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In Tuesday's Province, Ed Willes wrote about the NHL lockout. In the column, he asked Province Sports readers to drop him a note, to vent if they wanted to.
They responded. Today, we unleash 116 letters — we think it's 116, we lost count somewhere up in the 70's — and hope you enjoy the perspective of people all over B.C. (Note: Apologies in advance; letters are unedited.)
Ted Hansen, Whistler: "I can't stand Gary Bettman. Just his smug demeanour makes me retch. If I could, I would refuse to allow hockey to be played until Bettman got the boot. Let him go screw up soccer or something. Also, I wonder why we don't create a Canadian Hockey League – Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Quebec, to start. And maybe let Detroit and Chicago in if they also want to get away from Bettman. Bettman can run his own league with Florida, Dallas, Phoenix, Anaheim and any of the other NFL cities that Bettman loves."
Amy Gill: "On Oct. 11 I sat on the couch, in front of the TV, with all my Canucks gear on and pretended that I had a season opener to watch — the season opener that never happened. I didn't get to see the boys rush onto the ice, I didn't get to see Coach AV chew gum incessantly, Schneider never made his starting goalie debut, and most importantly — along with the entire city, I didn't get to witness the Canucks extinguish the Flames (we all know that's exactly what would have happened). Instead, I just sat there, staring at a blank TV, like one of the many depressed hockey fans out there.
Recently for me it hasn't been the shorter days, heavy rain and winds that have contributed to dark and gloomy days — but it's the fact that I can't turn on the TV to HNIC on a Saturday to watch the best sport on earth.
When was the last time I yelled at my TV like a maniac as if the refs would hear my thoughts following a penalty call? TOO LONG AGO. When was the last time I completed my pre-game rituals? TOO LONG AGO. When was the last time my dinner in my plate went flying across the room because of my careless goal celebrations? TOO LONG AGO. When was the last time I turned on Sportsnet Connected at 10 p.m. to watch Don Taylor and his Canucks highlights on repeat all night? TOO LONG AGO. When was the last time I broke out into my happy dance, celebrating a tic-tac-toe, Daniel to Henrik to Burrows goal? WAY TOO LONG AGO.
Everyone has a breaking point — and right now would be mine. I am hockey-deprived. I am suffering from HWS (Hockey Withdrawal Syndrome). My Canucks jersey is sitting at the back of my closet and it wants out. At this point, I should have already lost my voice a few times due to consistent screaming — and the fact that that hasn't happened yet is extremely abnormal.
All I know is us fans can only go so long without hockey, and if these "big shots" that make or break the deals claim that they care about the game — then I just wish that they'd please get on with it and give us back what we miss oh so much.
P.S. I can and would love to go on — but I have two midterms to study fo.r
Allison Chan Beaulieu, Vancouver: "What bothers me most about the NHL lockout is that Bettman was ever hired in the first place, and that we are still stuck with him for who-knows-how-many-more-years. He is Campbell's hired goon, as far as I can see.
"Bettman's sole purpose, Campbell's mandate to him, is to attempt to destroy professional hockey in Canada by whatever means possible, to wear down and/or eliminate the worthy competitor, so as to more easily control the odds of what American team will win any given game. That is my opinion. That's a big reason to be pissed at Campbell and Bettman and this lockout.
"Fixed games are an age-old problem in sports, and Campbell's henchman, Bettman, whether by design or by accident, has historically shown that he favours committing destructive & counterproductive acts that aid this mandate, include messing with game schedules to favour certain teams; messing with the referees association so that the quality of calls are inconsistent depending on which teams are playing a given game; or by attempting to intimidate the NHLPA into a weak posture via a lopsided contract, and thereby intimidate and weaken the integrity of every hockey player.
"A weakened individual is easier to order around. Once a weak individual is worn out by being ordered around, it's easier to intimidate that person into doing whatever the boss says, whether it be an ethical or unethical act. Like, throwing games. Or breaking the bones of opponents instead of playing hockey. To tilt the odds. And, odds are what people pay money to bet on.
"If Bettman were ever to succeed in cowing the NHLPA, players by extension would be cowed, forced to recognize him as their superior to whom they must answer foremost above all other men. Then the NHL would be lowered into being a league that plays hockey with well-paid but indentured slaves. Once one major sport is accepts having indentured slaves, what is to stop that from becoming the norm for any other major sport franchise?
"Ok, I really appreciate you letting me blow off some steam there. Basically my opinion is that the fans' hands are tied. It isn't worth yelling about it because nobody will fire Bettman, and Campbell calls the shots. The fans aren't in charge of the league, there's nothing we can do. The only thing that fans can do is maintain our love of the sport of hockey and never let our spirits be broken by somebody who is spoiling the game.
"If one or more of the European leagues were to expand into North America, I think that would be the best thing to improve the quality of professional level hockey overall. The NHL doesn't deserve to have a monopoly and we fans deserve better hockey. That competition would force the NHL to shape up.
"Or here's a suggestion: Someone could start an Arctic Lands Hockey League — all the countries who have land that touches the Arctic Circle, would compete with each other for an international trophy every year? That would be awesome.
"I also asked my husband for his opinion, and to quote him, 'As long as Bettman is there, the NHL will never be run in an evenhanded manner, and lockouts will continue to plague the NHL.'"
Dennis Trotman, Surrey: "I remember listening to Foster Hewitt on the radio when we only had six teams in the NHL. And had millions of fans all over the world. Now hockey is nothing but a cash cow.
"When all is said and done at the end of this strike? Owners will still be rich, and so will the hockey players. Hockey as we knew it was for pure enjoyment.
"Those days are gone. Money, money, money. The average family can't afford to go to the games.
"Where will it stop. The NHL needs to listen to the fans. Without the fans, they are just millionaires that can skate."
Trudi Alves: "I am ANGRY! I am fed up with all the dilly dallying around with getting a deal done. I love my hockey and should be whooping at each goal and groaning at the misses. I have been a hockey fan since the 50s when I was a Habs fan and there were only the 6 teams. I am now a die hard Canucks fan and read everything and follow all I can on CDC, TSN, Twitter and Facebook. We are going to Bieksa's Buddies on Wednesday and the Chicago Wolves vs Abbotsford Heat on Friday just to get my Canucks fix. I want to see all those whose jobs have been affected get back to work. They don't seem to be considered in the equation.
"Hockey is a Canadian sport and to this day a large percent of players are Canadian. When I started listening to Hockey Night in Canada, most, if not all, of the players were Canadian. The Stanley Cup was donated by Lord Stanley, Canada's Governor General, but it seems that the American market thinks it belongs to them. I sometimes wish that Lord Stanley's family would rescind the gift and give it back to the Canadian teams. The NHL seems to be oblivious to the fact that hockey is a spectator sport and that it is the fans who provide the income. We buy the tickets, the merchandise, the sponsors products and support the charities yet we are treated like ninnies. And what about those whose livings are affected by this…salaries cut back, layoffs, uncertainty. It is all about greed. I can understand more of the players position in this than the owners. Concessions need to made and it should be done in a fair way. The longer this goes on the more it will affect the clubs bottom lines. Come on lets get a deal done. I WANT MY HOCKEY NOW!"
Cliff Marr, Vancouver: "In a perfect world, partnerships whether it's in marriage or business, are equal, 50/50. However we do not live in a perfect world especially when it comes to the current NHL contract negotiations between the players and the owners. In the world of the NHL, the rules and the goal posts are always changing in trying to get a new Collect Bargaining Agreement (CBA) especially when it comes to the definition of Hockey Related Revenue (HRR).
"HRR includes gate receipts, television broadcast contracts, the NHL Network, all local TV and radio broadcasts, pay per view, club internet sites and online advertising, merchandising, concessions, luxury boxes, rink-board advertising, and parking. Each percentage point could be worth as much as $30 million and the players are concerned that the definition of HRR has changed in these talks. This has made the players suspicious about how much money the league is looking to take back, much of it to aid its struggling franchises. Currently, the league shares $3 Billion. For the owners, the revenues are needed to offset other expenses like rent, taxes, and arena crew and office staff to name a few. Currently, approximately 15 NHL clubs make money or break even and the other 15 lose money. The revenue is used to prop up the money losing franchises so it is not a surprise that owners want a bigger piece of the HRR pie. On the other hand, the players have no business related expenses. Their equipment is paid for through sponsorships by the equipment manufacturers. The only expenses are maybe accounting and agent related. So their income is all revenue which is all gravy, 100% profit.
"As a long time season ticket holder of the Vancouver Canucks, I respect the players as they sacrifice a lot to win a Stanley Cup for the City of Vancouver. I also respect our local owners, the Aquilini Family, who are willing to invest and keep the Vancouver Canucks in this city. Without the Aquilinis, I believe the Canucks would have folded or moved to Seattle a few years ago like the Vancouver Grizzlies did to Memphis. These are the type of owners every NHL city needs. They give back to the community through generous donations to organizations like the Canucks for Kids Foundation. Vancouver Canucks are also economic generators for the entire city. Similar to the last lock out in 2004-2005, it is estimated that Vancouver lost up to $200 million in economic spin offs. It has also been reported by BMO that the Canadian economy would lose $1.5 Billion in economic benefits.
"In my mind, the problem is not the owners or the players, the problem is the rules and the sky is the limit attitude on both sides. Everybody wants to earn the highest salary and play for a competitive team which unfortunately hurts some of the smaller market money losing teams in a cap salary world. This is why the Nashville Predators will have their hands tied because 1/5th of their team salary structure will be used to pay one player, Shea Weber, in order to keep him. There is no loyalty anymore as seen from Ryan Suter and former Vancouver Canucks, Christian Erhoff who left for more money. There is a glimmer of hope from players like Shane Doan, Alex Burrows or Dan Hamhuis who are willing to take hometown discounts. The current CBA is the root cause of this and not the owners or players. So it needs to be fixed.
"The league and the players are not too far apart in revenue sharing. All they need is to sit down and work something out. Maybe the Vancouver Canucks can be a blue print for the rest of the league. Seeing players and owners taking part in the local charity to raise funds during a possible strike where other teams players have chosen not to participate in other similar annual fundraisers, it's no wonder the Canucks are despised in other NHL cities. We are the envy of the league because of the great relationships the team has with the players, owners and fans."
Richard O'Rourke: "One needs only to flip through the Tuesday Oct. 16th issue of The Province to find fodder for your request for input from upset hockey fans. I find some parrallels twixt stories in this issue and the hockey dispute.
"With all due respect to Mr. Dame, (A6) all hockey fans feel punched and kicked. Albeit, not as seriously as Cordell, again in due respect. I trust and hope Mr. Dame will be well.
"Page A8, "Police arrest armed man", as a hockey fan, I feel I am being held at gunpoint. Again, due respect to the the afflicted.
"Cummins dissidents", why can't there a few Bettman dissidents? Wait, maybe there are, but why don't we hear from them? I can guess (perhaps I'm wrong) that a hockey team close to here is one of those wanting to collect cash instead of screwing the pooch.
"I will no longer use a capital "b" when spelling bettman; I am that p1ssed off.
"A12 "McGuinty resigns", how can we convince bettman to resign?
"Oh, the shark fin thing, don't the NHL realize they are cutting off their own fins/limbs by not going ahead with the season after getting a fat American TV deal? What the fin?
"A19, Drones; why can't the NHLPA buy some armed drones to take out bettman?
"Hard to port, hard to starboard? Can't they make up their minds one way or the other?
"Oh, now to the most enjoyable part of The Province, the Comics… "Get Fuzzy"; the words witch and stupid are used. 'nuff said.
"As for Dilbert, I can't decide if bettman is the pointy haired boss or is he Alice? I think he's the pointy haired boss, Alice seems more intelligent, but can anyone be more bitchy than him than Alice though? One wonders…..
"Luanne", words about being selfish and not listening. Not listening. Not listening. Not listening.
Patrick Kalk: "Hi Ed, read your invitation after the news that Bettman made an offer to the NHLPA. However, it doesn't change my thinking. Bettman's always been about the business. And you know, the first rule of business is to give your customers a product they will buy. With that in mind why is the NHL in Miami, Tampa, Phoenix, etc?? For a decade or better, those fans have shown Bettman that this is a product they won't buy. With this business plan, Bettman would have trouble selling rum to a ship full of pirates. Why is the NHL not in more markets in Canada? Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg have proved that this is a product they will buy, and at a premium, no less.
"Gary – this should not be news to you – if your customer won't come to you, you must go to your customer. But, you're a sharp businessman and know this which is why we've had three lockouts in your tenure and you begrudgingly accepted Winnipeg back and won't even entertain another southern Ontario team.
"Seriously, if you want successful franchises put them in true hockey markets. You'll win, the league will win, the sponsors will win, the fans will win and the players will win. But you're a smart businessman and already know this. Or do you? Hello? Is Gary there? Fans are calling. Hello? Gary….? Are you there? Do you care? Rum anyone?"
Michael Hanson, Victoria: "WE ARE ALL CANUCKS……….the BC theme, what it really means is we ARE ALL CANADIAN and our passion for the game is second to none in the sports world.
