Sunday Shots
Nice to have a game to feature for our Sunday Shots… click the link below to see the entire album.
Photos courtesy SlapShot Radio/DLM
Hockey was back last night at Bridgestone Arena as the home of the locked out Predators hosted an SPHL preseason game between the Huntsville Havoc and the Knoxville Ice Bears. The quality of hockey was surprisingly good and the game did feature a high entertainment factor for a minor league game, let alone a preseason one. For the second consecutive week, I observed a game that featured players playing for love of the game, playing for the chance to keep playing. It was quite refreshing. It also gives one pause as this lockout threatens to drag out even longer after last week’s Kabuki Theatre display between Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr. This is a well orchestrated dance, one that does need to be played out… but it does grow tiresome.
I’ve been very clear that I assign equal blame to each side for the labor situation that is underway. I will not play the same game some so-called journalists play in talking very clear sides and playing out their evident bias. Donald Fehr can continue to play the negotiation game, trying to spin everything possible but the bottom line is, the PA has agreed to a 50/50 split. Now Mr. Fehr seems to be trying to shift the discussion. The three proposals he presented last week were painfully clear… and did not address the key issues, no matter what spin he (or his press minions) try to get out there.
That being said, I will say that I absolutely agree with the PA when they demand that current contracts stay in place. Frankly, it is the player’s strongest argument and has become the point that a lot of fans use to throw their support behind the PA. It is simply crazy that some owners can sit across the table from the PA and ask for them to take a pay cut on existing salaries… especially after some of the insane money and terms that were thrown around by owners during this past summer. Owners like Ed Snider in Philly or Craig Leipold in Minnesota have been the poster boys for this and they deserve some of the scorn they have been receiving because of the reckless contracts that were made to UFA’s a few months back.
Again, to be fair to the PA, the third proposal does come close to achieving what needs to be done and does continue developing the framework of a deal. Publicly, the game needs to be played, I can only hope that both sides recognize privately that things are close to resolution - in theory...
Reality may be a much different story.
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Random Notes
- Some critics are so blinded by their hatred of Gary Bettman that they are trying to make a big deal of the NHL taking only 10-15 minutes to reject their proposals… including one that Donald Fehr admitted that he didn’t do the math on??? Oh… by all means… have the NHL take two days to review them, then come back and reject ‘em… that’s a better idea. SMH.
- The AHL is enjoying a five percent attendance bump over the first bit of their season.
- A big crowd in San Antonio last night as the Milwaukee Admirals dropped a 1-0 decision to the Rampage.
- I’ve said it before and I will say it again… Alex Ovechkin can stay in the KHL… these idle threats do nothing and make him sound silly.
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ROAD TRIP!!!! Update!
We are heading to the Lone Star State! SlapShot Radio will be road tripping to Dallas for the season finale on April 13th. We have made arrangements for tickets and are working on the other logistics, bus, hotel, etc... depending on the MLB Schedule, we may even try to catch a Rangers game!
Circle the date and join the SlapShot Radio crew for a road trip to Dallas... 4/13/13. More information to come!
We’ve got our tickets… to order yours please contact Group Sales Manager, Stormye Stevens at (214) 387-5635, mention you're with the SlapShot Radio Road Trip and she'll get you set up.
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link.
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On the next
SlapShot Radio
We are off this week due to broadcast conflicts. We will be back on Halloween night.
Click
here to download or listen to any of our previous season’s podcasts.
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