Richard Cloutier: Hockey is Fun, but It's No Game of Ball

This is your best blog. Ever.

Well said. This blog almost has a Hunter S. Thompson - Gonzo feel to it.

Well....time to draft 5'10 Yakupov!

You've explained "ball" before btw

Well....time to draft 5'10 Yakupov!

You've explained "ball" before btw
- Oil_Addict

I realize this, but it felt like tonight was a good time to bring it back. The NHL is what it is right now.

Richard Cloutier: Hockey is Fun, but It's No Game of Ball
- Maxbone

Wow.

Bravo my friend.

I realize this, but it felt like tonight was a good time to bring it back. The NHL is what it is right now.
- Maxbone

Yeah yeah, actually one of your better analogies to be honest. The league stops callin penalties the last 1/3 of the season well this is the result

thank you for the blog

maybe we can add razor sharp blades to the sticks to increase the entertainment value

Good blog, well written. I get nervous when too many people start criticizing violence in hockey...because the sport itself is rough and fighting is a part of it.
That being said, the cheap stuff has to go....the sport should be tough, but not dangerous unless you are afraid of a bloody nose.

I HATE boarding and cheap shots, but my fear is that in 5 years, everybody wears a visor and nobody fights. I'm scared about the pussification of our sport. There will be blood, and there should be....but it should be from a good old fashioned bloody nose and a pat on the bum.

I wonder how many people agree with me...I'm not a barbarian...just a hockey fan from the 80's and 90's. I wish I was old enough in the 70's to enjoy that glory.

I get nervous about every single player entering the league now having a visor. That spells the end for me, if every player has a visor and nobody fights. I could get into a college hockey game. I could, but there is the NHL..why would I? A college game doesn't have the allure of anything can happen, which is something the NHL has had from day 1. I'm afraid of losing it. It won't happen tomorrow, but that's why this discussion makes me nervous.

Richard Cloutier: Hockey is Fun, but It's No Game of Ball
- Maxbone

Good hard hockey plays...

Richard Cloutier: Hockey is Fun, but It's No Game of Ball
- Maxbone

You should care that Hossa got injured, because unless they do something about it, it'll happen to guys like The Nuge, Hall, Eberle, and Yakupov... It's a shame that talented players like those are at risk because of goons like Torres. If Torres was around in the 70's/80's, he would have snapped Gretzky's neck, and instead of the wonderful memories we have of greatness, we'd be left with a big bag of "what ifs?"... Don't get me wrong, I'm not against physical play... I'm against head-hunters like Torres. If Torres wants to do this sort of thing, maybe he should join the UFC (Where he would undoubtedly be killed.)

Anyway, I take your game of "Ball" and change it to "Possession." Basically the same game, but the first team to total 30 minutes and 1 second of possession, wins! This way each second means something.

Ratings are through the roof. It's compelling hockey.

I'm not sure where I stand, but I do know the consensus is partial to a more physical game.

Regardless, well written!

You should care that Hossa got injured, because unless they do something about it, it'll happen to guys like The Nuge, Hall, Eberle, and Yakupov... It's a shame that talented players like those are at risk because of goons like Torres. If Torres was around in the 70's/80's, he would have snapped Gretzky's neck, and instead of the wonderful memories we have of greatness, we'd be left with a big bag of "what ifs?"... Don't get me wrong, I'm not against physical play... I'm against head-hunters like Torres. If Torres wants to do this sort of thing, maybe he should join the UFC (Where he would undoubtedly be killed.)

Anyway, I take your game of "Ball" and change it to "Possession." Basically the same game, but the first team to total 30 minutes and 1 second of possession, wins! This way each second means something.
- laughs2907

Marty McSorley would not have let Torres near Gretz.

Ratings are through the roof. It's compelling hockey.

I'm not sure where I stand, but I do know the consensus is partial to a more physical game.

Regardless, well written!
- Travis Yost

Maybe they should split each period into four, five minute segments. First segment is for skilled, no BS hockey... Second segment is for stuff similar to what we're seeing in the Pens/Flyers series... Third segment is a naked battle royal between each team's cheerleaders (each team must have cheerleaders). Fourth segment is up to the home team. Repeat for a total of three periods, and there we have it.

Marty McSorley would not have let Torres near Gretz.
- BearNut

There's no way he would have been able to protect him every time... Torres would have slithered his way to Gretzky's neck.

Torres called it a "hockey play"

http://sports.yahoo.com/b...ockey-play-055621976.html

Ratings are through the roof. It's compelling hockey.

I'm not sure where I stand, but I do know the consensus is partial to a more physical game.

Regardless, well written!
- Travis Yost

Take the blinders off

the ratings are up 50% in the states? i presume that is what you are talking about.

it is not a true rating increase. I will grant you that the higher numbers are there but it has nothing at all to do with the hockey being played, or the style in which it is being played

I would direct you to the izod indy series which has just started the season it boast rating gains of 46% percent

The real reason for both of these sports ratings gains have more to do with them now being on the rebranded nbc sports network. truly they were on versus which had very little credibility. some papers were shuffled some stocks were traded and now both of these sports exist on the nbc sports property.

there is the most significant portion of the ratings increase.

both sports will boast of there new found ratings

There's no way he would have been able to protect him every time... Torres would have slithered his way to Gretzky's neck.
- laughs2907

back then the players understood why the fans showed up and it wasnt to see grezsky get hurt

Well Done Sir.

Thanks. It's been so grim in the NHL I thought everyone could use a laugh.

- kneughter

That Kesler sure is all over the place! The Flames player would probably get a penalty for "stealing thunder."

There's no way he would have been able to protect him every time... Torres would have slithered his way to Gretzky's neck.
- laughs2907

Maybe, but I have a different memory of games with Gretz in the 90's. Bodyguards...Orr never had such a luxury, hence the dropped gloves. You couldn't hit Gretz.

- kneughter

K... I find it funny that the cow is coming towards him, and yet he continues to drive on. I don't know about you, but whenever a cow is flying towards me, I slam on my breaks (that's what I do whenever my sister is flying towards me). Also, you can see a car pass by them when they show the driver/passengers.