"We all know that the present "lockout" is absurd, we all know that Athletes in every major sport are " slightly " overpaid, just as some Bankers, Politicians, CEO's, Union Leaders, and yes even some media types……..however lets not forget that someone is SIGNING the cheque for all these over paid people.
"I don't see this as an Owners vs Players issue, I see it as 10 successful NHL Franchises……….10 mediocre NHL Franchises…..and lastly 10 wanna -be NHL Franchises. Whilst it may appear that all 30 Franchises are on the same page, I believe it is easy to break down ( the numbers may vary in each category + or – a Team or two ) we have 10 affluent well managed and predominately Canadian NHL Clubs……plus another 4 original 6 that can operate successful NHL Franchises, we have the next 10 Franchises that basically break even and would sell at the drop of the puck so to speak to the highest bidder and then we have the bottom 10 NHL Franchises that just cannot support there Teams………I wonder where the bottom 10 would be without equalization payments……..or if they even care about the game of Hockey as they profess to live by .
"Here's my conversation with guru Betman.
"Hi Gary, my name is Mr Aquiline, owner of the Vancouver Canucks, hope you have a moment to read my short note…….
"Sorry that I own a NHL Team in Vancouver …….Canada ( not Washington State ) and sorry that we have a great business plan, great Sponsors ( BC Ferries included ) and an un-believable Fan base and that we sell out our Arena for every game and that we make a profit, but I have just one question……….
"In the summer of 2012 we tried our best to sign a free agent by the name of Shane Doane (spelling) who played as you may recall for one Franchise…namely the Winnipeg Jets, oh yeah I forgot the NHL moved them to Phoenix ( that great hockey City in Arizona ) sorry I digress………well anyway we made a big effort to sign this free agent and low and behold Shane decided to sign in Winnipeg…….oopps I mean Phoenix for 4.5 Million a Year……how does that happen Mr Betman when my Club, the Vancouver Canucks subsidizes that Winnipeg OOP's I mean Phoenix Club which has in the last 3 Years lost $125 Million Dollars under the ownership of the NHL………how do we explain that to our great fans…….sponsors and followers ?? it is a simple question Mr Betman……….can you give me an answer.
"We are all now wondering where we go from here. we all take risks in the democratic world that we live in and I am wondering why my club is being penalized for being successful, we can afford to pay our players the amount that we contracted them to make, nobody twisted our arms to sign our Athletes to contracts ( not even Luoango ) we have a good sound business plan and here's the best part…….our revenues allow us to operate in a profitable environment, without being a burden on the other 29 NHL Clubs…….Game on is all I can say. In Vancouver……..BC…….Canada……..we just want to play the GAME
"Just some of my simple thoughts regarding this stupidity, I own a small business in Victoria BC and I am glad that I don't treat my customers and staff the way the NHL seems fit to do. Oh, I know there are many financial things that we don't hear about regarding the NHL……..but at the end of the day nobody benefits from a work stoppage, we are in an economical downturn in BC and infact the World……..but closing my business because we can't achieve the desired margins does not work."
Betty Perverzov, Vancouver: "Dear Sir (Gary Bettman), I had intended to write to you to say that I plan on organizing NHL fans in a boycott of the NHL for every day that you locked the players out, but I don't care any more.
"I would like to protest your treatment of the players………the latest offer gives them a minimum 14% pay cut……which is totally shameful, but I don't care any more.
"I had planned to comment on this latest lockout……the third work stopage in 18 years!!…..thanks to you, I don't care any more.
"I had planned to ask each and every NHL fan to actively avoid the NHL Winter Classic scheduled for this coming January, but I don't care any more.
"You have a $3.5 billion dollar revenue stream with live ticket sales that account for a staggering 50% of that money. It's been very clear to us fans……whom you call the "greatest fans in the world"…….that you have never cared for us at all.
"When the fans stop caring, there is no point in playing You have ruined the NHL. Please do the league a favour and resign."
Zach Minaker: "The NHL has no fancy jerseys, shootouts, trapezoids or other gimmicks this time. The NFL and MLB have gained fan interest.The Players if the lockout goes much farther will get into maybe the longest stretch away from elite hockey in their lives. That brings groin and back injuries, timing and stamina issues. Seeing the players group hugging definitely impacts the perceived rivalries in the game. Without choosing sides,the lockout really seems ill advised after the parties had seemed to have built the game up in the last five years. Add to that another asterisk season in a sports leagues record books."
Saul: "Tired of these clowns fighting for money !!!!!! How much is enough… you greedy bastards.
"While we the fans we have to make ends meat and work very hard to afford the tickets prices so you can enjoy your lifestyle and anything in between and these goes for the bloody owners too.
"What do we get …….. A slap in the face.
"I'll save my money!!! why bother with these egotistical self center individuals you should be ashamed of yourselves for this bloody mess .
"Bettman and Co. Proud of your mess? How do you get to keep your job? I have an idea but this not the venue to verbalize it."
Trevor Wiebe, North Vancouver: "I haven't followed hockey for years. Why? Well, it's not just the lockout, it's not just the league's arrogance, it's not just the ridiculous player salaries, it's not just the stupid rioting fans, it's not just my suspicions that doping is rampant, it's not just the inconsistent officiating, it's not just the unchecked thuggery directed towards the superstars, it's not just the outrageous cost of a ticket — it's all of these things and more, represented in your picture of a self-important-looking Mr. Bettman, who, along with others, has been tasked with wringing as much 'value' as possible for the elites who own and run the teams, at whatever cost to other supposed stakeholders (news flash: there are no other stakeholders they recognize).
"No, thanks. I and many others realize that life is too short to care about pro hockey. Good luck to them all."
Liz MacNeil: "i can only see greed happening here in this situation, while we go through withdrawls over no hockey. Bettman needs to be fired, a non negotiator has no place in this situation
"This would be my idea . players drop to 53% of the take and the owners get a little more .i think thats fair .there should not be any contracts less than 2 years ,so that it gives a player at least some security .we lost salo due to a lousy 1 year contract .players should bunk with another player while on the road ,why not do you think we are all rich that you deserve your own rooms .give it up your suppose to be teamates , all in all we know the players are the most important without the players there is no hockey and bettman and the owners better get that straight .are they willing to give up a billion dollars and no hockey for a year just to gain a few hundred thousand because thats what it's going to boil down to .get it together people and lets play hockey .im anxious to see where luongo is going to be playing.and schnieder needs to show us more of what he's got .go canucks go."
Jerry Hack, Langley: "Hi Mr. Willes, what pisses me off most of all with this lockout, as well as the last two, is that the owners feel they can take this course of action with no repercussions from the fans. They assume we'll just come back in droves when they start playing, with no consequences. Personally, I have my own boycott. Once the lockout was official, my boycott kicked in. The NHL will not get dollar one from me for one full year. I will not go to a game, I will not buy any merchandise, I will not pay for any internet or closed circuit telecasts. I will cheer on my Canucks from a distance, but they will not get any of my money for one year. I have done this for the previous lockouts as well. If I had one wish, it would be that after the season begins, for the first few weeks, not one fan attends any of the games. I know this is a ludicrous thought, but I would love to see the NHL playing in totally empty arenas for a few games. Then maybe the next time the CBA is up, the owners would know that there are consequences to their actions. My deepest sympathies on the loss of your father. My Dad left us April 26th at the age of 88. Godspeed."
Dave May: "I am on the players with the side with two exceptions – guaranteed contracts and long term contracts. Both are simply bad business.
"On all other issues I side with the players.
"This is a lockout not a strike.
"The players have signed legal and binding contracts offered to them or negotiated with the teams and should be changed or altered by a new CBA for any reason. Another salary rollback should not be accepted by the NHLPA.
"The last minute signings of free agents and contract extensions put lie to Bettmans excuses for the lockout.
"A money grab called expansion created the mess that exists in certain cities that are not supporting their teams. This is a downward spiral of not enough fans resulting in lowering the ticket prices to attract the non existant fans, causing more promotions to show temporary attendance increases, mainly of the curious. It seems that Bettman's determination to make these franchises viable is really his ego not allowing anyone to admit there is a problem in certain areas, nor that a mistake was made. When will the successful operators stop pouring money down the drain of these money losing teams. This has resulted in the need to lower costs for the teams that cant help themselves, and why should Canadian teams, as an example, and their the fans pay for these bad business moves by normally astute busenessmen. Bettman must think all fans are stupid if he thinks we dont remember his bragging about growth and profits yesterday and losing money today. They have dug their own grave and shouldnt ask the players bail them out like they are doing.
"I will remain a fan but I wonder if many in the marginal cities will be back in the numbers needed to stay healthy.
"My feelings about those who say the players make too much money is that I am NOT jealous of their success but certainly envy them. Not once did I ever tell my employer that I didnt need the money they were offereing so they could pay me less. Any who might claim that are probably liars!
"I'm sure none of this is news to you, but I feel good saying it."
Am Dhaliwal: "During the lockout in 2004, I really felt in the owners corner as I believed salaries were spiralling out of control, not every team had a fair chance to compete, and a salary cap structure needed to be put in place. However, this time around I have no sympathy for the owners. They asked for a salary cap the last time around and they got that. They asked that the cap be tied to league revenues and they got that. They asked that the players take salary rollbacks and they got that as players took 24% pay cuts. Now the owners, after finding loopholes and ways to circumvent the cap, are asking the players to protect them from themselves. These owners have made multi-millions and in most cases billions of dollars in their other ventures, yet they cannot run their NHL business within a very sound business model of a hard salary cap. They are the ones offering the outrageous contracts and signing players to deals that they now say they cannot afford. If The Province was to offer you $98 million over 13 years for your delightful Monday musings, you would take it as would any reasonable person offered a high salary in whatever line of work they do. How can the players now be reasonably expected to take another pay cut after taking a 24% cut the last time around and agreeing to the system that the owners demanded then? I agree that the players are not completely faultless as they could counter with a reasonable offer that gradually brings them and the NHL to a 50/50 revenue split, possibly by keeping the cap at it's current level (which would prevent salary rollbacks and/or escrow payments), but allowing the NHL to pocket all additional league revenues (currently growing at a rate of 7% per year), until the split falls into a 50/50 level. That way the players protect their contracts that they agreed to in good faith, and the owners eventually get the 50/50 split they are looking for, although it may take 3 or 4 years to get there.
"All in all though, I felt a passion for the owners point of view last time and most people I knew were also passionate for one side or the other, be it the owners or the players. This time, however, there is an indifference as people don't really seem to care about the lockout. I think that this is what should really be scary for the NHL as passion for one side or the other still indicates that fans care, but indifference means that they have stopped caring, and the risk is how many of those people will never care again. For example, I was a huge baseball fan up until 1994, as I loved my Atlanta Braves. After that strike, I vowed never to be a baseball fan again and it has now been 18 years and I have never gotten back to that same level of passion. I only casually started to watch baseball again 4 years ago, but that is on a very leisure level when convenient, I have never rediscovered that same passion that I once had for MLB.
"I have shared Canuck season tickets with 2 other friends since 2002, so the 3 of us essentially get 14 regular season and preseason games each (we are even charged full price for the preseason tickets) plus playoff tickets.
"For me personally, I will not be renewing my Canuck tickets as I have found a better way to spend that entertainment money. I banked on their being no NHL this season and I spent the money on my other sports passion, which is the NFL and most notably the Buffalo Bills (no jokes please). I flew out east to watch the Bills home opener vs Kansas City and I spent this past weekend in Phoenix to watch the Bills play the Arizona Cardinals. I was able to travel to and watch those 2 games for essentially the same amount that I would have spent on the Canucks this year. Less actually than I would have spent on the Canucks, and I still have room in the budget to get down the I-5 and take in a Seahawks game. I've come to realize that I enjoy the NFL experience much more than the NHL experience, and I would rather travel and watch a few NFL games a year and be part of the whole NFL experience (love the tailgating), rather than spend my money on Canuck tickets. I may watch some Canuck games on TV, but I am not sure that I will. I am sure that I will not be spending money on going to the games anymore. If they don't care about the fans, why should the fans care about the NHL."
Paul Moffatt, Richmond: "The NHL lockout has little or no regard for the fans from either the owners or the players. The fans are the ones paying the freight but both sides seem to forget that when it comes to them fighting over a small piece of the bone. It's no longer the days of a manager dropping Gordie Howe's name to a player wanting a bigger contract in Detroit by saying "do you think you should be making more than Gordie?" when Gordie was under a $5,000 contract. We are now talking about rookies coming into the league making a minimum of $500,000. I think someone should say to them "do you think you should be making more than the president of the United States?". This whole money issue has become absolutely crazy and its gorging greed is pushed hard by the Players' Association in order to increase the contracts of all players. Even the owners are nuts with multi-year contracts but now it's getting even crazier with some teams signing "locked out players" so that they can be "paid" an enormous amount of money to tied them over during the "lockout".
