It's been a long while since I made my last post. Sometimes when you know there is nothing you can do about it, at least you can write about it. Writing about it at least gives you the opportunity to perhaps figure out how you really feel about something.
This week, there was another serious body check in the NHL that caused a player to be hospitalized. Some say it's just part of the game, and that we should all stop our belly aching and just accept it, others with a little more sensitivity think that something should be done to reduce the number of injuries, fights and head injuries.
As a child, a youth and young man I played the game of hockey. It was a series of injuries that I received that led to me to lose interest in playing the game. All of the nonsense that has been going on in the NHL lately has helped me decide to do something else with my leisure time than sit in front of the television and watch hockey, because of course I could never afford to go to an actual NHL game even if the tickets were available. This sport as well as many others has priced itself out of the average persons ability to go to a game. This trend also prevails in minor hockey associations that charge such high registration that a large segment of the population can't play. I'm told that the average family with a child playing travel hockey has to spend up to $8000 a year for their child to paricipate.
Profesional sports have set a lot of children up for failure. Even if I had a child with the gift for playing a game professionally, I would really encourage them to get their education first so that when they get creamed playing the game professionally, they will still be able to support themselves and their family.
Stephen Brunt who writes for the Globe and Mail made some really good points about professional hockey and the NHL. He believes the problem with the NHL is leadership. I have to believe that the problem with the success or failure of any organization usually depends upon leadership. In the case of the NHL, Brunt says that "the NHL, in part, is in the violence business, which means it is willing to accept significant risks to the health of its players. But the role of a commisioner is also different from that of CEO, whose only concern is protecting the interests of the shareholders. Professional sport is in many ways a faith-based entertainment business. The fans, who buy in not just for a couple of hours of distraction, but often for a lifetime, need to think of the game as distinct from the commercial aspects of the game. There is something pure and essential there, to be respected, to be protected."
Brunt feels that it's time for Gary Bettman to stop his whining. It's also Bettman's arrogant attitude, especially in the face of criticism and pressure that indicates the kind of leader he is. If Gary Bettman can't rise above it, then what is a commissioner for?
I'm beginning to wonder if it isn't a good time for a whole lot of so called professionals to get a real job, let's be real, especially with the economic prospects for the future, what professional sports players are paid is absolutely a disgrace.
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