I wrote an article for my school paper in 2005 giving my thoughts on the perceptions of hockey and basketball.
I dug it up last night.
This is in retrospect only, however. It was more of frustration and the fact that I had to meet a deadline. Also, consider the time and the state of both leagues before you read this.
In reality, I was in a bad rut and it seemed that things would only get worse.
Here's the text of what I wrote:
After months of threats and rejected offers, the unthinkable, yet inevitable, has happened: the 2004-05 NHL season has been cancelled.
Commisioner Gary Bettman, who had held this position since 1993, recently made the following announcement:
"On behalf of the 30 NHL teams, I want to say how sorry we all are that, given the very practical reality that there are not enough days available to play a representative regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, we have been left with no choice but to cancel the remainder of the games scheduled for the 2004-05 campaign."
This had been considered since September, when this lockout was formally and originally announced. The question was when and if the season would be cancelled? Without an agreeable and reasonably sized salary cap, the owners and players could not agree on end and any hopes of a miracle vanished. This means there will be no Stanley Cup winner for the first time since 1919, when the final series was cancelled due to the worldwide epidemic of influenza.
The truly tragic part in all of this is not what's gone, but what remains. With this cancelled season, combined with football already over for now and a few months before baseball season, that leaves NCAA basketball and the NBA, which I call the National Baby Association.
The NBA is far worse, because at least the NHL made an attempt to solve its problem, albeit to no avail. How is it that a sport with one of its biggest stars being charged with rape, an ugly fight involving fans and players, and unwatchable championship games/horrible ratings can do much better than a sport with dignity, players who keep their conduct on the ice and guys who do much more than just dribble, walk and dunk. Hoickey players shoot, save, skate, and hit a lot more.
There is a possible saving grace in college hoops, however. Unlike the lackluster Laker-and-Spur dominated NBA, the NCAA has varying dominance- any team can become the national sensation from coast-to-coast. A year ago, it was St. Joseph's- this year, it's Illinois, the #1 ranked team and only unbeaten one left. With a 26-0 record, the fighting Illini are trying to become the first tean since Indiana in 1975-76 to go unbeaten and win the national title.
In conclusion, though upsetting, I'd rather reflect on hockey past than pro basketball present. Though I'll always remain true to the college hardwood and the frozen ponds of Canada, I'll never sell my soul to the National Baby Association.
Keep in mind that the NBA was having some rough times- negative headlines and such.
In reality, I became a reborn NBA fan the next year- Suns, Mavericks, Heat, etc.
I dug it up last night.
This is in retrospect only, however. It was more of frustration and the fact that I had to meet a deadline. Also, consider the time and the state of both leagues before you read this.
In reality, I was in a bad rut and it seemed that things would only get worse.
Here's the text of what I wrote:
After months of threats and rejected offers, the unthinkable, yet inevitable, has happened: the 2004-05 NHL season has been cancelled.
Commisioner Gary Bettman, who had held this position since 1993, recently made the following announcement:
"On behalf of the 30 NHL teams, I want to say how sorry we all are that, given the very practical reality that there are not enough days available to play a representative regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs, we have been left with no choice but to cancel the remainder of the games scheduled for the 2004-05 campaign."
This had been considered since September, when this lockout was formally and originally announced. The question was when and if the season would be cancelled? Without an agreeable and reasonably sized salary cap, the owners and players could not agree on end and any hopes of a miracle vanished. This means there will be no Stanley Cup winner for the first time since 1919, when the final series was cancelled due to the worldwide epidemic of influenza.
The truly tragic part in all of this is not what's gone, but what remains. With this cancelled season, combined with football already over for now and a few months before baseball season, that leaves NCAA basketball and the NBA, which I call the National Baby Association.
The NBA is far worse, because at least the NHL made an attempt to solve its problem, albeit to no avail. How is it that a sport with one of its biggest stars being charged with rape, an ugly fight involving fans and players, and unwatchable championship games/horrible ratings can do much better than a sport with dignity, players who keep their conduct on the ice and guys who do much more than just dribble, walk and dunk. Hoickey players shoot, save, skate, and hit a lot more.
There is a possible saving grace in college hoops, however. Unlike the lackluster Laker-and-Spur dominated NBA, the NCAA has varying dominance- any team can become the national sensation from coast-to-coast. A year ago, it was St. Joseph's- this year, it's Illinois, the #1 ranked team and only unbeaten one left. With a 26-0 record, the fighting Illini are trying to become the first tean since Indiana in 1975-76 to go unbeaten and win the national title.
In conclusion, though upsetting, I'd rather reflect on hockey past than pro basketball present. Though I'll always remain true to the college hardwood and the frozen ponds of Canada, I'll never sell my soul to the National Baby Association.
Keep in mind that the NBA was having some rough times- negative headlines and such.
In reality, I became a reborn NBA fan the next year- Suns, Mavericks, Heat, etc.
