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In NHL lockout, players may blink first
By Amaury Pi Gonzalez December 9, 2004 |
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SAN JOSE - Right now the best Christmas present for those who are really hockey fans would be if NHL commissioner Gary Bettman would call a press conference and let everyone know an agreement has been reached in the current lockout. People lose sight of the fans. The same thing happened in 1994 for hockey and baseball. Without the fans, there's no game. The fans are the ones who buy the Budweiser and the tickets to see hockey. So I want to take the side as a fan here, not like a media person. I don't care myself as a journalist and I could care less who wins in this dispute. I want the games to continue - that's what the sport is all about. If the NHL can say there's an agreement by the 25th of December, that would be the best Christmas present or gift for everybody in San Jose, the Sharks, and the administration. However, with every day that goes by and nothing happens, it's going to be almost impossible for these players to start the season. I'm remaining optimistic but as a pragmatist, some are saying there might not be hockey for a couple of years. That would be a disaster. When you have a work stoppage like this, no matter what the income level, the players are now starting to feel it in the wallet. The NHL owners control the frying pan by the handle, so to speak. They are the ones that have the last word. It gives me the feeling there are some cracks within the players and the players union. The NHLPA wants to settle before they lose the whole season. The players are always at a disadvantage when there's a strike. This might show there might be a little crack here and there from the players and the players might be coming to the table quicker than they anticipated. The main thing is the fans want to see the games played. It seems to me the players are getting to the point to say, "hey, let's go," because they're the ones missing the checks. When you're a seasonal broadcaster - I broadcast baseball and if baseball goes on strike I'm hung out to dry - you're on unemployment, because that's what I do for at least for half the year. I feel for the Sharks broadcasters - Dan Rusanowsky and Pete Stemkowski - and the guys who work in the front office. The San Jose Sharks have some of the best public relations people in the NHL or Bay Area with Kenny Arnold, Scott Emmert, and Roger Ross. It's sad for them. When you're a broadcaster - I know it I felt it when there was a baseball strike - I didn't have any insurance or any bananas to put in my Corn Flakes. I just didn't get paid. Amaury Pi Gonzalez works San Jose Sharks hockey between his baseball duties. Amaury co-hosts Sportstalk and chats with the crew about the NHL and can be heard on 1430 KVVN San Jose and KLIB 1110 Sacramento. |
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