"We even get the threat of players saying "I'm a hockey player" by inferring that there are millions of dollars available in Europe and these players will go to where the money is doled out. So be it. Let them chase the rainbows in Europe and start a new league in North America for those that want to live and work here. I'm sure the fans would love to see new, energetic, eager players who were competing as "teams" for the coveted Lord Stanley's cup. In fact, I wouldn't care if they were even shaving yet and by the look of some of the current rookies in the NHL coming in, the cat is still licking the milk off their face. The other thing that the players are saying is that Europe is a viable alternative for their services. Well, this could put the current NHL league into a position of not being a monopoly and, from a league point of view, place the current Player's association in a very vulnerable, legally, where the owners, on mass, could close up their doors and open, again, under a new set of business rules, ie. start over with a completely new set of players and a new pay scale for those players. This would allow them to look at what their fans are paying and reduce ticket prices by 90%. Just think of it, a family of 4 being able to go to a game for the price of a meal at McDonalds. Now that's what I call fan appreciation.
"Come on now. I just heard Bettman on the news saying – If the players accept the latest offer, they'll be able to have an 82 game season with full playoffs. There are already too many games and now they want to cram them into a shortened season at a fan cost. So much for fan appreciation (ticket costs still the same and season ticket holders paying the full freight). Also, players will be put under intense pressure to perform and maintain their health. Lots of players are not able to maintain performance due to injuries but they do with limited results until the end of the season when they have to have surgery. As mentioned earlier, this whole issue of greed is just getting beyond belief."
Michael Laurenson: "My family have been fans nd customers of the NHL for over 80 years.
"Heck, I still want to be Kevin Bieska (do I have that spelling right Mr. Cherry?) if I grow up.
"My grandfather attended the first games at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931.
"The family have been season ticket holders there, (four tickets) since season tickets have been sold.
"The NHL is a business. The players and owners are part of that business.
"Mr. Fehr and Mr. Bettman represent that business.
"Business has only one legitimacy: To create and keep customers. Us. The fans.
"What if the fans of the NHL were among the 1 billion Facebook users.
"What if the fans created created the NHLFA?
"What if the NHLFA "locked out" the NHL and it's players for a period of say. double however long it takes to get to Game On!
"What if the NHLFA were to boycott any business the NHL owners were in for a year, any time the NHLPA and NHL owners had games cancelled.
"What if . . ."
John Watt and Elaine Tanner OC: "They are all treading on thin ice! The players and the owners are taking the fans for granted big time!. In the end its all about themselves. Its about greed and money they could care less about the game. As an ex college varsity hockey player and my wife an ex Olympian (elaine tanner) who was never paid a nickel for winning three medals for this country we both feel they do not care about the fans or the small business guys that really depend on hockey .
"When the players and owners state how much they care about the fans thats BS its all a PR spin. The arrogance and short sightedness from the players and the owners in these tough economic times is disgusting. Real people in the real world living both sides of the border now unemployed facing cutbacks and layoffs, these NHL hockey people live in another universe. I have had its an over saturated league anyway too many teams and players with too many lack luster boring games. We can hardly finish a game or watch anymore.
"Lets someone start a new league, recruit a bunch of talented young players pay them all $200000 a year and get on with it. Then let these whining arrogant greedy players and owners who dwell on "Planet Greed" cut them adrift and send them off into Orbit."
Bruce Lyster: "I really do not care about Billionaires fighting with Millionaires. What really Pisses me off none of them give a sh#t about the people who are losing work and pay cheques over this. These people make sure the seats are clean wash room are clean serve you your hot dogs and Beer. All for minimum wage. While they sign two players for a $100.000.000 A piece. That is just obscene in my view. There you have my opinion. I will probably not watch another NHL game, not that would be a stretch as I don't watch most of it now. So Bettman can go F#@k himself."
Steve Tripp: "I love hockey but I think I've had it.
"I don't fault the players for accepting contracts as offered. I also do have some sympathy for the owners …… All it takes is for one owner to make a ludicrous offer and all other owners have to adjust there practices to remain competitive. To do otherwise would bring up cries of collusion."
"I fault both sides for not realizing how good they have it and just finding a way to get a deal done.
"They should all be embarrassed."
Howard Naylor: "I was thinking of developing a website to use as a platform for true hockey fans to air out their frustrations but I think more people will respond in bigger numbers through your following Ed. Now I've been a sports fan from the time of Gayle Sayers, Bobby Orr and Jimmy Connors, so I've been around and enjoyed great athletes and wonderful sports of all kind. But I'm Canadian which mean I bleed hockey. When living in the US for 12 years I used hockey as my identity. When I got back home to Vancouver I was more than proud to be home because, "we're all Canucks". But I came home to a hockey strike in 2004 and had to make my way though watching Junior hockey (which is great) and all my other favourite sports. Ok, hockey came back better than ever 🙂 Spring forward to this season and the two playoff seasons that leads up to the lockout. The rules were allowed to change the officiating was a disaster and well the game has looked corrupt in the way it was called. Now, the commissioner's dream of the Southern teams has not worked out and he blames the players revenue instead of the ridicules contracts they were aloud to handout while pumping money into teams that think of hockey as no more than a gimmick sport. I know most educated hockey fans feel the same way but this hockey fan has made a promise not to be so easily drawn back, to make a conscious decision to leave my passion and dollars in check when they finally return to the ice. If more fans can make this promise to themselves and keep away from the game long enough to get a new commissioner who has a better direction for this wonderful sport that yes, this strike will be worth it."
Darshan Singh Malik: "In response to your column, I'm a life long NHL fan, born and raised in Vancouver, but I support the Calgary Flames (don't ask).
"When they wiped out the 04-05 season, I understood there was a "blood issue" of the salary cap. I supported the league because I remembered the precarious existence of the Alberta franchises and how the Canadiens and Canucks were also bleeding, in the early 2000s due to the weak dollar. I accepted the need for "cost certainty" even tho the issues that had put Canadian franchises at risk weren't the same as they way before.
"However, this year, I will not accept it. I have decided that enough is enough, and I have renounced my fandom to the Flames and will not purchase any NHL licensed merchandise or attend another game. Ever.
"This is purely greed, nothing more. I completely side with the players and am disgusted at the league.
"I appreciate your request for us to speak out, because there seems to be too few of us who are upset and vocal about it. I have been exhorting all my friends plus any strangers I meet that we should boycott the NHL and let them know how we feel. Some have joined my crusade, others just want their hockey back. Sheep, I call them.
"Furthermore, over the last couple of years, I have become less interested in the league regardless. Haven't really watched until the Super Bowl is over, but I still dive in during the playoffs. The quality of games has been lacking, and this is the last straw.
"Thank God the Lions are playing well and we can support a team who doesn't shit on their fans. I've been a Lions season ticket holder for many years.
"Please feel free to run any excerpt of this rant if you wish, or none at all. Feels good to get it off my chest and I hope to convince others to not take this crap anymore and stand up for ourselves."
Puckhead: "I am angry because the owners got basically everything they wanted coming out of the last lockout, and they are still saying that system is unfair.
"I am angry because the owners that spent the summer writing these massive, long term contracts are now pleading bankruptcy.
"I am angry because these same owners that are signing the contracts, are now asking to reneg on a portion of those agreements. Some of them those contracts were signed less than two days before the owners asked to take a percentage off of the top.
"Mostly, I am angry because the reason for this lockout isn't a fundamental change in structure like last time, it is strictly greed. They will eventually meet within spitting distance of 50/50, but they couldn't put their egos aside in time to save the integrity of the game.
"What the league should be more worried about than anger though, is the apathy that I, a lifelong fan of the game, am feeling in increasing amounts."
Jeremy Kirk, Regina: "My company has been selected as one of Canada's Top 100 employers for the 2nd year in a row. Business is booming, we are seeing steady and sustainable growth, so logically I think this is the perfect opportunity to lock out our employees and make them take a pay cut. Sure, our customers will be hurt but it's not about them, it's about us. Besides, they'll hire us back, right (wink-wink)…
"Who in their right mind runs a business like this and expects to get away with it? Bettman destroyed the NHLPA in the last lockout yet somehow the agreement he forced on the players isn't good enough anymore. Bettman simply needs to go.
"And I certainly do not feel sorry for the players and the paycheques they receive per season being larger than what 99% of the population is going to see in their lifetime. All to play a sport that has frankly become so predictable and boring that I only watch in the playoffs if I have a hope of winning my fantasy draft.
"The real losers are the good folks that work in the media, at the arenas, hotels, etc. that rely on the NHL to make a living. Maybe Bettman, the owners, and the spoiled players could agree on a raise for these folks?
"And while they are hard at work figuring out how to split the pie, maybe they could return a piece to the average family that can only dream of going to a game? I have a 7 year old son that loves playing hockey and is entering his first year of novice. The NHL is hoping that I buy him merchandise and take him to some games. Well guess what, it simply isn't going to happen, they have officially lost a customer. I compare the NHL to the high-fee mutual fund industry that is experiencing a slow-death. Customers are waking up to the fact there are low-cost alternatives that actually provide some value (index ETFs, CFL, WHL)…"
Sukh Mangat: "Gary "Lockout" Bettman Vs Donald "Strike" Fehr. The Mayans were right. RIP NHL."
Bob Enwright: "Ed, you want the fans to get angry about the latest NHL/NHLPA fiasco, but, for thousands of hockey fans in this country, we tuned out of the NHL product years ago. The NHL was once a relatively small, exciting hockey league, but, it is now a bloated, mediocre and boring sports enterprise.
"The NHL ventured into locales where hockey will never be truly popular. The 3 California teams, Phoenix, Dallas, Carolina, Tampa, Florida, and Columbus should never have be awarded franchises. They are dogs and will remain dog franchises barely surviving on the handouts called equalization payments from the NHL head office. I've read countless comments about all the job losses the NHLPA will incur if a third of the franchises were to die..So what, the NHL today has a couple of hundred players who are very average players at best. A smaller player pool will improve the on-ice product.
"Listening to players and coaches being interviewed is akin to watching paint dry over and over again. They all play to the same script, i.e. "we have to finish our checks, we have to bring our A game, we have to work harder, it's an upper body/lower body injury, at the end of the day", It is painful to listen to this nonsense over and over again. For once I'd love to hear a player say to his television or radio interviewer, " God, we played like crap tonight " or " the ice in this building is shit"
"The season is far too long. Come May and June, even the most rabid of hockey fans are thinking camping, baseball, cycling, tennis or some other sport/outdoors event/activity other than hockey.
"For the life of me why the employer and employee (NHL and the NHLPA) cannot come to an agreement on revenue sharing, particularly in a league that has enjoyed remarkable growth over the last 6 years is beyond me!!! It would be different if the league as a whole was losing money , but it's not.
"When the league again 'opens' for business, some die hard fans will stay away from the rinks for a few weeks, but in Canada and the established northern US cities, the rinks will be full once again and the entire mess will be forgotten until the next time. Canadian NHL fans have been fed the standard pablum of "it's our game" or " it's in our blood" or "it's who we are" for so long that most actually believe it. Canadian NHL fans are gullible to say the least.
"I've played the game at a recreational/fun level as a youth and a follower of the game for over 50 years. I will always love the game of hockey, but , as a fan of the NHL brand of hockey, I tuned out several years ago."
John Van Nieuwland: "I am a fan whom watches as many games on TV as I can. I find the games enjoyable, and for the most part,worth my time to watch. Since the last lockout,however,I have not purchased ONE ticket to attend a game in person. This was a concious decision on my part and I will continue with that policy after this silly lockout ends. I used to go to roughly 10 games a year but now will only go if offered FREE tickets. Mr. Bettman can take a hike! No more money will come from me or my family towards his business ever again. The longer the lockout continues,the less I care…It is entirely possible,that upon Hockey's return I will be so disillusioned that even watching on TV may be discontinued."
Rob Knull: "Where do I begin? I couldn't care less. I had already decided before the season began, that I would not spend nearly the amount of time watching hockey (ie Canucks) as I had in the past two years. Why? I'm tired of the managed games, the favoritism shown certain teams, the lack of a cohesive application of fines/suspensions for head shots, the lack of consistent refereeing. And then comes the real goofiness, the LOCKOUT. To me there is NO desire by management to negotiate a settlement. I'm sick of Bettman and his condescending and arrogant tone. To me both him and the management are full of it. I think that the success that the NHL has had, is in spite of their bumbling. Why is that 8 nays can hamstring the decision process. Ridiculous!! How is anything going to get done. And then there is the stupidity with teams that are consistently losing money. Cut them loose, this isn't a charity, in any other business they would be closed. The management are trying to use the players to pay for their incompetence. The longer this goes on, the more I am convinced that the NHL is bush! There is nothing wrong with the game of hockey, but the NHL has become bush in my eyes and not worthy of my time and effort to watch it (WHEN AND IF THEY EVER DECIDE TO SETTLE THIS)."
Brian Matthew: "The last live game I went to Mommesso played in it and Gino helped us with tickets. I have watched Canucks games through to the end of 7-2 scores. I watched Mark Messier try to kill Linden then steal the cup and then Vancouver brings the donkey to Vancouver. Yes I am a fan but I am tired of the antics of the owners.
"I really don't miss the game and am considering not watching them when they come back. The tickets to games are way too pricey for what they provide. I go to an occasional BC Lions game because the price is not bad and I get good entertainment for the dollar."
