In 1995, I was formally introduced to Hockey. I was in the 4th grade and went to school with some kids from Michigan. Their room was filled with Detroit Red Wings memorabilia and posters of Sergei Fedorov and Steve Yzerman. I asked for some roller blades for Christmas and began to partake in weekly street hockey battles in empty parking lots and driveways. I then bought NHL ’94 for Super Nintendo and learned names like Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Brett Hul, Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Roy, Joe Sakic, Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick, Teemu Selanne, Mark Messier, and Chris Chelios. But then between the 2 lockouts in ’94-95, ’04-’05 seasons, I became much less than a “moderate” hockey fan. I did get into the ’02 NHL playoffs in which the local Carolina Hurricanes made a run into the Stanley Cup finals. The following year I went to a couple of games featuring the african-american goalie, Kevin Weekes, which of course was a rare site. There was again another pause in my NHL knowledge until ’06 when the Carolina Hurricanes again went to the NHL Stanley Cup finals and won. I enjoyed watching, but it was hard for me to continue following the NHL. It’s not widely televised in my southeast region of the United States, in which I call home.
This upcoming season, I made a pledge that I would at least keep up with what was going on in the NHL on a regular basis. Ovechkin and Crosby have changed the NHL culture to some degree in recent years and have provided for some entertaining action. Then we entered into the 2010 Winter Olympics.
There is nothing in sports like rooting for your country. I was the kid that was mesmerized by that ’92 Dream Team in Barcelona. I was mesmerized again in ’96 with the Dream Team 2 taking it all in Atlanta. After a basketball drought, I revamped in ’08 with the new Dream Team. Me and my friend Luke would get up at like 5 am to watch them play our international opponents. I enjoy the glorious competition of the World Cup and found myself DVRing games I knew that I would miss. I enjoy the World Baseball Classic. I enjoyed it in ’06 and I enjoyed it in ’09. I understand MLB front offices not wanting their guys participating, but with the surge of countries like the D.R., Cuba, Japan, Venezeula, and Canada, it made for quite the ultimate baseball competition. Even with other countries developing quite rapidly in Basketball and the Americans drought from 2000 to 2008, baseball is more equally balanced internationally and has made for great competition. Its a shame it was voted out of the Olympics. But the 2010 Winter Olympics helped me immensely in my “growing” love for Hockey.
Hockey is different for me than any other sport. It doesn’t involve a ball. It’s not on grass or on a court. I grew up in the East Tennessee mountains and in rural regions of North Carolina. It’s something I’m not accustomed to practicing. Had I lived in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, or North Dakota I’m sure it would be different. I did not learn to ice skate until I was 19. I was like this guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiHAFMAfC40 . But I had not been so excited during a hockey game like the first U.S. vs Canada matchup since the ’06 Stanley Cup finals. I watched every match I could. Whether it was Finland, Slovakia, Russia, or Germany, I sat and watched. I was astounded how they could control a puck and skate like they could. I was equally astounded how the commentators could come up with something to talk about other than, “He got ******* nailed!”, “stay down *****!, or the easily quoted, “He shoots, he scores!” I was amazed how there is a Hockey coach who actually draws up plays and sees them executed. With player changes and possession changes occuring as frequently as an 18 year old drunk girl’s urinary habits, I was totally into every second of the game. And when the U.S. scored with 20 some seconds left in the Gold medal game against Canada, I got up with a jolt of vigor and passion, yelling and handslapping and hugging my friends. Yes, it was hockey. But it was my country. And it was friendly neighbors to the North, America’s Hat, who only better us in hockey, maple syrup, french speaking provinces and the music of Bryan Adams. I’m fine with that. It would have been an obvious huge win for the United States. Maybe even another ”Miracle on Ice” part 2. But even though U.S. lost, it garnered my interest in Hockey all the more. Since then, when available, I’ll watch hockey. I’ve watched about 4 games since then. I even found myself flipping to watch hockey during the ACC and SEC conference Tournament Championship games preluding March Madness. I know some new names other than Crosby, Malkin, and Ovechkin and I know that the Chicago Blackhawks have a pretty good team. I still couldn’t be a hockey commentator at this point, but in a couple of years, give me a headset and a microphone.
With the Gold medal game receiving a huge television viewing audience, I believe it would be a mistake in not letting the NHL players to participate in 2014. I believe there are also others like me, viewing an occasional hockey game or 2 during the week since the Olympics. The interest may drop off, but the NHL have screwed themselves in the past by lockouts and lack of viewership which has drastically affected America’s feelings of Hockey. We get Hockey on VS., MASN, and the game of the week on NBC. That is not going to get it done. As the rapper Tyga so eloquently writes and spits on the YOung Money and Lil’ Wayne collaboration, ”Bedrock” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha80ZaecGkQ ”She be watching Oxygen, I’m watching ESPN.” So, the NHL has to get these games televised. They have made too many demands to ESPN for T.V. rights on games, and has thus overall hurt the universal game of Hockey in the U.S. and are again hurting the NHL’s pockets. Guys watch ESPN. Guys watch ESPN2. Guys watch ESPN U. But whether it be ESPN or NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, it’s clear the NHL has got to make a deal. And futhermore, they have to let their guys play in the 2014 Olympics to at least spike some profit following that tournament like they’ve done from the 2010 Olympics.
America wouldn’t mind watching more Hockey. And if you live in the South, I promise you there is more to Hockey than the Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Icespeed. Godspeed.
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