Sorry, everyone! I've sort of been slacking in updating this blog. I promise to make a better effort.
I started another hockey blog: goodnightandgoodhockey.blogspot.com
This doesn't mean that I'm going to stop pouring my Flyers heart out on this one, because I won't. It's just that I needed a new one to showcase my semi-professional work so now I have two.
Additionally, I have started covering the Washington Capitals for www.crashthecrease.com so you can check out my Caps work there.
And for those of you on twitter, I can be found at www.twitter.com/phillysunshine
If you have any questions or concerns, just post a comment or contact me via email or twitter.
And don't worry Flyers fans the turning tide is just around the corner. ;)
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Check - The Deal
I'll start off by apologizing if this takes a rather harsh tone....
I just finished the Deal article on the Coyotes, the NHL and Balsillie. Interesting that they chose to go the route they did...but then again I'll admit I'm not a regular reading this publication.
While the article did outline the economic gravity of the situation, it chose to focus on Balsillie's methods of attempting to acquire an NHL franchise 3 times. I actually find it slightly hard to comprehend why they chose to focus on painting him as the "big bad wolf" when they could have focused more on the situation at the heart of the matter which is the economic collapse of the Phoenix Coyotes. Balsillie did use rather suspect methods, and changed his position and had ulterior motives...I would like to remind you that it's business. This happens on a daily basis. Rich people do whatever they can in an attempt to get what they want. Welcome to the real world.
So Balsillie is the big bad wolf and Bettman is the saviour or so it is painted. I ask you: How does keeping a financial pitfall in an economically hostile environment help the NHL? It doesn't. It's just a pissing contest. Hell, it doesn't even help Phoenix in a long term capacity. What the issue really is, and why Bettman stepped in, is control. The NHL and Bettman want to ensure that they have the ultimate control over the location and ownership of the teams in their league. That's boiled down and that's stripped down to the core.
The problem? No one is taking into consideration what really matters: the longevity of the NHL. This is at great detriment to the league.
When the Phoenix Coyotes were moved to Glendale a pandora's box of problems opened. One that cannot readily be solved. Perhaps better business proposals could be hatched up, in time, but the fact of the matter is that the NHL does not have the economic resources to manage the Coyotes long-term.
By focusing on control, they chose to ignore the economic ramifications of FORCING the Coyotes to remain in Glendale. Sure you are keeping the jobs there, but at the expense of the league. Ticket prices across the league will increase to shoulder the burden of one struggling franchise....that is forcasted to LOSE $30MILLION a year if it does an outstanding job of running!!!!! Read that about ten times and really let it sink in.
Bettman and the NHL are willing to gamble the future of the entire league, just to maintain control.
The article also points out how certain franchises were pulled out of bankruptcy and now thrive. I ask you though, is that long-term? The Washington Capitals are located in what I consider a hockey-hostile environment. The Washingtonians aren't raised on hockey. They don't live and breathe it. They follow it because Alex Ovechkin has them winning. So what happens when he's gone? Because eventually all hockey players have to retire....you go back to $20 seats and being subsidized by something that is selling at the moment. How does this help the NHL? It doesn't.
It's poor business sense to keep teams in locations that cannot turn a profit. If you want the league to survive LONG-TERM, tough decisions need to be made. You cannot poor money into a money pit or it takes you down with it. The league is facing an impending lock-out, and ANOTHER bankrupt team IN ADDITION to the Coyotes. If Bettman keeps the route he has the NHL on, it won't survive the lock-out.
And I thank my lucky stars that I'm from a hockey city....and I'll lobby for us to join up with the Canadian teams when it all falls apart. Because in the end, the welfare teams aren't helping anyone.
I just finished the Deal article on the Coyotes, the NHL and Balsillie. Interesting that they chose to go the route they did...but then again I'll admit I'm not a regular reading this publication.
While the article did outline the economic gravity of the situation, it chose to focus on Balsillie's methods of attempting to acquire an NHL franchise 3 times. I actually find it slightly hard to comprehend why they chose to focus on painting him as the "big bad wolf" when they could have focused more on the situation at the heart of the matter which is the economic collapse of the Phoenix Coyotes. Balsillie did use rather suspect methods, and changed his position and had ulterior motives...I would like to remind you that it's business. This happens on a daily basis. Rich people do whatever they can in an attempt to get what they want. Welcome to the real world.
So Balsillie is the big bad wolf and Bettman is the saviour or so it is painted. I ask you: How does keeping a financial pitfall in an economically hostile environment help the NHL? It doesn't. It's just a pissing contest. Hell, it doesn't even help Phoenix in a long term capacity. What the issue really is, and why Bettman stepped in, is control. The NHL and Bettman want to ensure that they have the ultimate control over the location and ownership of the teams in their league. That's boiled down and that's stripped down to the core.
The problem? No one is taking into consideration what really matters: the longevity of the NHL. This is at great detriment to the league.
When the Phoenix Coyotes were moved to Glendale a pandora's box of problems opened. One that cannot readily be solved. Perhaps better business proposals could be hatched up, in time, but the fact of the matter is that the NHL does not have the economic resources to manage the Coyotes long-term.