Bill Cameron: "I'm mad as hell. This is the third labour dispute under Gary Bettman's tenure, enough is enough. Its time for fans to revolt. How about a FANS STRIKE!!!!! Once the labour dispute is over we don't attend one single game for 30 days; how much would that hurt the owners who don't give a damn about the fans, or maybe even better we all refuse to return to the arenas until Betmman is fired."
Kevin Wright: "What bothers me most about the NHL lockout is the job losses suffered by innocent bystanders. People like the casual arena employees who don't get called in to work games and the fringe players who are being displaced from the European leagues. No post-settlement PR campaign is likely to do anything to ease their pain.
Michael Williams, Vancouver: "Sports stars have set the example of super charged remuneration which industry execs followed and their income gaps have become a bone of contention.
"Hockey game attendance is way beyond the affordable range of the average Joe, let the players demonstrate they care for their fans by getting real. Forget the attempting catch up with European soccer.
"The old time players who established the game never shared in the riches that followed with proportional increase in their pensions.
"The absolute example greed was established by Trevor Linden, our hockey god. As captain, he went on strike and missed training camp and received a $4M deal.
"Fortunately Keenan was given the reigns, traded him and rebuilt the team with the bodies received. Sedins, Luongo and Betuzzsi followed.
"Burke then gave up a first round pick for the expensive contract of a pine rider to Washington!
"Get real players and pass the savings down owners.
"Bring back MK and build a winner!"
Mike Antoniak: "I don't think I have ever had such disdain for any public figure than I have for Gary Bettman. This little Napoleonistic egomaniac makes my blood boil every time I see him. Even the most benign questions are answered in a condescending "boy are you stupid" manner. He's like a bad accident where you are just compelled to look.
"I side with the players on this one, with the owners wanting to take away what was negotiated in the last CBA. They are the ones offering the contracts they are after all. Lets face it, the owners need the CBA to overcome their fiscal disabilities (what is a budget?).
"I would suggest that 90% of the US based teams are happy to have the lockout go until the baseball season is done, at least they are breaking even with no hockey. A season that starts after Super Bowl would suit them even more. Conspiracy?"
Greg Steeden, Port Coquitlam:
"I'm a 55 yr old guy, born and raised in this burg.
"I used to listen to the western league Canucks with the radio turned low, under the covers so Mom and Dad wouldn't hear.
"The first time a girl called and asked me out, I was in grade 8. She asked what I was doing. I was stunned ! "I'm watching the Canucks first NHL game!"
"As if anyone in the city, world, wasn't watching! Sheesh!
"40+ years of having my fandom pounded on like Keke Mortson on Connie Madigan (Portland Buckaroos) a third labour dispute has me anything but angry. My indifference is so palpable you could spread it like jam. Gary Bettman and that palsy-ish twitch he gets when he talks down (lies) to us all, has left me numb to it. I really do not care. Sure I'll watch when it comes back. As far as the emotional attachment, I'm not so sure. It has become most obvious that the league is not emotionally invested in me the fan. If they were, they would not be dragging our collective backsides through this muck yet again.
"My solution. Contraction. They need to lose the weak sisters in the league. Or move them to more equitable places. ie. Any freaking where above the 49th parallel!"
B. Smith: "I really don't care too much about this lockout. There's MLB playoffs and NFL to keep me satisfied. Besides, even if they end it tomorrow they still have the problem of what to do about the return of the dead puck era. The game was unwatchable from the Vancouver-Boston game last January up until the end of the playoffs, basically because slowing the game down was their answer to reducing concussions. That short basketball accountant and the owners can take all the time they need as far as I care. The Canucks window slammed shut after the 2011 loss in the finals anyway. After watching those finals, I'm convinced the league is pulling the officials strings and will always favour a US cup winner to try and grow the game in the States. Bye the way, I just got back from a week in Phoenix. Yeah, apart from about 5 to 6 thousand die-hards, nobody and I mean nobody else gives a rat's arse about this game down there. I know, big news flash right?"
Roy Nosella: "I could care less whether the NHL ever resumes. A sport played and administered by millionaires and billionaires deserves no sympathy. Also, I am fed up with the coverage given to this labour problem by the media. Get a life."
Joe Schiller, Langley: "Count me in as an unhappy fan. Having said that I don't think your column went far enough. What we do need is an email address for the NHL head office. I think what fans should be doing is inundating the NHL head office with emails voicing our displeasure about the decisions that are being made that have no regard for the guys that pony up thousands of dollars every year to attend hockey games. Bettman conveniently hides behind the fact that fans cannot contact him directly, and the last time I checked I don't think I could even find an email address for anybody at NHL HQ. They do have a snail mail address but it would be so much more effective to be able to mount a concerted effort with an email campaign to let those guys know just how unhappy fans are with this situation. The worst part is that the League (Bettman) seems to have no problem with shutting down this business so that he can show everybody he's the boss. It really is pathetic."
Carl White: "The NHL is bankrupt, the NHL's governance is bankrupt, the NHL's vision is bankrupt, Betman is bankrupt.
"This has been proven over the course of 3 lockouts and the approach of stubborn obstinacy during and between same.
"PLEASE start a CANADIAN petition of hockey fans requesting that all CANADIAN teams disassociate themselves from the NHL and reform into a CANADIAN NHL governed by democratic principles with the interests of the GAME being the guiding underlying philosophy, democratically applied to INCLUDE the players input through elected representatives on the governing body.
"If and when the Canadian owners can put this in place, THEN and only then the U.S.A. teams that choose to do so, and are willing to accept and be guided by THOSE principles, COULD be invited to join what would be the best and most successful Hockey league. By doing so they would confirm their personal commitment to their employees, their paying FANS and to their PERSONAL stewardship of the game of Hockey.
"I do not believe any of those commitments are lacking in any of the Canadian owners.
"It seems to me that this would be the most positive, cheapest and best outcome for hockey to rid itself and the game of Betman and his ilk along with his lame duck teams in places they never should have been. Not to speak of removing the economic drag currently in place.
"If anything is required to prove Bettman`s bad faith it is his outright ignoring and denigrating Fehr`s opening suggestion of a model to follow at the outset of the current pissing match – of using MLB as a positive model to restructure the NHL.
"Bettman does not recognize a good thing when it hits him between the eyes – no doubt the 8 mil a year takes priority over the welfare of the game in his mind.
"If nothing else the petition would set a direct message to Betman and his buddies how bored and tired of his endless ignorance the true PAYING fans are and that tolerance has run out.
"Thank you for the opportunity to "VENT " – I DO believe the ideas here have positive value and could have a positive influence on the latest version of NHL insanity."
Craig Yee: "Thank you for your article on the NHL lockout this morning. Other than blog posts, YouTube and The Province's comments post, there are not many avenues for the average fan to vent their frustrations.
"Overhearing many people's conversations (not on purpose), I am getting the general feeling that many of us are just plain fed up with the NHL, from all sides.
"I for one am very much done. Now don't get me wrong, I am a passionate fan and love hockey. I play hockey with my buddies (not very well mind you) and we throw ourselves into our games because we enjoy it.
"But they way this whole lockout has shaken down has left me feeling 1) mad as hell 2) frustrated beyond belief 3) disappointed in the stakeholders and most importantly 4) apathetic to the so called "plight" of both owners and players.
"Why you may ask? Simply because I cannot relate. And I think the average fan cannot relate. I think the average fan works hard to earn their keep and they want to be able to enjoy slices in time when their favourite team goes head to head with their rivals.
"And when the average fan gets their blissful (but sometimes angry when their team doesn't perform) moment taken away from them, and then we get a whole bunch of crappy lip service as a thank you from the league for our loyalty, then I believe that's why most of us just don't care anymore.
"The league and the players have taken advantage of our loyalty. They do (I feel) believe most of us will return (because we have a history of coming back time and again). And they do believe that things will eventually die down and return to normal and that we'll all conveniently forget about this whole lockout…at least until the next one.
"But this is the THING: we do remember what happened last time. And the time before that. We do remember the crap, lip service and lost games/season. We do remember Bettman's ugly mug on the cameras and in the paper spouting the same BS over and over. And we do remember that we all got shafted like we are now.
"If the NHL was an investment I would say the fans have gotten poor return, with all the countless hours, money, emotions, passion etc. The owners and players are no different than Wall Street. Those bankers and their cronies all said the same thing we care about the consumer and the people whose lives were negatively impacted by our actions. But we care about ourselves first and foremost. This is evidenced by the poop that comes out of most everyone's mouths as the fans mentioned are almost always last on the list.
"Does this sound familiar? "None of us wanted this to happen. We care about the game. We are working to making it better for its future longevity. We only want what is fair for the owners, players and (most importantly) the fans." (BTW: I didn't even have to copy this from other articles, they've said this same stuff or variations of so many times most of us have it memorized by now).
"So now we fans are at a crossroads. Do we stay on the bus and try to follow it wherever the hell it's going? And knowing that they will be another detour at some point in the future.
"Or do we take tell the bus driver(s) to pull over and let us off? Even better yet because the bus is going so damn slow, we don't even have to ask the bus driver. We can just open the doors ourselves and jump off. Dust ourselves off and get back to our lives and our families and friends.
"Finally, I think THE reason why this lockout is going down (and why it will always go down) is this: PURE arrogance. And there is no one the better epitomizes arrogance than Bettman. If he was not at the helm, guiding the ship, I don't believe we'd be considering jumping the bus (some of us for the final time).
"But I digress and could only hope that Bettman loses his job. Nonetheless, I am one of those fans who has jumped off the bus and I am not sure that I will ever get back on.
"Thank you for reading my rant and I appreciate your time."
Pat Trapp: "Hi; I am not even a very serious hockey fan, as football is my sport of choice. However, I feel that I need to air my feelings. I think that Bettman should be replaced; not going to happen. He continues to keep the leagues bottom feeders in tack on the backs of the CAnadian and northern U.S. teams who's ticket prices continue to climb. These poor cousins, as I understand, charge laughable entry fees and give food etc. to draw a few fans. Who is Bettman holding these in the league for? The team? THe cities? or the Wealthy owners? These should pay their way, or move to menus that can draw and honest paying fan base…Seattle, Quebec… or cut the number of teams in the league. Not being a serious fan, maybe I am way off base, however I feel better now, thank you, Pat."
Blaine Sayers: "October 5, 2005 was one of the greatest days of my life.
"After suffering an entire year without NHL hockey, every team took to the ice on that memorable night. Other than my Edmonton Oilers winning their opener, against the Colorado Avalanche, the most memorable part of that first night was a simple inscription painted beneath the ice surface reading "Thank-you fans!"
"I thought that was strange then, and now with another lockout taking place, that message still remains uncomfortable. Did the NHL actually believe a simple 'thank you' would suffice the amount of disappointment for losing an entire season? Thank you fans for what? Patience? Loyalty? Money? Why would the NHL thank us? It's not like they ever mention where orhow their millions and billions of dollars come from.
"The players would never come out and say 'thank you fans for making us very rich' and the owners have more money to count. But in fact, the NHL exists just because we, the fans, spend millions of dollars to go to games, wear jerseys, watch NHL Center Ice, and play EA Sports' video game. Imagine, where Metallica or U2 would be today if no one bought their CDs, t-shirts or concert tickets. Would they be millionaires? Nope, they would be playing dive bars across the US living from gig to gig. Should fans be credited with the success of the NHL? Definitely not, but the NHL and its players should take a look in the mirror and realize that the fans are the reason why their league exists.
"Ultimately when/if the season starts this hockey year, I believe the slogan underneath the ice should say – "Sorry Fans!""
Leon Brass: "I couldn't care less about 700 multi-millionaires inability to chase a puck due to their disagreements with a few dozen multi-billionaires."
Larry Kosterewa: "I am so fed up of those with soooooo much $$$$$ that there is never enough and everyone wants more that I have lost interest in the game.
"I am a Season ticket holder since 1970.
"I think it is about time that both parties took a serious look in the mirror and considered putting the "FAN" first instead of their own selfish interest's.
"Personally, I hope they stay out for a year. This will give the fan base a chance to realize how much $$$$$$ they have spent over the years and an opportunity to put this cash toward something more practical.
"I think it is about time we all realized how overpriced SPORTS in general is. There are a multitude of activities that my entertainment $$$$$$$$ can go towards besides Hockey.
"Hockey will come back eventually, meanwhile, I am going to have a lot of fun spending my thousands of $$$$$$$$$$$ on a whole lot of other things that I was not able to attend before.
"And, who knows, I may not come back. There are far too many Teams and far too many games. The season is too long and the exhibition games should not be part of a season ticket package.
"Personally, I am enjoying the break……………It is like a long overdue HOLIDAY."
Kris: "Makes me sick. I've lost respect for all owners and players. I'm a massive hockey fan and Edmonton oiler fan. Hockey is my life. I worship it. It's me in so many ways! Now? I'm confussed and worried that I might not care anymore!"
Phil Campeau: "This is all the NHL's fault, you can't blame the players for seeking higher wages, especially with teams out there willing to pay whatever it takes to sign a good free agent. The NHL won the last labour dispute and got the wage cuts and hard cap they demanded but the ink wasn't even dry when the individual owners started to hunt for ways to circumvent the cap and sabotage the goal of keeping a lid on player salaries.
