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NHL meeting spells countdown for season
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez January 20, 2005 |
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MIAMI--Yesterday's meeting between the NHLPA and management is the last ditch effort by both sides to save the 2004-05 season. If the two sides miraculously come to some kind of an agreement they would move the information forward to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA director Bob Goodenow. If all goes well at the top then they will begin skating January 24th and open the 2005 NHL season on Febuary 1st. It would be a 30-game schedule if all goes to plan, that is if they get an agreement. One of the hot issues still remains the salary cap and NHL Player Representative Trevor Linden says, "We're not giving up the salary cap coming into this meeting, but we should come to some agreement fast even if it means signing on for just 2005 and play just 30 games." We're already in the middle of January and the NHL season, which has no drop dead date, is turning the corner on time and they have to settle it this week. So maybe they can drop the puck and start practicing by January 24 and open up Feb 1. Otherwise, there's no season and I agree that Bettman and Goodenow shouldn't have been at yesterday's meeting -- it might be more of a distraction, and let's see if the other people can get their heads together. But this is do or die for the NHL. This could be the most important week in the history of the NHL, not only this week or 2006. This week, as we speak here in the middle of January, could easily be the week that makes or breaks the NHL. Lets just say for the sake of argument that they cancel the NHL season. They're talking about at least two years and that could just completely fold the NHL. So this is it. The next seven days will determine to see if we have hockey or we don't have hockey. However, the curious thing about it, and I hate say it but its true, nobody's missing hockey. The NHL has fans of which those are very loyal, especially to the Sharks, who draw 17,000 and almost sells out every night back in San Jose, but nobody's missing hockey. People are already interested in something else, like he playoffs in the NFL, and then after the end of this month, Spring Training for MLB, and then the NBA will have its playoffs in April. So the NHL is in danger of completely disappearing and going into oblivion and this is the week it happens if they don't solve it. I think not only this season is lost, but the future history of the NHL is in jeopardy. Yes it would be over, unfortunately. I mean here's a league that when the Sharks came about in 1991, I remember the first game at the Cow Palace and the enthusiasm for hockey was back in the Bay area because years before, hockey was in Oakland when Charlie Finley owned the California Golden Seals. The NHL did have a good TV contract with ABC/ESPN, now TV can care less and it would be unfortunate if hockey disappears from the face of the earth, at least the NHL. In Canada the AHL is doing well for hockey hungry fans, but they seem to get by without the NHL. Some of the players now have moved onto to Europe and Canada. What are they going to do? There is no hockey in South America, there is no ice down there -- it's 85 degrees everyday. They have to play in Europe, where they don't make the money they make here. I hope whichever party prevails this week, but iif a deal isn't struck, t will be unfortunate especially here in the Bay area. Let's face it -- the Sharks have good following. I know it's hockey. it's not baseball or football but they have a great, enthusiastic crowd every night. The fans love the Sharks, the Sharks have a good marketing program -- they reached to the community and they're doing good things for San Jose. Without the Sharks and hockey, the city will loose money and restaurants, tourism, hotels, everything is going down the drain. So it would be unfortunate if they don't settle this after the Sharks looked so good. I remember this, and I remember when the Sharks started and there was much optimism. The teal and the colors and the uniforms and Owen Nolan was one of the first captains, Aturs Irbe and his "like wall" statement, and people writing about the Sharks and a lot of people have learned about the game. I lived on the East Coast and I'm not deep into hockey, and a lot of people -- even the media people -- they learn more about hockey because on the West Coast, hockey is not the sport it is mostly in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. However we grew up with the Sharks, I feel sorry, and it would be unfortunate if the season is lost. Let's hope for the best. Amaury Pi Gonzalez is a co-host on Sportstalk Radio, heard on KVVN 1430 San Jose and KLIB 1110 Sacramento. Amaury also does the play by play for Mariners and Giants Spanish radio. |
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