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Who The Hell Is Running This League?
by IwoCPO on 01/22/08 at 09:51 PM ET
Comments (42)
Updated 23 Jan to include quote from Niedermayer
The NHL is a laughingstock in the US and too many of us continue to throw up our hands and wonder why. A lockout that accomplished nothing, other than alienating millions who needed a reason not to watch hockey. A TV contract (renewed for three years today) with a network half the US doesn’t receive, a network that actually employs the likes of Brian Engblom and Keith Jones as their “experts”, not to mention Joe Beninati (spelling? Don’t care) as its primary play-by-play voice--a guy who’s a joke even in his hometown.
Shootouts that have become a farce, parlor tricks for the idiotic. A pathetic schedule, Dominique Wilkens judging all-star shootout competitions, hockey in Miami and Nashville and a second-string Cleveland Brown quarterback with more time in tv ads than Sidney Crosby.
All that evidence of absolute ineptitude at the top and now this…
Scott Niedermayer is going to Atlanta.
After 17 games.
You’ve got to be effing kidding me.
There’s no question Niedermayer is a sublime defenseman, but he doesn’t merit this selection. Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski, meanwhile, is the second-leading scorer in the NHL among defensemen (behind Nicklas Lidstrom), with eight goals, 33 assists, 41 points and a plus-14 rating in 49 games.
I don’t really understand what “sublime” means. Never taken the time to dig too deeply into that one. I don’t like the way it sounds and I’m pretty sure I don’t like a hockey player being referred to in that way. But I don’t care what the hell it means. I do know this: what an absolute joke. What a complete, utter, pathetic example of a league without direction and a complete lack of any common sense.
Yeah, St. James points out Rafalski and you know we’re all partial...but there are twenty defensemen who have earned that spot before the guy who decided to take half a year off, hamstring his team...oh, and a “captain” to boot. I can’t even finish a sentence. I’m going all Babcock.
17 games and you’re an all star? If Niedermayer had any sack whatsoever, he’d turn it down...let a kid like Hainsey from Columbus go in his place.
Woops. Guess not.
“What comes around goes around?” Niedermayer asked. “It’s a little bit of a surprise, just with the way the year has gone, but I’ve been around awhile, and I guess that counts for something, too. I’m looking forward to it. These things are always fun.”
Yeah...a little bit of a surprise, “just the way the year has gone...”. Yep. Little bit of a surprise that a league already floundering to maintain it’s loose grip on the 9 spot in the average American’s list of favorite sports would even consider this idea.
But hey, if you’re The League, you’re probably thinking nobody’s going to watch the damn thing anyway.
The NHL All Star Game. In Atlanta, Georgia. On Versus. Both starting goalies healthy but staying home. And a defenseman who held his team hostage for six months, plays 17 games and receives an invite because in his words being around a while “counts for something too.”
Jesus Gary. You really are an ass.
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Comments
Ken and Larry just said that Raffy was asked to go to Atlanta and declined because he already had a trip with his family planned.
Still no reason for Niedermayer to go.
Posted by Clark on 01/22/08 at 10:37 PM ET
I was so distracted today that it didn’t even register that Niedermeyer was named as a replacement, even though I read it. I’d say this is a joke, but that’s an insult to humor.
Remember when Schneider got the red-hot shaft when the Game was in Minnesota (03-04)? Some guy named Kuba was named instead, so that the Wild got a representative. That was the year Schneider finished high in Norris voting.
That was an insult. This is obscene.
Is it me wearing red-colored glasses (or a tin-foil hat) to suspect that the snub was due to the fact that the League doesn’t want too many Wings on the team, despite the fact that they are the class of the NHL this season? Even with Zetteberg sitting out, there will be *gasp* two skaters, one goalie, and a coach.
