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Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
On Balance
"It’s not that simple,” Brian Burke said, voicing the minority opinion in front of a Toronto conference room filled with the most influential minds in hockey.
In the afterglow of the games once in a generation success at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the overwhelming consensus at the Word Hockey Summit was that it is, in fact, that simple. The NHL should go to Sochi in 2014 with almost no reservations.
Overall the Summit appears to have been a success, bringing different perspectives from management, players, and media members into the same room to discuss the biggest issues in the game. Though, with much at stake and the perception amongst hockey’s mavens to be swung, it was not without its share of political theater, at times devolving into what appeared to be hockey’s “spin alley”.
Speaking on behalf of his Maple Leaf boss and the other 29 franchise owners who have yet to make a decision on participating in the games, Burke lends his well deserved creditability to the argument that while everyone is in favor of returning, the deal involves complexities that prevent the league and players association from rubber stamping it without further information. An argument that seems like a more than reasonable stance until said complexities are examined.
Perhaps too aware of the way millionaire owners would come across holding out of the Olympics for their own gain, Burke, who put together the silver medal Team USA squad in his first term as general manager, attempted to take the side of his players.
“They aren't paid,” he argued. Mentioning the airplane tickets and hotels the players had to pay for any friends of family that joined them for the events, as if the IOC should bend over backwards accommodating player entourages. But buried in his less than believable support for the players was the real point, the one thing ownership would have people walking away from the discussion remembering. The sticking point that has kept the NHL from enlisting for another Winter Olympics: “The IOC makes a fortune off this thing.”
Other arguments are moot. 15 of the 16 teams that make the NHL playoffs don’t pay the players for the experience either. Brilliant Red Wings GM Ken Holland argues a point of view that hemust be far too intelligent to actually believe. That the travel could affect players and in turn cost teams wins, and as we saw this past spring, even a single point can decide whether a team makes the postseason or not.
But that argument rings a little hallow when the league itself will send teams to Helsinki, Stockholm, and Prague to start off the season as part of the NHL Premiere program, now in its fourth year.
And if the league is particularly interested in eliminating needless travel and interruptions in the schedule, perhaps they should start with nixing the now entirely pointless All-Star weekend.
Any reluctance to enlist for the Sochi games instead can be more accurately summed up in a single word for Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly when he referred to players simply as “assets”.
To the owners, most of which are extremely successful business men, that is what players are. They are something that they invest millions and millions of dollars into, and as a result they lure the top talents and allow them to play at their absolute peak. They are afforded the best equipment, coaching, training, facilities, and health care that money can buy.
And every four years these elite players take that talent, paid for and fostered by NHL owners, and play essentially for free for another organization that makes money hand over fist.
While numbers from the 2010 games have yet to be reported, the IOC had a net revenue of $2.4 billion in 2008 from the Beijing games, off of which they made a cool $383.3 million in earnings. Meanwhile, based on a November report from Forbes magazine, 14 of the 30 NHL franchises operated at a loss last season.
When you ignore the fact that it is their very own CBA that is responsible for suffocating smaller revenue teams, it almost seems reasonable. Almost.
The IOC takes advantage of NHL assets, and in turn the NHL wants something back. Even if players, especially the leagues Russian talent, seem absolutely eager and willing to head back to the games again. Superstar Alexander Ovechkin has already stated that he intends to go either way. Yet owners are willing to play the “as long as you live in my house you’ll live by my rules” card.
See, if we look at statements made by the league’s own fearless leader, Commission Gary Bettman, this is really all about its broadcast . No one has called for the IOC to send a giant check to the NHL. No one has asked for the IOC to pick up the tab on 2 weeks of the NHL players contracts that it’ll tap.
“If we are going to disappear for the better part two weeks, we want to make sure it’s worth it,” Bettman said. “Particularly if the time zone puts you eight hours ahead of the east coast.”
As mind blowing as it might seem, this whole thing is apparently just the league posturing itself to promote the game better. Which, based on your perspective, is either the height of hypocrisy considering the leagues embarrassing exclusive cable contract with VS. Or for those particularly stubbornly “glass half full” people, a lesson learned, albeit five years too late.
The International Olympic Committee has yet to even award the US television rights to the Sochi games, pushing back bidding multiple times in an attempt to deal the rights in a more favorable economic environment. Without a broadcast partner decided, shouldn’t the league be hesitant to make any decision? Isn’t that the type of information the league needs to come to a decision?