"Bettman doesn't care about Hockey! He's proven that by engineering 2 labour disputes and work stoppages while the head of the NHL. He runs the league with the support of the small market US teams and unashamedly promotes their agenda, regardless of how his actions impact the profitable NHL teams. He opened this labour negotiation by demanding ridiculous salary and benefit concessions he knew the players couldn't agree to. In fact his opening offer was so outrageous I can only believe he was trying to provoke the Players union. I hate his weasely little face and pray daily that he gets fired as NHL Commissioner. WORST COMMISSIONER EVER!!!
"I think the NHL could end these disputes by using the MLB salary model; a salary cap with a luxury tax. Teams that can afford it or owners that think they can buy a cup could go over the cap but would have to pay a tax to the league and those funds would be divided between the teams that stayed under the cap. That way the large market teams would at least get something for their support of the small market unprofitable teams. While this will result in the large market teams getting into the playoffs more often (a good thing), I don't believe teams can buy a championship, if they could the Yankees would win every year and the Red Sox wouldn't miss the playoffs.
"The players should start their own league to pressure the owners and keep in shape. They could place teams in the true hockey markets, (Canada and the upper US states), and use smaller (non-NHL owned) rinks. I don't think it would be hard for this league to get a TV contract in Canada, especially if the teams are star-studded because there are fewer teams to play for. I'd also love to see the Stanley Cup awarded to a non-NHL team, as the NHL acts like they own it; they don't, Canada does."
Earl, Trail: "The owners vs the players have to realize the monies that are generated through this sport, are paid by the fans. I don't believe the owners or the players have any respect for the fans who pay to see them play. I think it's time for all the fans to say 'no' to hockey until there is a realization by the owners and players that we help to fill their pocket books.
"What would the owners and players say if the seats were empty in their cities?"
Rob: "I am not enraged nor am I frustrated, I just don't care anymore. Hockey has always been a sport business but since Bettman arrived its just become business and not about the sport. The game has become lifeless and without any passion. Even after the dead puck era the game has lacked the emotional connection with the fans. Going to a game at Rogers Arena is like one big commercial with a few minutes of hockey in between, watching on TV is just as bad. There is a lot wrong with sport today and it all comes down to greed; the owners and players squeezing every penny they can from their fans without giving back."
Wayne Sippola: "Put a cap on greed by both sides. GREED is what this is all about.
"Put a cap on tickets, hot dogs and beer!"
Cam Percher: "I AM mad as hell. Things around my household just aren't the same this fall. Last lockout, I was distracted with my involvement with the 15 minutes of fame regarding an NHL lockout protest-type song by Relics Jetboat called Do it for the Game. At the very least, It provided a release for all my frustrations.
"This time is different. It seems as if I'm accustomed to this BS labor disagreement because EVERYBODY is doing the slow circle around the financial toilet bowl.
"But the owners?!? Really?!? We're talking BILLIONS of dollars!
"My solution? Keep negotiating while the season starts, put ALL REVENUES in escrow, (with interest going to charity) and work it out. Both sides should be sequestered in a modest hotel in the middle of nowhere, with no press coverage, and be scheduled to meet EVERYDAY. I mean, how hard is it to come up with a number?!? 50/50? 49/51? Come on! There's a limited number of combinations. NO ONE should receive a penny until its resolve COMPLETELY. You'd be surprised to see how quickly a deal would be hammered out if Bettman misses a paycheck or two. As a matter of fact, they should cap HIS salary. $8 Million a year for THIS bullshit?!? Criminal!
"Bettman should just stick to his Count Chocula lookalike revenues.
"I can't stand that smug, smirking weasel."
Tom B.: "What bothers me about the lockout? GARY BETTMAN!
"His egotistical manner and comments are enough to infuriate a hockey fan. Any executive that opens the bargaining table with clear threats is not and should not be involved in negotiations.
"I am clearly in support of Mr. Fehr and the NHLPA. I believe they have presented their proposals in a professional manner and have tried to stay out of media controversy with Bettman and Daly. I also feel that Bettman has taken on the challenge to personally win over Mr,Fehr due to his past success with baseball negotiations.
"In my opinion Bettman has done nothing for the game of hockey other than to benefit from an outrageous salary and to make sure that he gets the vote from teams in the league that are barely hanging on and basically should be closing their doors. PHOENIX being a perfect example."
John Upton: "I am an avid hockey fan but I believe that the biggest losers in all of this are the owners and players. Get yourselves around the table and work this out before you lose the support that you have built up.
"We can survive without you! Can you survive without us?"
Bill: "Loved the list of things that make you mad, particulary the silly bastards in the coffee line that appear to have never ordered a coffee from that establishment before that very day.
"I don't like sports. Did not play as a kid and subsequently don't get it. I don't get watching overpaid athletes play a sport. This is where my bitter part kicks in. I understand the theory that athletes have short careers, etc, etc, etc, but the pendulum has now swung somewhere to who knows where. It's likely a sign of our crazy world gone awry. How long can we keep up this facade.
"Of course it isn't just the overpaid athletes, its also overpaid CEO's, civic employees, agents, etc, etc, etc.
"Where was I. Oh yes, bitter. Never learned to play the guitar ….., skate, hit a baseball, get MBA, a government job….
"Just bitter."
D.W.: "I would personally like to see the current NHL abandoned and a new league formed for the players to play in. I'd had more than enough of the NHL long before this lockout ever materialized. Maybe they are just responding to the fact that they know everyone dislikes them. The players deserve way more than than this league is providing. This all makes me quite sick actually."
Jordan Landy: "I had a laugh while reading your column this morning because I was thinking how you're going to be the poor guy who gets email bombed by every hockey lover who you've now given permission to voice their anger.
"I'm sure this will be one of the more tame emails you get. I'm the first one to admit I don't know everything about what goes on in the backrooms of the NHL, owners, players and contracts. I'm a beer leaguer who played junior, grew up watching Gretzky, Lemieux and now have a 17 month old boy of my own, to share memories and hockey moments with (for as long as he lets me or is interested haha). I was living overseas for the last 7 years and had to watch my Canucks through an internet connection at god knows what time of the day. This was going to be my first season back at home with my baby boy, and my dream of watching hockey with him on a cold Saturday with our jerseys on. I'm more sad than angry, I miss the game I love and I'm tired of being told by millionaires they "feel sorry" for me as a fan."
Richard Bayliss: "To gary bettman
You say you're doing well, what about the owners who all of a sudden offer someone 100 million dollars and then say I can't pay. That's like me running up my credit cards and then expecting someone else to pay. Get control of your owners.
"You are taking advantage of us. Can you please get that condescending look off your face, you are not all that. Make a fair deal if a market can't make it move them. You are not for hockey you are sucking up to bull**it billionaires.
"To the players, stop your whining I make in one year what Lu makes in a game, give your head a shake. Don't give me that I have to look after my family crap, I do that every day. Give me 5 million for one contract and I guarantee I will look after my family. Don't give me the average career is only 5 years , so what, you' re playing a game for Christ sake. My son plays Atom house I pay for him. Save your money retire and go to work like the rest of us. No one owes you."
Michel Begin: "What do you mean? You really think that what I say here will remotely affect the negotiations ?
"It's the owners that have to stand up to that pipsqueak Bettman . Of course , if only 8 owners are required for Bettman to carry on with his agenda . Good set-up eh ?
"Someone has to get up and suggest to sit and hammer up a deal . You have to sit for 14 hours , not a mere 2 hours .
"If it's same old same old , my meditation tells me that my interest is out of here."
Harry Hansra: "I began following the Canucks when I was 8 years old and Pavel Bure had just entered the league. The 1994 cup run made me a fan for life. I didn't understand the lockout that followed in 1995 but I was also too young to really care. I spent my days playing hockey instead of watching it and that was fine by me. When hockey came back, I suffered with the Canucks through high hopes and the Messier era. This was rewarded, eventually, with the Westcoast Express. During these years, I had high hopes for the team, over-analyzed every detail and was crushed when they eventually crashed and burned. With the Canadian dollar so low, I heard rumours every year that some Canadian team was on the brink of folding. I remember the Canucks were in that position before they started winning and I knew that there had to be something wrong with the business.
"I supported the owners in the 2005-2006 NHL lockout. I argued that the players were millionaires while several teams were losing money. This didn't make any sense to me. I was angry at the players but I knew that eventually a deal would get done. Even if they wiped out the whole year, I knew I would be back to watch the NHL and the game I love. I wasn't angry at the lockout because I believed it was necessary to produce a viable business. I can't believe I was deceived to such a degree.
"Every year since the last lockout, the NHL's revenue has increased. Now the owners are trying to take more money from the players. When the players presented their initial proposal in the summer, which was well thought out, I felt there was no need for a lockout. When Gary Bettman came back two weeks later and said no, with no counter-proposal, I felt betrayed. I knew there would be no NHL season once again because the owners can bully the players into any deal they want by cancelling games indefinitely. The NHL will not be back unless the players give up everything they have, which I hope they don't. I am rooting AGAINST the NHL.
"I am not angry. I am disappointed. I cannot imagine a scenario where I will ever be as interested in the NHL as I once was. Three lockouts in two decades have turned this league into a joke. If another professional league pops up, I will support it. If the Canucks make the Stanley Cup Final, I will be there. Barring these two scenarios, I will get my hockey fix from world championships, junior hockey and the Olympics.
"The NHL has outgrown its fans."
Liz Fosdick, Victoria: "Just yesterday I was thinking about the lockout and wondering why the fans don't try to unite in some way to show their displeasure. We have no voice in this process, and yet, when it comes down to it, we're the most important part of the sport – if we're not buying tickets and merchandise and watching games on TV, the NHL would fall even further behind the other major leagues than it already has.
"Back in the spring I was having a conversation with some fellow Canucks fans about the possibility of another lockout, and I remember confidently saying, "There's no way they'd be stupid enough to let it come to another lockout. There's just no way. We will definitely have hockey come October." And yet here we are.
"During the 2004 lockout, I was frustrated and sad and followed every piece of CBA news, fervently hoping they'd save the season. This time I almost can't be bothered getting upset about it – it's just so stupid. It's a bunch of millionaires fighting over who gets the biggest piece of the pie while totally forgetting who gave them that pie in the first place. The fans are the foundation of the league, and a lockout is a complete kick in the face to all of us. If you put the fans in charge, I guarantee we'd find a solution to all this. Because at the end of the day, we'd put the sport above all else."
Kristin Evans, Cloverdale: "While I roll my eyes and mutter in disgust at Gary Bettman and his dirty tactics, I have realized that life does go on without the NHL and I have work and family to focus on, not to mention the upcoming glorious holiday season. To me, that is far more important than stressing over a sport. There is no need to bite my fingernails off wondering when and if a miracle will happen and the lockout will end. It will end eventually. They can't wipe the NHL off the sporting world map, they'll be morons to do that. And I haven't even realized that it's been 30 days of the lockout. Really? Wow. Didn't even know it. While I do whine and bitch every once in a while, that is all I do. I don't look at Bettman's ugly mug without spitting on it or using it as dart practice.
"Yes I am angry and my voice needs to be heard but I'm not going to fly into a rage over the NHL. Please. My health , family, and work comes first. And besides, it's awesome to see the BC Lions and Whitecaps do well and have my complete attention. They've come out from under the Canucks' shadow and earned their right to have attention displayed on them for once.
"What pissed me off is that I truly believed that there would be no lockout, that it would have been settled and to have that not happen….broke my heart and could have turned me into the Incredible Hulk. I felt like what I believed in and stood up for did not matter. That my loyalty to hockey was nothing and meaningless and that me, as a fan who pays these ridiculpusly expensive hockey tickets, is squashed like a bug by Bettman and his evil henchmen. I would love to see something cruel happen to The Grinch Who Stole Hockey.
"I take a lot of joy not giving the Aquilinis any more of my hard earned money. They have enough of it as it is. They, and the other owners, should quit bawling like babies because they're big fat liars!!! I would let doors slam in owners' faces and break their noses. Boo hoo!"
Aislinn Chuahiock: "It baffles me at how both sides take their time. I don't think they understand that prolonging the lockout hurts the marketability & growth of the game itself. IT IS STILL AN EMERGING MARKET, and the longer they are absent, the game looses momentum for a lot of the newer fans.
"Hockey is still considered a niche compared to the NBA or NFL. The NHL should be desperate for the exposure, not taking its sweet time behind locked doors."
Richard van Rikxoort: "Firstly, I'm not screaming, way beyond that now. I remember the first NHL dispute. I was in my late 20's and I actually made flyers and wanted to form a "Fan Union" and gave them out in front of the Coliseum . I started buying season tickets in 1982 at 12 dollars each.
"My father thought I was crazy to put out 900 dollars for 2 season tickets. He went to a few games with me the following 10 years and never called me crazy again. He fell in love with the game. I have discovered that until a new fan goes to a live game they never really get it on television. I have coached this wonderful game since I was 18 and stopped when I bought my own business in 1999. Most of my volunteer coaching was done at North Van Minor Hockey. There were years I coached 3 teams and lived at the rink, 5 am practices, tournaments out of town, there was no pay, or good help; you coached because you loved the game and the kids. I gave thousands of "unconditional" hours and monies to Minor Hockey. The rewards have been endless, yet not financial.