But hey, it’s okay to have four Ducks on the roster.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 01/22/08 at 10:59 PM ET
I would have loved to see Tomas Holmstrom camp out in front of goaltenders in a “no-contact” game, but that’s just me.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/22/08 at 11:05 PM ET
Clark, thanks. If that’s true, my comment is an obvious overreaction. But, as you say, there’s still no reason for Niedermeyer to go and it remains a terrible decision by the League.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 01/22/08 at 11:10 PM ET
Dumb game. Dumb that Neidermayer is going WTF is Versus? (!!!)
Posted by Ryan Lake from da puddle on 01/22/08 at 11:20 PM ET
FYI, we are chatting during the game if you can stay awake.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/22/08 at 11:26 PM ET
I agree Iwo, he should pass and let a younger more deserving D-man to go. If he doesn’t he has lost all respect.
Posted by Sp4r7an on 01/22/08 at 11:32 PM ET
I don’t see why everyone’s so mad. Those 17 games of Neidermayer’s were simply sublime, right?
Considering most people who actually watch the NHL only catch about 3 games a year anymore, a guy only playing a third of the games shouldn’t be that big of a deal.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 01/23/08 at 04:49 AM ET
Here’s your headline, Chief:
DUMB JOKE GETS DUMBER
Apply that to whatever you want-- the annual farce of the ASG, the way the League is managed, Niedermayer’s supposed ‘good qualities,’ whatever. Me, I’ll have a busy Sunday night drinking. And washing my hair.
Miss you all since the Liveblogs moved to chat.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the other side of Cynical on 01/23/08 at 05:29 AM ET
hmmm…
1. Characterized by nobility; majestic.
2.a. Of high spiritual, moral, or intellectual worth.
2.b. Not to be excelled; supreme.
3. Inspiring awe; impressive.
4. Archaic. Raised aloft; set high.
5. Obsolete. Of lofty appearance or bearing; haughty: “not terrible,/That I should fear . . . /But solemn and sublime” (John Milton).
Nope. Still doesn’t make sense. I think he picked the wrong page in his word-a-day calendar.
Although to be fair he isn’t eh captain of the team. That would be Mr. Pronger.
(Maybe the league wanted to showcase the defending Stanley Cup champions at the game.)
There was a blog post on sportsnet.com that asked the question “is it an all-star game if the all-stars aren’t there?” Maybe they should just announce the teams selected by the fans give them nice plaques, and let everyone have a few days off to recover for the last bit of the season.
I’m still flabbergasted that Evgeni Malkin had to get in as a replacement selection. That kid is a much a no-brainer as Ovechkin.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/08 at 08:23 AM ET
I’ll grant you that it’s a shocker that Scotty got named, but I’m not sure the right response is that he pass up the nomination—I think that’s becoming way too prevalent these days.
Yeah, blame the league for being stupid and the ASG for being meaningless, and blame Scott for his self-chosen unworthiness, but once the invite has been offered, I think it’s the right move for any player, deserving or otherwise, to accept (or offer a damn compelling reason otherwise).
Scott skipping the ASG might send the right message to some (he knows he doesn’t merit it), but I think it would reinforce the wrong message to most (he’s got better things to do). I can’t get too mad at Scott for accepting; this is what NHL ambassadors do, and I can’t say that it’s the wrong response.
Posted by Earl Sleek on 01/23/08 at 09:06 AM ET
Who the hell is running this league? Good Question.
Well, Bettman just re-signed Versus for several more years....
On the other hand, Paul Kelly, head of the NHLPA, negotiated the transfer deal with the Russians, and he is pushing for an NHL expansion to… Canada!
Maybe Kelly should run the whole show?
Posted by w2j2 on 01/23/08 at 10:07 AM ET
I agree with Earl - so many guys have backed out, for injury or family reasons, that S. Niedermeyer didn’t really have any other option once asked.
The all-star game is light on talent as it is - he shouldn’t have been asked, but at least he is a recognizable name and a star in the league (most years) and healthy enough to play.
Unfortunate situation all around, I guess.
