Comments on: The Rise of Hockey http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/ This Just in... Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:11:24 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Madeleine http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2343 Madeleine Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:38:22 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2343 Very funny and interesting post! This is weird for me, since I'm a Canadian and hockey is HUGE here. Seriously, everybody watches the game. Even in university, when we can't afford TVs we find a way to watch hockey. There may be more American teams, but it's still Canada's game. Oh, and the Leafs may suck now, but just you wait, someday we will recapture that cup! I mean, we still have a better chance than the Ottawa Chokers...I mean Senators. Very funny and interesting post!
This is weird for me, since I’m a Canadian and hockey is HUGE here. Seriously, everybody watches the game. Even in university, when we can’t afford TVs we find a way to watch hockey.
There may be more American teams, but it’s still Canada’s game.

Oh, and the Leafs may suck now, but just you wait, someday we will recapture that cup! I mean, we still have a better chance than the Ottawa Chokers…I mean Senators.

]]> By: Lyera http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2333 Lyera Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:56:39 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2333 (sidenote – this information is from the NHL’s media site, where they included Atlanta in that group – I refuse to include them based strictly on seeing one game on TV where their attendance was worse than a swine-flu giveaway). I have watched 2 games at Atlanta and if they say that their attendance is up... then they must have only had the players wives and girlfriends watching the games before because that was sad! I honestly think my beloved Cyclones had more fans at the game last night then Atlanta did! (sidenote – this information is from the NHL’s media site, where they included Atlanta in that group – I refuse to include them based strictly on seeing one game on TV where their attendance was worse than a swine-flu giveaway).

I have watched 2 games at Atlanta and if they say that their attendance is up… then they must have only had the players wives and girlfriends watching the games before because that was sad! I honestly think my beloved Cyclones had more fans at the game last night then Atlanta did!

]]> By: Jake http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2322 Jake Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:42:37 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2322 Nothing about the 2009 World Series Champions? :-( You're still #1 J.B. I have a new show for you to watch too. It's called The League. It's about a group of friends and their fantasy football league. It's on fx, thursday nights after It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (which is also awesome). Check it out. jl Nothing about the 2009 World Series Champions? :-( You’re still #1 J.B. I have a new show for you to watch too. It’s called The League. It’s about a group of friends and their fantasy football league. It’s on fx, thursday nights after It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (which is also awesome). Check it out.
jl

]]> By: Frank http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2321 Frank Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:55:12 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2321 I would have to say Alaska is a frustrating place to watch hockey because during the week, the games are generally over or in the 3rd period by the time you get off work and we get the same low coverage that everyone else gets in the lower 48. It is nice, though, that Monday Night Football starts at 5pm instead of 7 or 8 Justin, it would be interesting to hear your take on the best and worst places to go watch an NHL game for those of us who have to travel to catch a game live or make trips to see our home team on the road. I would have to say Alaska is a frustrating place to watch hockey because during the week, the games are generally over or in the 3rd period by the time you get off work and we get the same low coverage that everyone else gets in the lower 48. It is nice, though, that Monday Night Football starts at 5pm instead of 7 or 8

