What makes an owner?
So you’re a millionaire looking for a business investment, which direction should you go?
Do you A. look for what is going to make you even more money, or B. go with something that you enjoy to keep yourself occupied while you spend the millions that you already have?
If the answer is A. there are many, many more profitable ventures than an NHL team and most of them have far less risk. Go buy an insurance company, or open a retail chain.
If the answer is B. then lets assume for a moment that the thing that you enjoy is hockey. Then it is an obvious choice to buy a team in the NHL.
The fact that you chose B. means that you like NHL hockey, and do you know what that makes you? A fan, oh my! Assuming that this theory holds true, then all NHL owners were once simple, yet wealthy fans. So why then would a fan wish to Lockout all of the other fans?
In 2004 it was to fix the broken game, and we all must thank them for it, but this time it’s all about the money. I wish all of the owners could take a step back and look at the situation from a “human” standpoint.
The game is healthy, yes there are teams in trouble, but that isn’t necessarily a reflection of the game, but poor decisions along the way.
The game has unprecedented popularity and this process is stunting its growth.
The game has an amazing generation of talent that we may never see again, and your wasting precious time that we could be spending watching those stars play.
Taking all of this into account, why would a “fan” do this just to fill their already full pockets? I don’t know, that’s something that they need to ask themselves and if the answer is that they truly are in the business to make as much money as possible, then sell the team to someone who would cherish it.
I can’t believe that I am saying this, but more sports owners need to be like Mark Cuban, just tamer. He shows his love for his teams and his players. He gets it.
I’m not expecting the owners to run a team for free, but there is a line there. Make sure you are making a profit, make sure the team and the game are healthy, and enjoy.
If you ask the Rooney family that owns the Steelers, what they are most proud of as owners, what do you think that their answer will be? Making tons and tons of money, or winning 6 Super Bowls and being part of one of the most successful sports franchises in the world?
I do think that there are NHL owners that do feel this way, but peer pressure exists, even among the super wealthy.
More on their way out.
Add Alex Ovechkin to the list of NHLers going to Russia. He signed today with Dynamo Moscow of the KHL.
The hockey world is holding their breath while this labor dispute continues. What happens if Ovechkin, Malkin, or any of the NHL stars playing overseas blows a knee? Another bad situation created from an already bad situation.
A lot of players are taking the wait and see approach before jumping into another league. Training camps are not supposed to open until the 21st, so there is still some time before the calendar starts to change.
For example many of the Penguins, including captain Sidney Crosby are practicing on their own at the teams practice rink in Canonsburg, PA. The difference is that they are truly locked out of the Pens locker room and have to use the Beer League facilities.
Stinks being a normal hockey player doesn’t it?
Talking, but not really.
The NHL and NHLPA talked a bit today and plan on talking again tomorrow, but no official meetings are planned as of yet.
All indicators show that once both sides hit the table, it will be with the intention of hitting it hard to get camps open on time, its just getting there that seems to be the chore at the moment.
Give some love to the little guys.
Hockey fans should see this as an opportunity to get to know their non NHL leagues.
On reason that the NFL is so successful is College Football. The NCAA is like the NFL junior, it feeds pre made stars to the NFL and keeps players household names from the time they are out of high school to the time they retire. Do you think that the casual hockey fan knows who their teams players are before they hit the big league? No, but I bet they know what college Andrew Luck went to.
Get to know your local minor league or amateur teams. Go see an AHL or ECHL game or if you’re in Canada take in a QMJHL game. Take the time away from the NHL to know who else it out there.
If you need some direction, I suggest visiting www.hockeysfuture.com.
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So if camps are set to open on Friday, lets hope these updates don’t go past day 5.
Until next time……