"Though I feel the experiences as a coach in the 80's and 90's groomed me to be my own boss in a small business. All the "situations" that came with coaching, parents, poor referee's, dangerous rinks, hazards, road trips with young men and all the hazards that came with it, made me the entrepreneur I am today. This comes to why I am so disgusted with the current situation. I feel both parties have not given to the game like we fans have, both in support and all the volunteers that helped those players become who they are. Why do they have this false sense of entitlement. I'm not siding with Bettman are the owner's but I can tell you I'm less empathetic to the players. I own a business but I had no volunteers when starting. It's been 15 years of struggle, and hard long hours of work, and many sacrifices. The Owner's and Players have taken us the fans, and volunteers for granted!!!! I have had 4 season tickets for years if they come back it will be reduced to 2., I will keep them for customers. I'm spending more time playing golf and writing, and yes the Giants will receive a new Season Ticket Holder next year. No more yelling are moaning here, no time to be a victim, life is too short."
David Wilson: "My subject line – 'Who cares? Sorry, not me' — pretty much sums it all up, but in consideration of your question I will elaborate. Don't get me wrong, I love hockey. I have been organizing a ball hockey group for 16 years with the same group of guys who also love hockey. But the subject of the NHL lockout never comes up. The subject isn't being avoided. I just think the league and its game has become irrelevant to most people. It's fun to watch when it's on, but mostly just during the playoffs. The regular season is amusing when something interesting happens but that is a rare occurrence. You can see most of the players are just going the through the motions until about mid-season, when things really start to matter in consideration of making the playoffs.
"The players are treated by the media like they are really important people that matter to society at large. And granted some of them do. But most do not and for that I fail to see why it should be important to me if they play the game or not. It's all about money on both sides of the dispute. More money than your average hockey fan will ever make. So it's hard to care about them, their labour problems or their game when they all have more than enough dollars for themselves while your average hockey fan works really hard at a job, not a game, to make ends meet. I think it's a stretch to get a lot of fans exercised about the lack of an NHL season this year. Because, really, who cares the most? It's the league, the players and the sports writers who really care. Not me!
Beth Wallace: "I am a 65-year-old female who loves everything associated with our Canucks – and I read every word that you, Ben, Jason and Tony write about hockey (admiring your wonderful use of our language as much as the content). I love and admire our players and Canucks games are a huge source of joy and great entertainment for me.
"It has saddened me in the past that only the rich families can take their children to a live hockey game. Even middle-class families can't afford to spend close to half a grand for an evening's entertainment at the rink. It saddens me further that the millionaire owners are bickering over money while all the hard-working families that rely on income from hockey have difficulty just putting food on the table during a lockout.
"What do the owners own? It seems like they own the right to do whatever they choose with no consequences. That's a travesty! Let's put our heads together and try to come up with a way to make them suffer for their unconscionable selfishness.
"Here's an idea – Let's get everyone in the city on board to help find a solution. Let's use synectics. I'm sure you know the meaning – 'the study of creative processes, especially as applied to the solution of problems by a group of diverse individuals'. To make this work well, everyone just needs to send in their idea for a solution, no matter how bizarre it seems. This then triggers ideas from others which could snowball into new and better solutions. There are smart people in the city with a good knowledge of the financial and management aspects of the game and these ideas just might spur on some new ways of thinking for them. The outcome could be magnificent.
"In a perfect world it would cost $10 to attend a game and people other than the rich men could enjoy seeing games live. The owners would realize that they screwed up locking us out and would never make another penny from hockey for the rest of their lives!
"Let's just brainstorm and come up with as many outrageous ideas as we can! I'll start thinking today."
D. Romes: "I'm so sick over the NHL lockout that I'm likely not coming back to support the NHL. If you can't get your S%$T together to divide up 3.3 billion dollars…. I'm sorry, but there's more to life that hockey… even in Canada.
"I blame the owners this time for addressing the real issues… a system that doesn't work."
P.J. Roberts, Abbotsford: "Gary Bettman, Gary Bettman, Gary Bettman!!! Not only does he look like The Count off of Sesame Street, his vampire-like qualities have continuously sucked the life and spirit out of the NHL and its fans. I'd love to know what hold he has over the Board of Governors.. he seems to have his job for life. Anybody got any garlic?"
Ken Goodfellow, Port Moody: "I have no sympathy for reporters currently attempting to write something insightful about the NHL Lockout, the event with the lowest meaningfulness-to-coverage ratio in The Province. Indeed, the inanity emanating from the sports pages lately makes the simplistic outrages and equally simplistic solutions of this paper's editorial page columnists look like profound musings. Simply put, write about the NHL when the lockout is over, when there is something to report and not before."
Robert Ciavarro: "Let me start by saying I am a long time hockey fan who goes back to when the Canucks of the Western Hockey League played at the old Forum.
"After losing an entire season in 2004/5, I would have thought that the NHL owners and the NHLPA and its players would do anything to avoid a repeat of that debacle. They had seven years to plan for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement but waited until a couple of months before it expired to even start talking. Brilliant!
"I am not taking sides in this disagreement because frankly, I just don't care anymore. I hope they stay out all year and in fact stay out next year too. Perhaps then something of a more permanent nature will get done to improve the league.
"That would include losing at least six southern US teams that should never have been in the league in the first place. Then perhaps the owners will consider replacing the American Garry Bettman with a Canadian who cares about hockey. Then perhaps the NHLPA will consider replacing the American Donald Fehr with a Canadian who cares about hockey.
"Until then don't go away mad, just go away."
Rick Stewart: "My name is Richard Stewart,and I live in Langley but am from Toronto.
"Moved here in 77 so am a Canucker through and through.With work had season tickets for 30 years before retired and went to most games and watched the balance .
"Hockey is a great way of taking stress and tellling it to F—- off.
"I recently had a bout of massive pulmonary embolisms(blood clots),have not recovered nd need a 12 hour operation to have them removed.So rare only a doc in Ottawa can do it.
"Hockey since my retirement has been the main source of sport that has my interest.Hate NFL soccer all the rest baseball a snooze fest.
"No hockey means I spend alot of time thinking about my operation which is not good.
"It boggles my mind that supposedly smart people cannot negotiate a settlement.Give me a break.Pick a big point each and go……
"Thanks for the chance to vent."
Joy De Jager: "Every time I see Gary Bettman's smug face on TV or the newspaper I want to barf.
"If he thinks we, the fans, are stupid, I would love to have the opportunity to change his mind for him. The Owners by now should realize this man is not a negotiator. Having 3 lockouts in 18 years, taking for granted the fans' loyalty proves that.
"The players have negotiated in good faith and have taken enough cuts.
"Not too long ago the league were boasting about their huge profits while the are now wanting the players and us fans to give up more $ from our pockets so that they can offer ridiculous millions to get the players they think will get them the Stanley Cup.
"I wholly support the Players and hope they don't succumb. I am getting angry and frustrated as I express my feelings. I urge all fans to do the same – Send a strong message. You will feel better. I do."
Mike Chabot: "The MLB has got it right for 20+ years, that's why the NLHPA hired Mr. Fehr. Gary and the owners have been getting it completely wrong. Bottom line, I pay to see the players play, not to hear owners whine and groan. I pay my $10 a beer, $6 for my hot dog, and $3 for a box of.popcorn worth 50 cents, but I still go to games. My message to Gary and the owners……. WE'RE SICK OF YOUR WHINING, WE DON'T FEEL SORRY FOR YOU!!!! Jump out of you high chair or booster seat and get the deal done."
Lillian Webb, Maple Ridge: "This morning's column evoked so much emotion in me, I can hardly contain it !!!
"Granted, my husband and I are in our seventies and I know things always change but when did our beautiful, wonderful national pastime go from a thing of national pride and joy to nothing but a callous, money grubbing business ???
"Saturday Night in Canada" was a part of our life !!! Watching those talented, hockey loving guys out there getting as much enjoyment as they were giving !!!
"Loyalty was never a question…..rarely was anyone happy to be traded ! It was about the Team !!!
"I'm sorry Ed, the game we loved is long gone and it makes me very sad ! Being the homer that I am, I have tried to see those characteristics in our Vancouver Canucks and I am very thankful that they are as community minded as they are (loyalty), but it's those terrific Sedins (not Canadians, other than our own Trevor Linden) who have led the way. When the twins made that donation to Children's after finally getting a settlement on their contract…..they put their money where their mouths were after saying "It wasn't the money, it was the respect that mattered in their eyes".
"I still love the game and I do miss it, but every time I see Gary Bettman's face, I miss it a little less and I'm sorry but you couldn't print my opinion of him !!!"
Dale Kitchen: "I would like to say most real hockey fans are as mad as you are. I being a leafs fan am even more frustrated as I was looking forward rk seeing how the luongo situation unfolded. I wish the owners who aren't in bed with bettman to grow a pair and come forward with there ideas of how the negotiations should be going. Get everything to 5050 and lets play hockey."
Sam Cheek, White Rock: " I am not a big hockey fan, but I support my friends–and my few enemies–who love the game and are really missing the games that have been cancelled.
"From my perspective, we have millionaire players at a standoff with the billionaire owners over a few thousand dollars. This is ridiculous! And it seems that the main holdup at the centre of this controversay is big-mouth Gary Bettman who says a lot but does very little. I have come to the conclusion that he just likes the publicity, and the longer the lockout goes on, the more publicity he gets. But this kind of publicity could come back to haunt him, and perhaps give him a big bite in the butt when he turns around to leave.
"This leaves the poor suckers who are involved in the food industry and security–and other venues–looking for a second mortgage to cover their losses. This is what really burns my ass!! While the millionaires and billionaires argue, they suffer. IT AIN'T FAIR!"
Jack Goode, Penticton: "Your column on Tuesday asked for comments on the fans opinion of Count Dracula (Sesame Street) shutting down another season. I wish I had the ability to start a fans union and give 'em a bit of what comes around, goes around. I'm sure season ticket holders in the big market teams could really embarrass the league if teams like the Flyers, Leafs, Avalanche or other big market teams played before empty arenas. It would probably make CNN. It sure would get the owners attention."
Patrick Murray, Courtenay: "As a homeowner, I contacted an electrician to install a new electrical panel. After some tough negotiations (I threatened to use apprentice electricians) we agreed on an all inclusive price and signed a binding legal contract. Then I told him that I needed to protect myself from myself and I would need to take 20% back. He told me to get stuffed. And that's the way I feel about the NHL owners. Too bad, so sad, have a nice day. I may watch on some NHL on TV (I am a Canadian after all) and I will certainly watch the World Juniors but I won't be going to a game live nor buying any NHL merchandise nor providing any form of "hockey related revenue". Take that back to the owners Gary Bettman."
Ken Sanders, White Rock: "My submission may be lengthy. I'm 84 and write with the background of following hockey for at least 78 years.
"There are 4 groups right now who are involved in this current impasse – the Owners, the Players and their Agents, the Players' Union, and us fans.
"We are the ones who supply the money the other 3 are shamelessly fighting over. But unfortunately we have no say nor any advocate except for people like you.
"But we aren't going away — we WILL come back – and continue paying because we love the product.
"Here's my 'take' … the whole exercise is based on greed competing for OUR money. I do not begrudge the players at all .. these are the ones we love to watch perform. And of course they lay their lives on the line every game as they hope to stay healthy. Those skates are like razors, and nobody wants concussions. As far as I am concerned they can individually take as much as ' the traffic can bear '. This is what the Agents negotiate with the Owners — NOT the Union. The Union does however negotiate for the broad outlines like salary cap, scale for Rookies, rule changes, etc.
"The Owners too are entitled to make an OPERATING profit on their business. The Players are not employees — they are Contractors.
"However the Owners and the Players cannot exist without each other.
"So a 50 / 50 split of the OPERATING profits being argued about is the perfect way to go.
"The Union is a necessity just like it is in most big businesses. The Union has the time to work with the Owners on behalf of the Players because the Players must concentrate on actually playing the game.
"I guess pensions are the biggest issue that the Players need to talk about. I think the Union Pension Plan pays the pensions – but both the Players and the Owners contribute to the Pension Plan. These contributions too should be 50 / 50.
"So here's my suggestions .. The Player Contracts are an EXPENSE or a built-in cost of doing business for the OWNERS. Once the Owners have covered their EXPENSES, the rest of the revenue that we supplied is the OPERATING PROFIT. Now out of the Operating Profit give the Owners an amount equivalent to the total of the Player Contracts they paid that year. Now the Owners and the Players are riding free and equal.
"Each of them has taken the same amount from US. The Union negotiates a basic Pension plan on behalf of the Players with the Owners and then 'dings' the Players and the Owners the same amount to cover what the Pension Plan costs each year. As for the rest of the expenses for the UNION – the Players should pay them. This is the way a normal Union gets paid. The Owners too have yearly expenses. Now assuming there is something left out of the Operating Profit after the Owners have been reimbursed for the Player contracts – split that 50 / 50 between the Union and the Owners. The Pension Plan is a stickler. It should NOT be paid directly out of Operating Profits. It's costs should be recoupable out of that last 50 / 50 net split out of the Operating Profit."
