05.04.09 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: THE BEST IN ANY SPORT
One of the biggest arguments against an elimination-style playoff in Division I-A football is that allowing more teams to compete for the national championship devalues the regular season. It’s also one of the best arguments–for that sport, anyway. That wouldn’t fly with the NHL, whose regular season is so worthless that you could start the playoffs in October with a really big bracket that pulled the “season” into mid-April and the product would be better off. Because the Stanley Cup Playoffs kick ass.
ASYLUM POLL: NHL vs. NBA — Who has the more entertaining playoffs?
And I hate saying that, because Gary Bettman has really burned every hardcore hockey fan they ever had. After the lockout, the cancellation of the 2005 season, the changing of the home-team-wears-white rule, realignment, renaming the divisions, overexpansion, their hypocritical position on fighting, ridiculous contracts, and the constant whoring of the game to the fairweather American, the only thing that really remains intact from the Ziegler era is the race to Lord Stanley’s Cup. It’s best-of-seven, and if the game’s tied at regulation, next goal wins.
It’s that simple, sudden-death premise that makes the playoffs so much better than the regular season. And you bet your ass it is sudden. Ask Chris Osgood, who let the game-winner fly over his left shoulder just after the start of the third overtime in Game 2 of the Wings-Ducks conference semifinal yesterday. At one point, you’re there, waiting to see which side will prevail. Then you blink, and it’s over.
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STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS: THE BEST IN ANY SPORT
“Then you blink, and it’s over.”
Kinda like my love-making (where “sudden death” is also a very real possibility.)
I agree with everything bad you said about Bettman except the home team wears white rule. Originally the home team wore dark jerseys in the NHL. 1970 they switched to the white at home set up. So for once, Betmann is actually going back to NHL history by having the home team wear dark colors. After all, why else would the Rangers be called the Blueshirts? Its not a recent nickname. Dont believe me? Wiki NY Rangers and check the picture taken of the 32-33 Rangers. Dark colors. What team poses for its picture with its away unis?
But you are correct in every other aspect of how Bettman has ruined the NHL.
Goddamnit. Hugh B beat me to it.
Damn, punter, is it possible for you deep-throat an event any more?
Hmmm, watching NBA TV, er I mean ESPN, I wouldn’t even know that the NHL Playoffs were going on.
I am happy about this recent turn of events regarding hockey love round these parts. Once you start googling “sexy hockey girl” I bet we will see even MORE hockey posts.
Hockey is a great sport no matter what color the jerseys are or the names of the Divisions or if there are teams in Phoenix and Raleigh.
There are plenty of legitimate gripes to have with Bettman. Stop nitpicking crap.
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