Perhaps, but with NBC’s $200+ million loss on the Vancouver games, and ice hockey being one of the Winter Olympics signature events, and with broadcast networks lining up with bids that rival African countries GDPs, I’m betting the TV side is arguing the reverse logic. How are networks supposed to deal for the TV rights without knowledge of whether or not the greatest ice hockey players in the world will be at the rinks in Sochi?
And make no mistake, even if the US TV rights haven’t been secured yet, no one is going to be hiding the coverage on a third rate network, like say, Versus. Alongside NBC, FOX and ESPN are lining up to bid on the US TV rights for the Sochi games.
In an understatement for the century, Bettman characterized the 2010 Vancouver games as being “on balance, good”. But, of course, not before first making it clear that “even when it’s very good, there are issues” and calling Olympic participation “a mixed bag”.
Now see, here is where I differ from the all mighty and powerful commission. If I was representing a group of owners, nearly half of whom lost money in 2009, I’d have another name for a national event like the USA v. Canada gold medal game that drew 27.6 million US viewers, the most that have watched a hockey game since Miracle on Ice. It would go something like, “The answer to all our prayers” or perhaps “eureka”.
There is too much to gain by participating. When the leagues marketing strategy can best be described as “preaching to the choir”, the Olympics succeed at doing something the league hasn’t, getting people who don’t watch hockey to watch hockey.
The question on everyone’s lips around the NHL was whether or not the game would get a “bump” based on the success of the Olympics. It was answered 3 months later when the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals became the highest viewed in 36 years.
But the issues taken with the broadcasting continue. Sure, Vancouver was the greatest thing to happen to the sport in the US since Al Michaels exclaimed that immortal phrase as the clock approach zeros in Lake Placid, but that kind of success could never be replicated outside of the continent, right? Definitely not if the broadcasts will be taking place between 4AM and 2PM EST.
Now here, Bettman might have a point … if three months ago ESPN didn’t take the South African hosted 2010 World Cup, broadcast it between 6 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, and turn it into what can only be described as a national phenomenon. Ratings up 41% from 2006, and with the final match-up that set the record for US viewership of a men’s soccer game.
Or as Bettman would probably describe it, “being, on balance, good for soccer.”
So no matter what angle you try to take on the 2014 Sochi games, the NHL players are going to participate. Anything you hear between now and the point the deal is official that implies anything to say the contraire can only be summed up as political posturing.
And any person affiliated with the league or the players association who tell you anything besides “We love and are honored to participate in the Winter Olympics, we are working hard to come to an agreement with the IOC, and we fully expect to be back in 2014” is either playing you for a fool, or they themselves, “on balance”, are a complete and utter moron.
In the afterglow of the games once in a generation success at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the overwhelming consensus at the Word Hockey Summit was that it is, in fact, that simple. The NHL should go to Sochi in 2014 with almost no reservations.
Overall the Summit appears to have been a success, bringing different perspectives from management, players, and media members into the same room to discuss the biggest issues in the game. Though, with much at stake and the perception amongst hockey’s mavens to be swung, it was not without its share of political theater, at times devolving into what appeared to be hockey’s “spin alley”.
Speaking on behalf of his Maple Leaf boss and the other 29 franchise owners who have yet to make a decision on participating in the games, Burke lends his well deserved creditability to the argument that while everyone is in favor of returning, the deal involves complexities that prevent the league and players association from rubber stamping it without further information. An argument that seems like a more than reasonable stance until said complexities are examined.
Perhaps too aware of the way millionaire owners would come across holding out of the Olympics for their own gain, Burke, who put together the silver medal Team USA squad in his first term as general manager, attempted to take the side of his players.
“They aren't paid,” he argued. Mentioning the airplane tickets and hotels the players had to pay for any friends of family that joined them for the events, as if the IOC should bend over backwards accommodating player entourages. But buried in his less than believable support for the players was the real point, the one thing ownership would have people walking away from the discussion remembering. The sticking point that has kept the NHL from enlisting for another Winter Olympics: “The IOC makes a fortune off this thing.”
Other arguments are moot. 15 of the 16 teams that make the NHL playoffs don’t pay the players for the experience either. Brilliant Red Wings GM Ken Holland argues a point of view that hemust be far too intelligent to actually believe. That the travel could affect players and in turn cost teams wins, and as we saw this past spring, even a single point can decide whether a team makes the postseason or not.
 |
Imagine how criminal it would be if a playoff spot was decided by something as silly and outside the sanctity of the game as traveling. No, we know how these things are supposed to be decided: Breakaway contests. |
And if the league is particularly interested in eliminating needless travel and interruptions in the schedule, perhaps they should start with nixing the now entirely pointless All-Star weekend.