By focusing on control, they chose to ignore the economic ramifications of FORCING the Coyotes to remain in Glendale. Sure you are keeping the jobs there, but at the expense of the league. Ticket prices across the league will increase to shoulder the burden of one struggling franchise....that is forcasted to LOSE $30MILLION a year if it does an outstanding job of running!!!!! Read that about ten times and really let it sink in.
Bettman and the NHL are willing to gamble the future of the entire league, just to maintain control.
The article also points out how certain franchises were pulled out of bankruptcy and now thrive. I ask you though, is that long-term? The Washington Capitals are located in what I consider a hockey-hostile environment. The Washingtonians aren't raised on hockey. They don't live and breathe it. They follow it because Alex Ovechkin has them winning. So what happens when he's gone? Because eventually all hockey players have to retire....you go back to $20 seats and being subsidized by something that is selling at the moment. How does this help the NHL? It doesn't.
It's poor business sense to keep teams in locations that cannot turn a profit. If you want the league to survive LONG-TERM, tough decisions need to be made. You cannot poor money into a money pit or it takes you down with it. The league is facing an impending lock-out, and ANOTHER bankrupt team IN ADDITION to the Coyotes. If Bettman keeps the route he has the NHL on, it won't survive the lock-out.
And I thank my lucky stars that I'm from a hockey city....and I'll lobby for us to join up with the Canadian teams when it all falls apart. Because in the end, the welfare teams aren't helping anyone.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Things that need to be said before tonight....
Ryan Parent and Danny Syvret look lost and are making lots of mistakes. The complaint is all over the boards. There really needs to be a veteran with them or you need to train them more with the veterans during practice. Right now they are being sold to the wolves and it isn't fair to either of them. They are becoming Matt Carle of last year.
Blair Betts. That is hard to swallow. The fact that he can't raise his arm for the MRI doesn't bode well for us at all. He's been stellar for us and we need him back sooner rather than later.
JVR. Sit him. We can't afford to take a chance. Make sure he's okay.
No call-ups? Are you kidding me? 3 games into the season and we're down 2 people. No call-ups? I'm not saying play call-ups I'm saying Homer wake up! One more injury to the front and we're play a D as a forward. Sit somebody that can help us if need be. Ross, Nodl, Kalinski...someone.
Three games in and we sit at the top of the NHL. It's yours to lose Flyers. Stand firm and defend it. By all means don't forget to bring it!
Sent on the go from my Peek
Blair Betts. That is hard to swallow. The fact that he can't raise his arm for the MRI doesn't bode well for us at all. He's been stellar for us and we need him back sooner rather than later.
JVR. Sit him. We can't afford to take a chance. Make sure he's okay.
No call-ups? Are you kidding me? 3 games into the season and we're down 2 people. No call-ups? I'm not saying play call-ups I'm saying Homer wake up! One more injury to the front and we're play a D as a forward. Sit somebody that can help us if need be. Ross, Nodl, Kalinski...someone.
Three games in and we sit at the top of the NHL. It's yours to lose Flyers. Stand firm and defend it. By all means don't forget to bring it!
Sent on the go from my Peek
Flyers v Caps
A great big thanks to everyone who came out to Union Jacks. It was great. Thanks for being clash acts. The best part however was the dead silence that overcame the bar for the OT win we got. Thank you Birthday Boy, Danny Briere! We owe you for that one!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tonight's viewing correction...
...due to the DirecTV/Versus disaster, tonight's get together has been relocated to Union Jack's at the Ballston Mall. It's an official Caps bar so this should be interesting. ;)
Friday, October 2, 2009
Today's the day...
...that we've all been waiting for. The puck drops tonight in Carolina to start off our season. I can't wait!
Boosh and Tolly start on injured reserve. That's not good for us. We don't have same day luxury call ups anymore so Backlund & Bourdon travel with the team. Bourdon instead of Marshall was an interesting choice. I guess it's good we are deep on D.
Speaking of D, we sent Sloane down to the ECHL. That stinks for him. He's down in Kalamazoo now. I was really looking forward to seeing him on the Phantoms.
Sinisalo was released. Maybe someday he'll come home too.
It will be nice to watch tonight and not scream "eye on the puck" @ the goalie on my computer monitor! I am frustrated that Giroux is on the third line. The boy is golden if you give him the chance. Burying him without Gagne or Briere doesn't make me happy. I wish it could be the Claude Giroux show every night.
Good luck to all the Flyers fans tonight! And her's to our boys bringing it!
Sent on the go from my Peek
Boosh and Tolly start on injured reserve. That's not good for us. We don't have same day luxury call ups anymore so Backlund & Bourdon travel with the team. Bourdon instead of Marshall was an interesting choice. I guess it's good we are deep on D.
Speaking of D, we sent Sloane down to the ECHL. That stinks for him. He's down in Kalamazoo now. I was really looking forward to seeing him on the Phantoms.
Sinisalo was released. Maybe someday he'll come home too.
It will be nice to watch tonight and not scream "eye on the puck" @ the goalie on my computer monitor! I am frustrated that Giroux is on the third line. The boy is golden if you give him the chance. Burying him without Gagne or Briere doesn't make me happy. I wish it could be the Claude Giroux show every night.
Good luck to all the Flyers fans tonight! And her's to our boys bringing it!
Sent on the go from my Peek
Thursday, October 1, 2009
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