Tuesday, December 25, 2012

NHL Lockout: Interest in U.S. waning, Russians rejoicing

Does anyone really care anymore?

With half of the National Hockey League season cancelled and no contact between the sides sincce December 6th, interest is waning with even the most die-hard hockey fans.

Many are quelling their Hockey Jones with some excellent play among the Northeast colleges and Universities, and the American Hockey League is enjoying decent attendance as well...and now the organizers of the World Junior Championships are salivating like one of Pavlov's dogs at the prospect of the most talent-laden teams to participate in these games in n early a decade.

Of course, this is a direct result of the NHL lockout - and you wont find many in the Championships' circle that would mourn the death of the NHL's season - that's an albatross that mostly we here in the United States have hanging around our necks as the sport is far more popular among fans beyond our borders.

With clubs all over europe, scandinavia and russia being able to field powerhouse teams from the voided pool of NHL talent, it would be interesting to see what would transpire should the NHL season be cancelled...and perhaps it should be cancelled.  Forever.

Both the NFL and NBAand their respective players' unions had enough respect for their leagues to come to an 11th hour agreement to save their seasons recently, but the unyielding lawyers and other vermin involved in the "Negotiations" between the NHL and the Players makes us certain that neither side cares if another game is played.

The Players can stay and play in front of packed houses close to their homes overseas, and the American born players could head overseas as well, making good scratch and enjoying the old world charm and liberal attitudes - a shocking departures from the uptight, money driven, power hungry business types in this country.