Justin, it would be interesting to hear your take on the best and worst places to go watch an NHL game for those of us who have to travel to catch a game live or make trips to see our home team on the road.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2320 Kyle Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:02:56 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2320 There is one dilemma with a TV deal for hockey, and Char hit on it: Who? No network will dare place $5 on coverage, unless it is a game of the week thing like NBC. I'd like to think FOX could get in the hunt, but left turns and football bring too much money to the table. ESPN? Please. They're running MAC, WAC and other "football" games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and that day that has yet to be named. (You know, that one in between someday and any day.) That leaves a couple of options. 1. Versus continues to build a brand. Not a given considering their horrible studio presence and lack of availability, but it's there and it's cheap. 2. All of the Fox Sports networks. Most (several) show local games, but I have a feeling that all (most) are just like FSNorth here in Minn. If the Wolves (the freakin' Wolves!) are playing, that gets priority. Many games are thrown on a less-than-standard def local channel that makes Versus seem like ESPN's NFL games. Of the 68 games that reamain for the Wild, three are not on any TV, 15 are on said crappy local station, 10 are non-HS FSNorth and one is NHLN only. Yeah. Also a note on this: there have been six Gopher games this year. All were on non-HD FSNorth, and two were on tape delay (DU and Anch.). 3. A cheaper option to the Center Ice package. This is the future of all big sports, get a jump on it now. Soon enough, the NFL network will give FOX and ESPN a game a week and the rest will be available with season ticket packages only, at least until seats run out. 4. ESPN2. Or 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... There is one dilemma with a TV deal for hockey, and Char hit on it: Who?
No network will dare place $5 on coverage, unless it is a game of the week thing like NBC. I’d like to think FOX could get in the hunt, but left turns and football bring too much money to the table. ESPN? Please. They’re running MAC, WAC and other “football” games on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and that day that has yet to be named. (You know, that one in between someday and any day.)
That leaves a couple of options.
1. Versus continues to build a brand. Not a given considering their horrible studio presence and lack of availability, but it’s there and it’s cheap.
2. All of the Fox Sports networks. Most (several) show local games, but I have a feeling that all (most) are just like FSNorth here in Minn. If the Wolves (the freakin’ Wolves!) are playing, that gets priority. Many games are thrown on a less-than-standard def local channel that makes Versus seem like ESPN’s NFL games. Of the 68 games that reamain for the Wild, three are not on any TV, 15 are on said crappy local station, 10 are non-HS FSNorth and one is NHLN only. Yeah.
Also a note on this: there have been six Gopher games this year. All were on non-HD FSNorth, and two were on tape delay (DU and Anch.).
3. A cheaper option to the Center Ice package. This is the future of all big sports, get a jump on it now. Soon enough, the NFL network will give FOX and ESPN a game a week and the rest will be available with season ticket packages only, at least until seats run out.
4. ESPN2. Or 3, 4, 5, 6, 7…

]]> By: Char http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2319 Char Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:39:35 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2319 //ESPN Sports Guy and basketball guru Bill Simmons is re-connecting with the Bruins after divorcing them years ago.// Excuse me, gotta go throw up now.... OK, back. Just the thought of that empty-headed, mysoginistic, pinkberry-guzzling, Melrose Place-watching, front-running dipshit even mentioning my Bruins makes my blood boil. That bozo wouldn't know David Krejci or Vladimir Sobotka if they hit him over the head with a Czech-English dictionary. UGH. Anyway, to your main point. I stopped watching SportsCenter last year when they didn't even mention the first Bruins-Canadiens game of the season and spent 10 minutes on an interview with Pacman Jones. At ESPN, it's the NFL, NBA, college basketball, college football, baseball and the WNBA, in that order. They look upon hockey as a joke. I mean, seriously, Barry Melrose? As a DirecTV customer, I lost Versus this fall, and they gave me NHL Center Ice for free this season when I called to complain. Unfortunately what I wanted more than anything was simply access to Bruins games on Versus, since I have NESN, but it was better than nothing (and it's fun to see the Leafs flailing). Bottom line -- a national TV deal would be wonderful, but with WHOM? //ESPN Sports Guy and basketball guru Bill Simmons is re-connecting with the Bruins after divorcing them years ago.//

Excuse me, gotta go throw up now….

OK, back. Just the thought of that empty-headed, mysoginistic, pinkberry-guzzling, Melrose Place-watching, front-running dipshit even mentioning my Bruins makes my blood boil. That bozo wouldn’t know David Krejci or Vladimir Sobotka if they hit him over the head with a Czech-English dictionary. UGH.

Anyway, to your main point. I stopped watching SportsCenter last year when they didn’t even mention the first Bruins-Canadiens game of the season and spent 10 minutes on an interview with Pacman Jones. At ESPN, it’s the NFL, NBA, college basketball, college football, baseball and the WNBA, in that order. They look upon hockey as a joke. I mean, seriously, Barry Melrose?

As a DirecTV customer, I lost Versus this fall, and they gave me NHL Center Ice for free this season when I called to complain. Unfortunately what I wanted more than anything was simply access to Bruins games on Versus, since I have NESN, but it was better than nothing (and it’s fun to see the Leafs flailing).

Bottom line — a national TV deal would be wonderful, but with WHOM?

]]> By: Blake http://www.jtbourne.com/rise-hockey/comment-page-1/#comment-2317 Blake Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:11:47 +0000 http://www.jtbourne.com/?p=4460#comment-2317 Justin...I don't really have anything constructive to add...Other than that Toskala caption made me spit my soda out at work. You owe me a new keyboard dammit! Justin…I don’t really have anything constructive to add…Other than that Toskala caption made me spit my soda out at work.

You owe me a new keyboard dammit!

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