04/24/24
February 18, 2005
Closure. Err... I guess not.: I thought all of these stories I've been reading were just wishful thinking. Then Rogers Sportsnet becomes the first major broadcaster (and only one at this point) to confirm that talks will re-start this weekend. Is this for real? This lockout is like a monster in a bad horror movie that will... not... die.
When the two sides were so close together, was there anybody who really believed negotiations would stop?
posted by salmacis at 05:28 PM on February 18, 2005
My sentiments exactly Weedy. Yeah I figured it was over because everyone involved sounded really, really, bitter. It had gotten personal. I figured it would be September before the 2 sides talked again. I'm still not sure a 25 - 28 game season is really a good idea anyway. Maybe they can reach an agreement, but agree not to start up until next season (Sept.). That would give the teams a chance to sign their players, get new rules in place etc.
posted by camcanuck at 05:37 PM on February 18, 2005
Unfuckers!
posted by NoMich at 06:01 PM on February 18, 2005
G'on...take a look at Eklund's blog. Dare ya. 25-28 games is probably not so good, unless they cut out some of the playoffs, and I'm willing to bet owners wouldn't want to sacrifice playoff revenue. Incidentally, if they do, that'd be the first concession they've made to date! Don't care anymore. Gimme hockey and I'll take it, if not, eff off Bettman.
posted by Succa at 06:02 PM on February 18, 2005
trim a round off the playoffs and a) you've got more time to sort things out and b) more drama in the "reg season" games as competition hots up for the 8 playoff spots. just fire gary and bob. this thing would be over now if it weren't for them.
posted by gspm at 06:40 PM on February 18, 2005
This is like when you've got a good friend who's in a relationship, and then they're on the rocks, and you listen and say "uh huh" while he/she moans about it, and then they break up, and you listen and say "uh huh" while he/she moans about it, and then they get back together, and you say, "...great...", and then they've got Issues, and and you listen and say "uh huh" while he/she moans about it, and then they break up, that's it, forever, and you listen and say "uh huh" while he/she moans about it, and then they're back together for good this time, and...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 07:22 PM on February 18, 2005
TSN, the Score, The Hockey News, and Eklund are all saying it's a done deal in principle. Nothing confirmed. Holding my breath, now.
posted by Succa at 08:44 PM on February 18, 2005
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to stop removing this f*cking band-aid... [slow ripping sound] Argh! Come off already! [slow ripping sound] Arrrrgh!
posted by grum@work at 08:51 PM on February 18, 2005
Also: if this does come to pass and Wayne Gretzky is instrumental in getting it done, then you can just about call him "Saint Gretzky". Seriously...being the greatest hockey player of all time, a nice guy, leading the Olympic team to its first gold medal in over 50 years (while taking all the heat from the press himself) and then pulling this miracle off? I'd expect him to walk on water, but as a hockey player he pretty much did that already (albeit frozen).
posted by grum@work at 08:57 PM on February 18, 2005
Also: if this does come to pass and Wayne Gretzky is instrumental in getting it done, then you can just about call him "Saint Gretzky". No matter who does it, is it not somewhat likely that any "agreement" that is made will, really, honestly be a case of making a silk purse out of a sow's ear? Or, to continue with my relationship analogy, a patched-up marriage where the only sensible thing is to get a divorce and everybody start all over again (or not) with a different partner?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:12 PM on February 18, 2005
Weak. WEAK!
posted by DrJohnEvans at 09:15 PM on February 18, 2005
lbb, that's a brilliant analogy. However, let me ruin it by saying I would snipe in and have breakup sex with the NHL assuming season tickets dropped to like $49.95.
posted by yerfatma at 09:57 PM on February 18, 2005
I am all so Whatever about this. Except, if this deal happens, I will puke on any fans who start getting all "Oh, this short season will really bring out the best in everybody! It will be so exciting! I am just so happy to see the puck drop!" And I mean I will fly to Toronto, New York or Tampa Bay and eat some nasty, nasty food before puking like a broken water main on these imbeciles.
