Double Dipping

CHICAGO--Please, a game. Something to talk about other than platitude after platitude about this player or that one. Some meat for the meal, please.

The news from today, of course, is that Calgary will host an outdoor game next February as the NHL continues to push the strategy of investing more and more in large event marketing, rather than using individual players to sell the game. Given that the Winter Classic TV ratings or the Fenway Park game were sharply down last year, it's an interesting decision.

Then again, selling an outdoor game in Calgary is easy. Selling pretty much anything to do with hockey in Canada is easy these days. They'll sell the game out and the hype will be in overdrive for all the Canadian television networks. Having the game in February keeps it distant from the world junior hockey championships, which dominates Canadian hockey interest around the Christmas break.

What it allows, naturally, is for NBC to keep its unofficial policy of U.S. teams only for the Winter Classic, with the tacit agreement of the NHL.

So far we've had Buffalo and Pittsburgh in Buffalo, Chicago hosted the Wings and Hawks, Fenway was home to the terribly boring Boston-Philly game and next year Heinz Field in Pittsburgh will hold with the game featuring the Penguins and Capitals. That, of course, will right the wrong of last year when the Caps thought - as did most of the hockey industry - the Ovechkin and the Caps were going to be part of the Fenway game before the NHL got cute and substituted the Flyers.

With this new two-game, two country outdoor approach, NBC can keep the Canadian teams off its airwaves and the Canadian teams can be kept from bitching about it too much.

Comments

[Whitfit]

Damien - no comments permitted on your story in the paper today, so I thought I would do it here. I agree with you 100%, and I know people will react that this is bowing to "PC" pressure, but I also think that these kinds of things really matter. I wonder how Asham feels about it?

I also can't believe that it is 73 to 19% of people in favour of it on the Star poll.

[Clevie Baron]

Yes, a game, please. Why the heck didn't the final start Thursday night? The lull since the Habs series ended has severely dulled fan momentum/interest, except probably in the two cities involved.

And, I disagree with the logo column. That Blackhawk icon, to me, is a portrayal of confidence, grace, and strength. But to be honest, I don't even really think about what it is, it just makes me think "Chicago hockey team."

[SPrymak]

Damien - Same as above no comments on today's story but I disagree. I find the Cleveland Indians logo and the name Washington Redskins or Tar Heels far more offensive and badly in need of change. I don't see anything offensive in the name Blackhawks and the Chicago jerseys are the best looking in the league, hold up a Cleveland hat next to the Chicago one and tell me honestly which is worse. The Chicago Jersey has a very nice emblem of a Native North American wearing headdress, I think it looks quite noble not derogatory at all. I suppose with the Leafs gone you are really hard pressed for ideas to write about, try a little harder to aim better

[Plan The Parade]

Damien, any info on why the Leafs are again being shut out of an outdoor game? We are now seeing teams who are getting their 2nd opportunity, including Montreal.

[bob]

Damien, the Flyers-Bruins game was poorly sold down here south of the border. Bettman and his NBC cronies only have sales eyes for Sidney the Kidney and Alexander the Grape. Also, you don't put the Flyers on at the same time Penn State football is on.
I've enjoyed watching the Versus and NBC crews trying to sell Kane, Toews, Richards, Giroux, etc., albeit belatedly, after smothering us in all Crosby and Ovechkin, all the time.
Then again, Bettman came out of David Stern's starmaker machinery of the NBA (which, in my book, has ruined the NBA).

[Alan]

Hockey is definitely a Canadian thing...it is obvious Bettman feels $$$ is in the USA. Keep sabotaging the Canadian teams...just look at the currency they deal with...it is all US dollars...you never hear CAD.

[Bradmacdonald91@gmail.com]

I'm going to complain anyway. I know that NBC has a NCC (No Canadian Content) policy when it comes to this sort of thing, and I'm not going to complain about that. My main issue is the stupidity of the NHL, why can't they spread the outdoor games out to teams, half of the teams playing in outdoor games this year have already got to play in them before...it's not like I'm surprised though. I know how the league runs, it's disgusting and sad...but what can we do about it.

[Hector]

Damien...you have lost me. Your story on the Blackhawks logo was so contrived and off base. There is nothing wrong with that logo and I am a proud aboriginal Canadian. I always thought you were a bit better than that. You have lost me as a reader. I'm guessing this won't get printed anyway.

[Johnnyk]

Tar Heels isn't racist or offensive. It refers to a North Carolina regiment(?) who did not retreat during a civil war battle. Someone said it was like they had tar heels sticking them to their ground.
Further extrapolation about the causes/reasons etc of the civil war are the province of underemployed academics who don't watch sports like we proles.