Any reluctance to enlist for the Sochi games instead can be more accurately summed up in a single word for Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly when he referred to players simply as “assets”.
To the owners, most of which are extremely successful business men, that is what players are. They are something that they invest millions and millions of dollars into, and as a result they lure the top talents and allow them to play at their absolute peak. They are afforded the best equipment, coaching, training, facilities, and health care that money can buy.
And every four years these elite players take that talent, paid for and fostered by NHL owners, and play essentially for free for another organization that makes money hand over fist.
 |
| The IOC made nearly $400M in Beijing in 2008. Or, based on his contract negotiations with the Devils, enough to lock up Ilya Kovalchuk through 2067. |
When you ignore the fact that it is their very own CBA that is responsible for suffocating smaller revenue teams, it almost seems reasonable. Almost.
The IOC takes advantage of NHL assets, and in turn the NHL wants something back. Even if players, especially the leagues Russian talent, seem absolutely eager and willing to head back to the games again. Superstar Alexander Ovechkin has already stated that he intends to go either way. Yet owners are willing to play the “as long as you live in my house you’ll live by my rules” card.
See, if we look at statements made by the league’s own fearless leader, Commission Gary Bettman, this is really all about its broadcast . No one has called for the IOC to send a giant check to the NHL. No one has asked for the IOC to pick up the tab on 2 weeks of the NHL players contracts that it’ll tap.
“If we are going to disappear for the better part two weeks, we want to make sure it’s worth it,” Bettman said. “Particularly if the time zone puts you eight hours ahead of the east coast.”
As mind blowing as it might seem, this whole thing is apparently just the league posturing itself to promote the game better. Which, based on your perspective, is either the height of hypocrisy considering the leagues embarrassing exclusive cable contract with VS. Or for those particularly stubbornly “glass half full” people, a lesson learned, albeit five years too late.
The International Olympic Committee has yet to even award the US television rights to the Sochi games, pushing back bidding multiple times in an attempt to deal the rights in a more favorable economic environment. Without a broadcast partner decided, shouldn’t the league be hesitant to make any decision? Isn’t that the type of information the league needs to come to a decision?
 |
| The Globe and Mail's Bruce Dowbiggin reported that NBC has prepared two contracts. One if the league participates in Sochi, one if they don't. |
And make no mistake, even if the US TV rights haven’t been secured yet, no one is going to be hiding the coverage on a third rate network, like say, Versus. Alongside NBC, FOX and ESPN are lining up to bid on the US TV rights for the Sochi games.
In an understatement for the century, Bettman characterized the 2010 Vancouver games as being “on balance, good”. But, of course, not before first making it clear that “even when it’s very good, there are issues” and calling Olympic participation “a mixed bag”.
Now see, here is where I differ from the all mighty and powerful commission. If I was representing a group of owners, nearly half of whom lost money in 2009, I’d have another name for a national event like the USA v. Canada gold medal game that drew 27.6 million US viewers, the most that have watched a hockey game since Miracle on Ice. It would go something like, “The answer to all our prayers” or perhaps “eureka”.
There is too much to gain by participating. When the leagues marketing strategy can best be described as “preaching to the choir”, the Olympics succeed at doing something the league hasn’t, getting people who don’t watch hockey to watch hockey.
The question on everyone’s lips around the NHL was whether or not the game would get a “bump” based on the success of the Olympics. It was answered 3 months later when the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals became the highest viewed in 36 years.
But the issues taken with the broadcasting continue. Sure, Vancouver was the greatest thing to happen to the sport in the US since Al Michaels exclaimed that immortal phrase as the clock approach zeros in Lake Placid, but that kind of success could never be replicated outside of the continent, right? Definitely not if the broadcasts will be taking place between 4AM and 2PM EST.
 |
| If there is one sport that hockey is ahead of in the US peaking order it's pro soccer. |
Or as Bettman would probably describe it, “being, on balance, good for soccer.”
So no matter what angle you try to take on the 2014 Sochi games, the NHL players are going to participate. Anything you hear between now and the point the deal is official that implies anything to say the contraire can only be summed up as political posturing.
And any person affiliated with the league or the players association who tell you anything besides “We love and are honored to participate in the Winter Olympics, we are working hard to come to an agreement with the IOC, and we fully expect to be back in 2014” is either playing you for a fool, or they themselves, “on balance”, are a complete and utter moron.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Someone Must Be Blamed
“This is all your fault. All you had to do was win a shootout. If the Flyers win the Stanley Cup, I’ll never forgive you.”