posted by billsaysthis at 10:03 PM on February 18, 2005
If this is all true, then great! This short season will really bring out the best in everybody! It will be so exciting! I will be so happy to see the puck drop!
posted by gspm at 10:27 PM on February 18, 2005
If there's no meaningful revenue sharing with this cap, then hockey will die in its struggling markets. I am not optimistic.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:35 PM on February 18, 2005
Please.
posted by 86 at 10:40 PM on February 18, 2005
Kill me now.
posted by alex_reno at 11:36 PM on February 18, 2005
Montreal, here I come. gspm, get your biggest bar of soap ready!
posted by billsaysthis at 11:41 PM on February 18, 2005
bill, I heard Gary Bettman saying it too. I've emailed you his home address.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 12:05 AM on February 19, 2005
Please let this be true. Please let there be a season. (Samsonov and others are overseas, and can't get back, due to their signing something something or whatever) Also, whatever. I've never been happier for being wrong. I'm punching myself in the face in happiness. Man, that hurt so good. Ouch, my face!
posted by Samsonov14 at 03:07 AM on February 19, 2005
Ow, my face! I can't believe that was for nothing.
posted by Samsonov14 at 03:13 AM on February 19, 2005
yerfatma: lbb, that's a brilliant analogy. However, let me ruin it by saying I would snipe in and have breakup sex with the NHL assuming season tickets dropped to like $49.95. Well. I would too. And that's exactly what it'd feel like. Yeeech, I feel so tainted now, just thinking about it. I'm gonna go boil myself in Lysol.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 09:05 AM on February 19, 2005
Wayne Gretzky did play a part in getting both sides talking again, however Mario Lemieux was the catalyst. Super Mario initiated talks Friday night and now Saturday we're awaiting an announcement declaring the season is un-canceled. Much like he saved the Penguins franchise in Pittsburgh, Mario helped save the NHL's 2004-2005 season.
posted by game-winner31 at 12:33 PM on February 19, 2005
Wayne's a good company man - always has been. Mario is the real iconoclast. He's been pissed at the League a thousand times - I see more of his fingerprints on this than Wayners.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 01:46 PM on February 19, 2005
According to The Score's ticker, talks have broken off for the day. No word on any agreements or whether any more talks are scheduled.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 03:30 PM on February 19, 2005
ESPN puts it as 6.5 hours "and got nowhere". sigh.
posted by gspm at 04:01 PM on February 19, 2005
"Saint Gretzky"? Puh-leeze. He was the jackass that got this whole fiasco started...
posted by docgonzo at 07:45 PM on February 19, 2005
Puh-leeze. He was the jackass that got this whole fiasco started... What? Are you suggesting it was his salaries that were the cause of the escalation?
posted by grum@work at 08:03 PM on February 19, 2005
I believe he might be referring to Gretzky being the reason the NHL ever got even a minor toehold in the U.S., thus leading to rampant and foolish expansion and the state of the league today.
posted by wfrazerjr at 10:21 PM on February 19, 2005
Closure.
posted by chicobangs at 09:35 AM on February 20, 2005
What wfrazerjr said. Oh, and the idea that "progress" for the NHL meant becoming a pan-North American league with more teams and a big US telly contract. Gretzky was supposed to be the standard bearer of the campaign into the sunshine states. It is no surprise that Bettman's "group of eight" -- the owners who are allegedly keeping a hard line, scuttling the last-minute talks and yesterday's post-last-minute talks -- are small-market owners from the south.
posted by docgonzo at 12:03 PM on February 20, 2005
It's Gretzky's fault he got traded? I think your vitriol is better aimed at one Bruce McNall, docgonzo.
posted by Succa at 01:08 PM on February 20, 2005
Those southern small-market owners will all be running Pontiac dealerships or Wal-Marts in 5 years. Bet your Tacks on it.
posted by chicobangs at 09:14 PM on February 22, 2005
Oh, sonofab-*click* (stomp, stomp - door closes - gets in car - drives away)