games and the team is doing okay, 9-4-1, but it is enjoyable to watch and guess what? All the kids play and seem to have fun. When was the last time you saw the Rangers play and thought they had fun? You think coach disagreeable has fun? You think the guys who play for him have fun? Especially the guys who 'dog it' while nursing their injuries.

Lockout? Strike? Who cares? I don't.

Related Articles by Categories