D. Strachan, Maple Ridge: "I am still at this point thinking there will be no NHL hockey this year.does this bother me?It should, but so far it is not.after watching the league being watered down year after year, and the COUNT (bettman) telling all that will listen how good a shape the league is in, I find myself caring less and less about the whole thing.if it wasn,t for the fact that a good friends son has been playing in the league for the last 13 years, I probably would have tuned out sooner.Hard to believe I am saying that as I am an avid hockey fan and played my whole life at various levels including some junior aspirations.i guess it started when the instigator rule came in and went downhill from there.every year I have watched as the league has tried unsuccessfully to lure a larger American audience thru various hockey rule changes and catering to cities that draw less than 6,000 people a game. We have a great game when it is played with passion and devotion,but this is hard to do playing every 2 nights.The thing that bothers me most,is the sheer stupidity of the owners.Most have more money than brains.how can they consistently lock out players for taking what they are offered?The RICK DIPIETRO signing took the cake for me, and its only gotten worse from there! I don't believe the players are entitled to 57% of hockey revenue.almost every other major sport is splitting 50/50.seems fare.players playing in the league at 18 were few and far between,but in a rush to win now and look smart the 18 year old is more and more common in the league,thus making them eligible for free agency sooner.we better stop[ that say the owners,but they are the ones creating the mess.12-15 year contracts?insanity rules.if the players give in now, we will see the same problem in 10 years.Get rid of the weak teams in weak markets and keep the game as we know it.the American market will never be there if it is not by now.concentrate on the places that want hockey and have viable owners, who wont have to prop up the weak sisters of the league.limit the contracts to 5 years and lets get on with it.I support the players fully on this one.the owners are constantly screwing themselves, and if this season goes ,I will become a bigger GIANT fan, a bigger LION fan and forget about the boys in the sandbox who don't know how to get along."
Jeff Poole: "Dear sir: I think when the nhl starts back up we should all boycott the first game, not go, turn our tv sets off and make both owners and players feel that its just not all about them."
John Smith: "First I would like to thank you for stepping up and giving the Fans or as the NHL thinks "cattle" a forum to speak out! I for one am pissed at this whole situation! Seven or eight years ago I can't really remember now as I a hardcore hockey fan is losing interest! Was told by the NHL / Bettman that the last lockout was needed to ensure that the NHL survived and was a better product! We as the fan accepted this and supported the owners. They got their contract, they got their reduced salaries, they freakn got everything! We got a short term reduction on tickets LOL (any blue collar fan will tell you they still can't afford to go to a game). Fast forward to this round of hostage taking sorry negations! The owners can't control themselves, gms in rich markets are spending to the limit throwing mega contracts out there left right and centre, then turning around and calling broke. My god do they think the players are idiots! If it was me as a hockey player yes I think I deserve 50 to 57 percent revenue it is my name on the jersey it is my work that brings the fans to the arena I sure as hell don't go to watch the baboons up in the owners suite. And as for Mr Bettman where is your bargaining in good faith! I don't know any business that is making a profit, lock its workers out and deny its clients (fans) the service that it provides! I for one have stopped looked at NHL merchandise and chose not to buy their product, why should they get my hard earned money while they step on the game I love. I will always love hockey it is in our blood in Canada, as for the small markets in the USA all I can say is good luck Bettman and friends, there is many more sports that the casual fan to spend there money on and will not come back!"
Dennis McKenzie: "Ed … is life all about what I have and what I do? .. how much money do I have and spending it on what/where?
… more important is who am I inside and what do I believe .. is this life all there is or is there a God and design in this universe/life? for too many years I was concerned about what I have and what I do but when faced with reality of dying (no one talks about that) it wakes you up as to what is important .. not money and things more reality of who I am and what I believe."
Al McBeth, Langley: "I don't really know Ed where I place these items of annoyance in terms of order but here here it is:
"1)Philly driving up salaries with ludicrous offer sheets then Snider and Bettman standing arm in arm
"2)Minnesota owner jumping up clicking his heels saying 'we got Parise and Suter!'. Then before he hits the ground he says, 'this has to stop' What is it small market??
"3)Why do I pay $11,000 for my two seats and in Tampa they pay $4100 for same two seats?? I don't care about your problems Tampa Bay!!
"4)Transparency with the owners. Aquilini and other strong teams are not singing Kum Bi Ya when signing cheques for 5-10 million so other teams can play fairly. O'Dooles on Robson, a long time established Vancouver eatery, just closed as they could no longer survive. Other restaurents did not pool their $$ together so they could stay open. Bad business is not good for business.
"5)When will Henrik, Daniel and Bieksa start revenue sharing their paycheques so Weise and Ebbett make the same as them?
"6)And finally Ed, I get why Gary went into the southern markets. TV. I wish Gary now would say' hey we gave it our best shot but it is obvious that unless the product is given away the team(s) cannot survive to a break even point: WE NEED TO FIX THIS MISTAKE!"
Alice Sanderson: "I am not sure of all the reasons why this lockout is occurring, however I believe money is the main one. It seems to me that the only losers in all this are the fans and the cities in which there are teams. I have been a season ticket holder for a reasonably short time and there has already been a full year lost. My loyalty as a ticket holder is being tested to its limit. If all fans feel like me there will be none of us left when you are done and then where will you be. You will be without jobs, very much like a fairly high percentage of people in both the US and Canada. I will not feel sorry for you however, because many owners and players make well more than I will ever see in my lifetime in one year.
"I would make the suggestion that you should think about someone other than yourselves. After all, you are very highly paid professionals and should be able to come to an agreement that keeps all parties happy, including those that actually pay your excessively high salaries in some cases, the fans."
Adam Grossi, Burnaby: "The NHL lockout is an absolute joke and I could not be more disgusted with the league!
"If you remember when the 04/05 lockout ended, the NHL painted "Thank You Fans" along the blue lines of every NHL rink along with a promise that the league would do anything it took to prevent a future lockout. Since then, do you know how many CBA renewals we have had? Zero!! After a full season lockout, they could not even get past the VERY NEXT collective bargaining renewal. The NHL and their fans went from being the only professional sports league to miss an entire year because of a lockout to a promise that it would never happen again only to lockout again as soon as they could for dollars and cents. Does Bettman think that writing "Thank You Fans" on the ice again will make us forget that we're without the game we love because of pure greed?
"Do you know what the truly sad reality of this is? The fact that regardless of what happens with this lockout, almost all the fans in Canada, myself included, will come crawling back purely because of our love for the game and our teams. We can only hope the Americans will have more sense than us fools."
Gavin Beck: "How can you get angry when you don't care anymore?"
Brian Babcock, Surrey: "Much against my principles of non involvement, I have decided to address the issues of the present NHL lockout. I have sat on the sidelines (sorry stands) and wondered in sheer amazement what is going on here! It then came to me. We are the bystanders of "What's In It For Me NHL Hockey". I call it "WIFM (pronounced wiffmmm) NHL" hockey. For all participants to agree, there must be something in it for each of them.
"For the owners (cough cough- board of directors) or as I call it "boring dissenters", they want their cake and eat it too. I always thought that when you negotiate a new deal, employers would always try to keep the unions from getting more. That philosophy has changed. They now want to give the employees less. Would any union sit down to discuss less! Hardly and this causes the rub that raises the ire of the players and fans. We seem to always hear how much the good hockey players get in their new contracts, but little is mentioned in sales profits by all the owners in the media. Do we even know the owners by name?
"I remember when the major league baseball teams were holding out for more money and following the settlement, the fans would throw dollar bills (loonies to you young folks) onto the field. It was an embarassment to the players and the game suffered when attendance dropped significantly. Today's hockey, for the most part, does not have that as a concern with respect to attendance, as people are begging to buy tickets here in Vancouver and other major "hockey towns".
"For us more mature fans, the excitement of seeing hockey greats like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Jean Beliveau, Maurice "the Rocket" Richard and Bobby Orr back in the 60's, was why you watched hockey when we were kids. They would skate and play hockey like there was no tomorrow. Their pay was low and most certainly did not enjoy the monetary benefits of hockey today. When Bobby Hull went to the World Hockey League as a Winnipeg Jet, he got $1,000,000 for a season. This was unheard of. He didn't waist the money either, on fast cars and faster felines-he spent his money on hair implants and new teeth. How economical is that!
"So what does this all have to do with NHL Lockout? WIFM NHL hockey-that's what. We have the complainers-now called fans who are mistreated as they can't go to their favourite bar, drink beer, belch and shout obsenities at the HD TV screens which appear everywhere in the bar scene. Us old folks just want to see good hockey, have a couple of beers and make comments about exciting hockey. Belching and obsenties are optional but not mandatory. As fans we tend to portray ourselves as victims as do the other parties who stand to lose money and viewing time during the lockout. Poor us as we must now watch soccer, football, tennis, golf and all those other sports that require us to learn new rules. Heck now we can't watch hockey players tripping, slashing, elbowing and just plain fighting. How will the coaches teach their players these finer points of hockey acument while in a lockout?
"During this lockout, the referees and linesmen will not be paid. I hope they will not forget the rules about making bad calls as consistently as they have done in the past. This is a skill ensconced in the ability to close one's eye-both in some cases but also to use their imagination to spot penalties even when they are not there. So clearly the players and referees/linesmen will not get paid for this lockout. Who does??
"Gary Bettman does, along with the boring dissenters who now can claim a loss of income on their corporate tax returns. It is clear that the team owners do not want to settle this dispute unless there are some tremendous give aways by the players. To me, it is unethical for players' contracts to be altered through this lockout dispute and negotiations. However, where does ethics play a role here anyway- remember we are now talking about hockey not as our national sport (romantic notion) but as a business. The politics, even in refereeing, runs amuck with no end in sight and with no reason to reconsider. Bettman is the puppet here, who is laughing all the way to the bank with his crocodile tears and portrayed perception of concerns toward the fans.
"To different people the NHL lockout means different things. My viewpoint of people going to bars drinking beer and watching their favourite hockey game is only a question of what they want to do, not a question of poor judgement (my perspective). Do they deserve to have this kind of fun-sure why not. Do they have a right to see hockey in the winter period? No- it's something we have gotten use to, but it is times like this that we should not get comfortable with this expectation. We are truly spectators in this sport and maybe perceived as hockey pawns and therefore of little value in this game of business. Lockouts like this, are part of the business.
"Therefore let's not feel like victims as this is defeatist attitude. When the big boys decide to stop writing off their losses (with some sustantial gains however due to loss of players' salaries, I might add), they will pretend to come back, with a proper level of reasonableness so once again we can imagine hearing the fans yelling "play hockey"."
Paul Davey, Vancouver: "So the myopic managers of the NHL (No Hope League) are still slap-shooting themselves in the skates with their ongoing squabble with the already- spoiled members of the NHLPA. What's it all about? Why it's your wallet….the fans who are sitting by without a voice while this season melts away in the winter.
"The fourth league lock-out/strike in twenty years. Greed. Self-interest. Stupidity. And lack of respect to the real owners…the fans….on both sides. The league owners, headed up by an annoying New York lawyer with an $ 8 million dollar annual salary who refuses to consider revenue-sharing among the lesser teams in a league that sports at least 12 teams in serious financial trouble. And the owners, warlords in their little microcosmic fiefdoms, (while weeping for a salary rollback), managed to sign up last-minute contracts under the old CBA to the tune of $ 340 million dollars in the last 30 days alone!
"The players aren't much better.
"The sports industry must be the only business that incorporates revenue sharing with its employees…skilled people playing games who haven't invested a dime in the business, and merely show up at the rink each day to pick up their overblown cheques.….spoiled rich kids some of whom make $ 20,000 – $ 30,000 per game or more. Still puffed up with an air of entitlement due to the owners' last episode of stupidity by giving the players 57% of revenues, they want the same share for all revenue streams, right down to team shirts, hats and parking revenues. I can just imagine going to my boss who owns a machine shop asking for my share of the selling price of one of the company trucks. Fat chance.
"And just look who's sitting, abandoned in the penalty box while all this greed ensues…why it's the disregarded hockey fan….you know, the people who shelled out over $ 3.3 billion dollars last season to watch their beloved hockey each season at ticket prices long beyond the reach of most families. Over the past four weeks, there's a feeling in the air that many fans aren't going to take it any more…with a rink-load of alternatives out there without the big league price tag. And this time around, there's the power of social media, where fans can generate support while venting their feelings to millions of others in a millisecond.
"It used to be that the game rules of the "three strikes and you're out" concept was applicable. Now after four strikes and into overtime, perhaps the fans across the country will proclaim, "You're Out!""
Earl Krieger: "After reading your article about the NHL and Gary Bettman's handling of the current CBA agreements, I agree with your assessment that the fans need to be heard. The owners are represented by the NHL, the players are represented by the NHLPA, but there is no representation from fans. Though I am very frustrated with the league and the NHLPA in general, I feel that we fans need to get a way to exert our influence and make sure that when the game is changed, it is changed to benefit the fans of the game. Though the NHL is a relatively young league, there are older leagues with established fan clubs, such as the various Football Leagues in Europe (consider Arsenal's Fan Club, Leicester City Fan Club). I feel this is a great way for the fans to get more involved in the league and with their team, as well as for the league to receive extra revenues. I believe that unless we as the fans unite with a strong united front, we can change the face of Professional Hockey in US and Canada and hopefully the world. I would love to get involved!"
