Columbus Blue Jacket? - Cincinnati Sports Forums

Gotham Dark Knight · #1 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 03:44 PM

Okay, is there room under the Misc Forum for talk of the Columbus Blue Jackets? The team was on the rise by years end...any Blue Jacket fans here?

shantyman · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2006, 06:45 PM

Tedesco is the board's resident hockey fan. I follow them to a lesser extent. I keep thinking they are on the rise, but they had a pretty terrible season.

Gotham Dark Knight · #3 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shantyman

Tedesco is the board's resident hockey fan. I follow them to a lesser extent. I keep thinking they are on the rise, but they had a pretty terrible season.

Not near the end when they got Nash back with Fedorov and the Kid from Kiev Zherdev...they were winning and winning in style including a big come from way beind victory aganist the Red Wings. The team is definitely on the rise.

JMart · #4 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 12:53 PM

Unfortunately hockey itself is on the way down. I've never paid less attetion to the season than I have this one. I think that's because of the lost season and the fact that they signed a tv contract with a network no one can get. I didn't even realize they were in the playoffs, much less the finals until I saw Sportscenter today and saw whatever team has Rod Brindamour is up 2-0 over...Edmonton? Or does Brindamour play for Edmonton? I can't keep up with the ridiculous amount of player movement either.

Tedesco · #5 (**permalink**) 06-10-2006, 02:22 PM

I'm tired of having this conversation. Hockey is not on the way down. You can not use ratings in an argument like this when a majority of people do not get the fucking channel! The NHL contract with VS. is up after next year I believe. After that, it's back on ESPN. I'm not trying to sound like a dick here J-Mart, but your view on the sport does not reflect the sporting community as a whole.

Ratings should never be taken into account when dealing with sports. Period. Ratings for sports are the most skewed statistic out there because they fail to take into account the most obvious venue for watching sports: bars. Bars don't get figured into account for anything. MNF got low ratings? Did you see how packed the places were that we went to see MNF? Not one of us counted as a viewer.

JMart · #6 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 03:43 PM

Tedesco, did I ever say I was trying to speak for the sport? Think before you post.

Your point actually makes my argument even more sound - most people DON'T get OLN, you're right. The NHL couldn't find anyone that wanted to broadcast their games and had ZERO bargaining power. That by itself shows you that hockey is struggling, end of discussion.

Gotham Dark Knight · #7 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tedesco

I'm tired of having this conversation. Hockey is not on the way down. You can not use ratings in an argument like this when a majority of people do not get the fucking channel! The NHL contract with VS. is up after next year I believe. After that, it's back on ESPN. I'm not trying to sound like a dick here J-Mart, but your view on the sport does not reflect the sporting community as a whole.

Ratings should never be taken into account when dealing with sports. Period. Ratings for sports are the most skewed statistic out there because they fail to take into account the most obvious venue for watching sports: bars. Bars don't get figured into account for anything. MNF got low ratings? Did you see how packed the places were that we went to see MNF? Not one of us counted as a viewer.

My man I am with you...hockey has a few new faces...and some of those playoff series have been awesome...the Sabres_Hurricane for one. I think the fans will return...much like after the baseball strike when McGwire and Sosa got in on for a while...

The better TV package will come...the owners won the battle over salaries...now if they could jsut salvage the Penguins and keep them put...

Tedesco · #8 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMart

Tedesco, did I ever say I was trying to speak for the sport? Think before you post.

Your point actually makes my argument even more sound - most people DON'T get OLN, you're right. The NHL couldn't find anyone that wanted to broadcast their games and had ZERO bargaining power. That by itself shows you that hockey is struggling, end of discussion.

I think it shows poor timing for the NHL. The shutout occured during their last contract season with ESPN. Had the shutout occured in the middle of the contract; I think that the NHL would have continued their relationship with ESPN.

Besides, I don't think it's struggling per se, but rather struggled. The struggle for the NHL is over, it's not like they can jump ship in the middle of their contract with VS. to go to ESPN. They will bide their time with VS., run out their contract, and go back to ESPN.

JMart · #9 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 09:02 PM

If ESPN will have them. They picked up the NBA instead. Not that I enjoy that anymore (quite the contrary - I will watch the occasional hockey game, when an NBA game comes on, I turn the channel as quickly as humanly possible.

I hope you're right though, I don't have anything against hockey. It would be nice to see other sports get control over salaries the way the NHL did, but I'm not willing to see anyone lose an entire season, their tv contract, and a big chunk of fans for it.

Tedesco · #10 (**permalink**) 06-11-2006, 09:22 PM

I actually am for a sport to lose a season if it means that the shit gets straightened out. I still think that MLB will see another strike within the next 10 years. The MLB is still the most screwed up of all the leagues. Salary cap? Nope. Realistic drug policy? Of course not....

Franny · #11 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

You can not use ratings in an argument like this when a majority of people do not get the fucking channel!

There is a reason NHL is on the Cycling Network. No one else wanted to pick the sport up!! When you get worse ratings than the national spelling bee, you've hit rock bottom. I predict it will just get worse over the next 2 years.

Tedesco · #12 (**permalink**) 06-12-2006, 09:53 PM

The NHL will survive, and flourish, no matter what Franny might say. Don't believe the hype!

akilles13 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 04:39 PM

I think hockey and soccer are both awesome to watch. Unfortunately, I think I'll always be part of a tiny minority of Americans who think so. Americans can't seem to see the beauty in battling for the ball/puck in a 1-0 game--most of us just want scoring, hitting, and dunking. No wonder the Arena Football League keeps growing. Maybe next they'll shorten the football field to the size of my bathroom and line it with rubber. 500-point games, anyone? Sorry we Americans are such schmucks when it comes to sports.

Tedesco · #14 (**permalink**) 06-13-2006, 05:58 PM

I like you.

akilles13 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-15-2006, 09:34 PM

Thank you!

The Blue Jackets played like a playoff team after the new year, so they'd better contend for a playoff spot next year. It is also encouraging to know that they took two of four from the Oilers this year (the last two meetings), and they lost by a goal in the only meeting with the Hurricanes.