The NHL: A league on thin ice

Contrary to the knowledge of most sports fans, the National Hockey League is back in full swing and nearing opening day of the season. \nOnce I found out that the lockout, which prompted me to join a group on Facebook.com, called "Bring Hockey Back" was over, I was filled with joy, even though many think hockey is boring. \nNow that it's back, I have a reason to play hockey in my basement and act out the roles from "The Mighty Ducks" like I did when I was a little kid.\nI was even more excited because of revitalizing changes taking over the game. Shortly after the announcement of a new season, the NHL was given the major boost it deserved with the signing of teenage Canadian phenom, Sidney Crosby. Just recently, Crosby was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins and has been said to be our generation's Wayne Gretzky.\nThe end of the lockout also brought new rules to hockey to make the game more interesting and fun to watch. The NHL changed overtime periods to shootouts and legalized the two-line pass to encourage breakaways, among other changes.\nEven with the hype for hockey set in place, where is the hype from all of the fans? It certainly isn't visible. There have been no nationally televised preseason games, and there haven't been any televised advertisements for the upcoming season. \nDue to the lockout, the NHL lost ESPN, its major partner in televising games. This year, very few games will be broadcast nationally. It's amazing that there can be all of this negativity toward the NHL after everyone had a rebirth of excitement when the lockout ended. But remember, you can always see the highlights on "SportsCenter" -- if you wait until the last five minutes of the show.\nMany wonder if the NHL will regain the same status it once had before the lockout. Not that its previous status was any good. The answer to that question, unfortunately, is probably not. \nThe reason: fans like myself have been betrayed by the players' need for more bling. It seems that hockey has a bunch of money-pinching owners and mini T.O.'s running around, saying that they need more money to feed their kids.\nI know that the lockouts in baseball and football from years past did not destroy Major League Baseball and the National Football League. However, baseball and football were already sewn into the hearts and minds of nearly all sports fans. Not to mention, they're both American sports and we Americans so dearly love what we produce, like McDonald's for example. Man, I could go for a Big Mac and a ball game right now.\nUnfortunately, hockey hasn't reached the type of fan base that football and baseball both possess, nor was it born in America. The lack of popularity combined with is foreign origin puts the sport that comes from the land of "eh" and "what are you talking aboot" at a disadvantage to other sports.\nIn all seriousness, of course I want hockey to succeed. Why? Because it's an amazing sport that many people just don't give a chance. Still, its popularity probably won't change. You can even see it now. Look around. How many people are sporting Detroit Red Wings hats, or wear a Dallas Stars T-shirt? Nobody. They're all sporting Chicago Cubs hats and Colts jerseys. \nEven so, I dearly hope that this hockey season turns out well, because after a two year hiatus, I can't wait to go grab my stick and check somebody.