Sean Karl: "I really hope you're sincere with this because you could be a big help. The single greatest thing we can do to take the power back is to not spend money on the NHL. I'm not suggesting we boycott games and such, though a small reduction in that area would be nice. Moreso, we just need to stop throwing buckets full of cash at anything with a team logo on it. We just need to sneak a mickey into the game and eat dinner beforehand. We just need to opt out of PPV.
"There are a few small things that could be done by everyone, en masse, that would severely dent the precious HRR and give both the players and the owners the only kick in the nuts we can give them. If we kill HRR, we can kill a lot of the stupid contracts, revenue sharing and talent-sucking sunbelt welfare teams.
"The message is simple, just go cheap on hockey. They still have to play and we still get to watch and cheer for our teams."
Joe Kelly: "I don't care anymore. Period. Full stop."
David Brekke: "I have been an avid Canucks fan for as long as they have been in the league and I have looked forward to October every year because that's when I can get my hockey fix fixed. Over the past 20 years (or however long the mighty midget from Metropolis has been in charge) hockey has taken a nasty turn for the worse. How on earth can a man who knew zip (and still doesn't from what I've seen) about hockey be running the league? That's like putting a cab driver in charge or running an airline! He might know what plane is and does, but do you really want him planning takeoffs and landings? This bozo has brought nothing but misery to our beloved game by bringing teams in that have no business being in the league. Yeah, I really want to be in Phoenix in 100 degree heat to watch a bunch of Canadian guys skate around. In the majority of the U.S. hockey rates somewhere between professional tiddly winks and waterboarding as a sport of interest. Hockey in Atlanta? Great job there. In North Carolina? Don't get me started. Mighty Mouse still adamantly believes he can make hockey work in Glendale, AZ. Just throw enough of the other teams money at it and it should work. Shouldn't it? Hmmmm. This guy has ruined the game, and it may be just a short time away before it's too late to save it because down south, it barely rates a mention. I, for one, will continue to watch the CFL (don't care what people say, it's still a great game!) or I will take up knitting or something, but I probably won't watch a game or attend a game again because these greedy bastards don't give a damn about who really pays for all this crap. They are spitting in our collective faces and laughing as they pretend to care. To hell with them. I pity the players, millionaires though they all are, because their livelihoods are threatened. Beyond the money, I think most players play the game because they love it. But I hate seeing them bullied by the owners, no matter how much money they make. Bullies are bullies, period. I'm almost at that point where I could care less what happens now. And that's a place the owners should really try to keep the hockey loving public from going. Before it's too late."
Karen Turner, New Westminster: "I don't believe that when the owners bought their NHL team and did their ROI (return on investment) that this number included the future picking of players' pockets. The sad part is that Americans barely like hockey and Bettman's lockout will only remind them of this fact."
Mike Crutch: "I am an avid two sport sports fan. I schedule my time to watch the Lions or the Canucks whenever they are playing and whether I am in town or out. As I go through airports etc. and if a game is on, I am often looking for a TV to see what's happening. It's hard for me to come to a conclusion however on the current labor dispute or lock-out if you want to call it that. It's hard to have sympathy for either side given the amounts of money involved and the fact that this is just a leisure time activity and really, in the overall scheme of things, not very important at all. I always wonder why we, as a society, put such a high value on professional sports and pay athletes millions of dollars: more than we would ever consider paying a Prime Minister, or a Doctor or whoever can really have a direct impact on our lives. I guess that we are prepared to put a much higher premium on our leisure time entertainment.
"Having said that: In my opinion, as much as possible, government should not be in the business of subsidizing "Professional" sports teams. If you agree with this then there has to be enough profit in the sport for the owners so that teams such as those in Winnipeg and potentially elsewhere in Canada can support arenas, support "competitive" teams, survive, and make some profit. The systems can't be designed to protect all teams (Phoenix comes to mind) but a small market team such as Winnipeg would be my threshold for a small market team that should be possible within the NHL.
"How does this happen ? Better revenue sharing amongst the Owners and a slightly lower percentage of monies going to the players. This can't be legislated. Hopefully both sides have a goal similar to this and the way to get there is democratically through labor negotiations. If this goal is achieved, then I am prepared to go without hockey for a while.
"In terms of issues of fairness to the players or fairness to the owners, they have to work that out themselves. We are talking about multi-millionaires here and a game that they love being a part of or playing. Eventually the pain that they are inflicting upon themselves will manifest itself into an agreement that they can both sign off on. They have to suffer enough and once that has occurred then everyone can stop suffering. They haven't suffered enough yet and that is what both sides are waiting for.
"Unless they go away for a very long time, in Canada at least, all that this is doing is creating pent up demand. The same may not be the case for many parts of the US where hockey may become "less" relevant again and both sides that have money and jobs at stake will lose. This will also be part of the pain equation that forces them to settle.
"I say let the process work itself out and be happy with the savings from not having to shell out for hockey tickets in the meantime. There are worse way for these disputes to be worked out then "democratically" and I prefer the democratic approach.
"P.S. I do sympathize very much with the collateral damage to the other workers in supporting industries. They only suffer and reap no rewards from the outcome of the dispute. Unfortunately that is like being a head coach in the CFL. You are going to get fired one day. In this NHL and in professional sport, there are going to be strikes and lockouts. It's not hard to predict."
Alex: "I am sick and tired having to look at "Gary Bettman's face, He seems very sure of himself, and to all NHL hockey fans an enormous disgrace!!
"Many businesses depend on their income every game, to be locked out for the 2012-2013 season would be an awful shame!!
"The players are ready to hit the ice, so Gary let the games begin, that would be wise!!"
Lance Harvey, Surrey: "I do not favor either side.
"I think it is ridiculous that athletes have a starting salary of at least $1 million before they ever prove they can play at the NHL level.
"I think it is equally ridiculous that the average salary is so high and such salaries cause the exorbitant ticket prices that make it impossible for many to attend a game.
"It is obvious the owners are trying to get a little bigger piece of the pie and they will before the lockout is over.
"They could easily have done that with an agreement amongst themselves on what the maximum salary would be; how long they would sign players; etc., etc. They really do not need the agreement of the players if they are truly looking for a new set of conditions, but of course agreement within their own ranks will fail because there will always be a team like the NY Yankees that think they can buy a cup.
"One other point I would like to raise is that the players have no risk; they show up, play (when they feel like it) and collect much more money than they are worth. The owners on the other hand invest Millions of dollars on teams. The fellow thinking of investing $160 million for the Phoenix team has put it on the line and could lose it all.
"As I drove home today the sports report on the radio suggested the league has offered a 50/50 split of revenues. If that is true, the players should jump at this offer and get back to work."
Walter Schmur, Mission: "I read your column with great interest. The mention of the three previous stoppages caught my particular attention. In baseball, three strikes and you're out! I guess the same rules don't apply to the NHL. However, it shouldn't bother me too much because I lost keen interest in the NHL years ago on account of the violence and the insane salary demands."
Azim Somani: "Here's the thing, you have a billionaires and millionaires fighting over a pie. They can't figure out who gets the biggest slice. Yes, the owners put up all the capital costs, take some of the risks and get the smaller pie. But here's the question, would the owners be willing to do that if the entertainment value wasn't there. They get 43%, of the revenues, but that's divided up between 30 of them, while there's over 750 players. I do think that a 50/50 split is the way it'll end up, but don't think that's necessarily logical. This is not to say I'm pro player either. I mean, they're realizing their dreams. They're making more money than if they would doing anything else. They do however take some risks for which they should be rewarded. Their bodies and now that concussions are more prevalent, their minds also are on the line every night. They should be compensated well for that.
"The irony in all this is that the owners want the players to accept less to help prop up sad sack franchises that have no business being there. I mean seriously, how does Florida have more teams than Toronto or the Southern Ontario market. Bettman has gone to the wall to prop up a franchise in Phoenix that has NEVER MADE MONEY. To use one of your quotes, read that last sentence again. How the heck does this guy possess as much power as he does! There are 30 owners, are you telling me the Canucks, Leafs, Habs, Jets, Oilers, Flames, Kings, Rangers, Wings, Sharks, Sens, are happy with this lockout. This is because Jeremy Jacobs (another reason to hate the bruins) and Ed Snider want to have the players take a bath. They love to break the union. Doesn't Jacobs' company have the concession contracts in most of the NHL buidlings? I'm betting those are unionized as well. I'm thinking that perhaps some of the owners need to get together and get a different company to handle concessions in their buildings. You wonder how those 2 guys became so powerful.
"As for Count Bettman, he really does need to go. If for no other reason, than he has done all he can. It's time for the Board of Governors to sign his walking papers. It's time that someone else be brought in. And not Bill Daly, but someone who actually really cares about the game, someone maybe who even played it. Someone who's accomplished things both inside and outside the game. I'd say Gretzky, but I really don't think he'd be good at it. It would have to be someone who has the cajones to stand up to the owners. Or maybe do away with the Commissioner position, and bring back a president. Because Commissioner would suggest a steward of the game. Bettman surely is no steward of the game. He's all about the owners. Perhaps Brendan Shanahan can be groomed for the job.
"As for both parties giving the token we feel bad for the fans, well that's a bunch of crap. Nobody buys it and it makes each party sound disingenious every time they utter that phrase. They don't care about the fans. If they did, their would not be a 4th labour stoppage in 20 years. I don't care whether it's a strike or lockout. That's like you tripping me and telling me I fell. Bottom line is, if I were more aware I would have seen you stick out your foot. In that vain, the players should not have waited until July to start negotiations. They can't undo what was done 8 years ago. The NHL should never have put forth such an insulting initial proposal. That was really, collosally stupid. It wasted valuable time.
"I'm not a season ticket holder. I'm a fan of good hockey, not the crap I was subjected to over the last 2 months of the season and playoffs. The game needs to be physical, and more free flowing. The players are bigger, stronger and faster than ever before. This needs to be factored in to both the safety and entertainment value. Either go to 4 on 4 or my preference, widen the ice (of course, the owners wouldn't want to lose a row or 2 of seats). I don't want Olympic size, but something a little bigger than what it is now. A player who stands 6ft and weights 195lbs is no longer a power forward. He'd be considered average to below average in size.
"I know this rant was all over the place and I'm sorry if you're dizzy from reading it."
Nena Carpenter: "Thank you for providing this platform for hockey lovers to voice their opinions etc. Even though there was some encouraging news today which may enable hockey to begin next month, I am still angry. There will never be labour peace while Gary Bettman is Commissioner of the NHL. His monumental arrogance and his disdain for us fans is infuriating. However, I am also extremely angry with his employers (owners) particularly the Canadian ones because they know and understand how much this game means to Canadians. Therefore, I will not be purchasing any tickets to games … I usually only go to three or four a season as I am a pensioner and I also find it difficult as I have mobility issues. I will remove all my Canuck decals from my car ( no more free advertising for the Aquilini's) all my Canuck flags will be put away and will not come out even if they go the distance in the post season and I will not purchase any Canuck memorabilia as Christmas presents as I usually do. This may not seem a big deal to you or to the NHL but it is a big deal to me. It is the only way that I can express my anger at this whole situation, and as far as I am concerned, it will not be remedied until Bettman is terminated."
Bob Aikman, Burnaby: "From my perspective, I'm 100% behind the players.
"I'm bewildered at how some of the people who call themselves fans have reacted to them in this labour dispute. The players are unfortunately being cast in many of the comment pieces attached to news stories as being spoiled, greedy, unappreciative and overpaid.
"They are identified as the perpitrators of this most recent hockey meltdown and this whole thing would be over if they would just take their already outrageous salries and quit whining. They are also targeted as being the singular reason that ticket prices are so expensive. The players are also such easy targets.
"Who put an arbitrary date of September 15 on these negotiations and then handed the NHLPA a daconian first offer that was guaranteed to be rejected? Who then locked the doors of all of the arenas? Who has repeatedly said that the league will not move off its position of immediate salary claw-back and the NHLPA's suggestions are ludicrous and do not address the issues?
"Gary Bettman's singular negotiating strategy in all three of the work stoppages has been to lock out the players to show the NHLPA who has the biggest dog in this fight. Other trade union agreements have been negotiated and signed with the workers still on the job at the expiration of the existing contract. Why not in the NHL?
"What if the fans rose up enmass to Gary – one united force? Get hockey back on the ice by the hard date of October 31 – either by settling on a new agreement or by lifting the lockout – or ALL seasons tickets will be cancelled by the fans and WILL NOT BE RENEWED. Corporate sponsers (Including corporaate season ticket holders) tell Gary that their money is going somewhere else unless there is hockey by the end of the month.
"Pipe dream? Probably. Because we are the idiot fans that Bettman has identified and we will all take this crap and still paint our faces and wear the team colours as soon as Bettman tells us we can have our game back.
"Come on people. Get your dog in this fight as well."
Graham Gore, Hedley: "On the evening of the lockout I sent the following email to Gary Bettman: 'As of midnight tonight you have lost an NHL viewer, forever.'"