These were the words I sent to a good friend and Rangers fan in the aftermath of the Flyers Mike Richards lifting the Prince of Wales trophy after eliminating the Montreal Canadiens and advancing as the Eastern Conference representation in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals.
Forty-eight days ago the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers went to an overtime shootout in game number 82, the last of the regular season. With an overtime point apiece, both teams sat deadlocked at 87 points for the final seed of the Eastern Conference. The winner of the three round shoot out would advance to the postseason. The loser was done.
That was how close the Flyers came to not even making the dance. Tied at 1-1 in the third round, Claude Giroux beat Henrik Lundqvist, putting the season on Flyer’s goaltender Brian Boucher. He saved the Olli Jokinen backhand shot, and the Flyers made it into the playoffs on the last play of their regular season.
That was how close I was, as a Penguins fan deep in Flyers territory, from avoiding this whole ordeal.
Twenty-two days ago the Flyers entered overtime in game four of the second round series tied 4-4 with the Boston Bruins. After eliminating their Atlantic division rivals, the New Jersey Devils in the opening round, the Flyers had struggled mightily with the Bruins. After a tight overtime loss in the series opener in Boston, the Flyers dropped games two and three. Down three games to none, the Flyers entered overtime in game four in front of a home Wachovia Philly crowd, a single goal away from being swept into elimination.
In overtime the Flyers killed a two minute boarding call on Darroll Powe, and Boucher made nine saves. Each shot was a potential season ender. With less than six minutes left in the first overtime Mike Richards won a neutral zone face-off and the Flyers gained the offensive zone. Simon Gagne, back in his first game after injuring a toe in the Devils series, set up in front of Tuuka Rask at the top of the crease. Matt Carle unleashed a shot from a distance, Gagne redirected past the Boston goaltender and into the net, and once again the Flyers managed to stay alive.
A week later the Flyers skated back on to Boston Garden ice after an improbable comeback, overcoming the loss of Boucher, winning games five and six, and evening the series at three games apiece. But only fifteen minutes into the deciding game seven the Flyers again starring elimination in the face. Back-up goalie Michael Leighton had allowed three goals on 13 shots. Down 3-0, the Flyers had a seemingly uncermountable task in front of them when head coach Peter Laviolette called a timeout to address his team. And they responded.
After getting on the board with a late first period goal, the Flyers dominated the second period, tacking on two more goals, and tying the game at three. Seven minutes into the third period, the longest tenured Flyer Simon Gagne once again answered the call from the Philly faithful, netting a power-play goal, the eventual game-winner as the Flyers came back from being down 3-0 in both the series and the game to win both, 4-3.
Five days ago the Flyers completed the four games to one series win over the Montreal Canadiens, thanks largely to three shutouts by the back-up Leighton and the Flyers defense. Mike Richards lifted that Prince of Wales trophy, and the team that’s playoff involvement hinged on an overtime shootout in the final game of the regular season, a team that fell down three games to none and completed the unlikely comeback for the first time in 35 years, advanced to the Finals. Four wins away from engraving their names forever on Lord Stanley’s Cup.
Now my Rangers friend was quick to point out that I was actually pulling for the Flyers to beat the Habs. Which is a low-down dirty,vile, and slanderous aspersion to cast upon my good name.
It is also absolutely true.
It is also absolutely true.
Of course I wanted the trap-playing Habs to lose. The closer they got towards winning the Cup, the more and more we ran the risk of setting the trend, a la the 1995 Devils, for lackluster teams to try their hand at succeeding by playing the trap. And most importantly of all, this would have been all my Penguins fault. After all, they were ones who failed to eliminate Montreal in back-to-back games when they were up 3-2 in the series.
But at the cost of the Flyers making the Cup final? Someone has to be blamed.
But at the cost of the Flyers making the Cup final? Someone has to be blamed.
Tonight Philadelphia takes on the Chicago Blackhawks in the opening game of the Cup series, a high-flying team completely unlike the kind of which they have seen over the past seven weeks. The Devils were 19th in goals this regular season, notching 217. The Bruins were 30th, last in the league, with a measly 196. The Canadiens were 26th with 210. The Western Conference Champion Blackhawks finished third in the league, amassing 262.
The Chicago Blackhawks have tallied four or more goals eight times this post-season. But then again, the Flyers have held opposing teams to less than two goals eight times this post-season as well. Unstoppable force, meet immovable object.
If you put any weight into the predictions of NHL experts, the Flyers are once again facing long odds. Which, based on the last forty-eight days on their calendar, has become the status quo.
Which has me, understandably a little nervous, and looking for someone to blame.
Which has me, understandably a little nervous, and looking for someone to blame.
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