(I think the word he might have been going for was “consummate” (supremely accomplished or skilled) instead of “sublime” now that I think about it.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/08 at 11:34 AM ET
I can’t get too mad at Scott for accepting; this is what NHL ambassadors do, and I can’t say that it’s the wrong response.
Sorry, Earl, but I have to completely disagree with you...not the part about “this is what ambassadors do...” but the inference that Niedermayer is an “ambassador” for the game these days. The guy screwed his team by making a no-decision decision at the start of the season and then he sat on his lazy butt for four months resting his aged 34-year-old body for the grind of the final half of the season.
Scott Niedermayer isn’t even close to being an “ambassador” for the sport of hockey. The only thing he’s an ambassador for is one of the very worst qualities in any human being (athlete, politician, factory worker, etc.)...pure selfishness.
As I said in another thread, I hope they boo the prima donna every time he steps on the ice.
Or maybe Nick Jr. can settle it all tonight by simply flattening him with a nice bone-crushing open-ice hit.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 01/23/08 at 11:57 AM ET
...so many guys have backed out, for injury or family reasons, that S. Niedermeyer didn’t really have any other option once asked.
It’s very seldom that I disagree with you, Baroque, but I think you’re dead wrong here. All Niedermayer had to do was say, “I want to thank the League for this honor, but I feel there are others who have played more this year who deserve to go. Next year, I hope to earn my way onto the team with a full season’s effort.” Something like that would have raised his “integrity quotient” exponentially.
As for selecting him because he’s a “name”, I’m shocked, shocked I tell you, that you’d take that stance. After all, you’re supposed to be the voice of reason here...the person who looks beyond the superficial stuff and sees what’s fair and what’s not. And Niedermayer going to the ASG is definitely not fair. It’s not fair to the players who’ve worked their butts off all season and it’s not fair to the fans who voted for some of those players.
I still say Niedermayer’s selection is a really bad message to send to young people. It says, “You don’t have to give your all for your team/friends/family. You can just stand back while they struggle and then you can come in at the last minute and not only be their ‘saviour’ but you’ll get recognized as an ‘all star’ just because of who you were in the past.”
Nope. That’s not a good message at all!
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 01/23/08 at 12:14 PM ET
I really don’t see why there is all this negative reaction when all that is necessary is “don’t watch”.
It’s basically a popularity contest for the players and I haven’t watched the ASG for years.
Posted by Ted from Innisfil, Ontario on 01/23/08 at 12:14 PM ET
Well, OlderThanChelios, I guess we’ll just disagree. I’m with you fully on the awfulness of the selection, but I guess you are more ready to spit on Niedermayer than I am.
The way players skip out on this contest, I think the ambassador move is to accept and play the game, and the selfish move is to take the weekend off. Whether or not you feel that Niedermayer deserves this ambassador label, I’m still supportive that he cares enough to play in the least meaningful game of the year (and doesn’t take the first opportunity to skip it).
Call him selfish for taking his early-season leave; call the league stupid for giving him an all-star nod. But if you think it’s better that players ignore their selections for whatever reason, I can’t agree.
Posted by Earl Sleek on 01/23/08 at 12:32 PM ET
I’m sure there were years when Niedermayer was passed over by less deserving players. It simply does not bother me at all because I treat the All Star Break as my winter vacation from hockey. I will continue to do so until the players select the AllStars.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 01/23/08 at 12:42 PM ET
One other thing,
I think this thread has just paved the highway for Scotty to drive away in (Ozzie’s) MVP truck.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 01/23/08 at 12:54 PM ET
I can’t believe this post generated more haterade for Niedermeyerwiener than for LittleGary!!!
I fear we’re missing the point. The Needhermeijer thing is just another in a littany of stupid things Gary does to jerk the chains of the 300 of us who still actually follow what he’s left us of his ‘league’ (of gentlemen owners).
The 3 year extension with VS??? That’s akin to sending Dr. Kevorkian to check on a loved one with two broken legs: not ready to die, but too injured to run for their life. And LittleGary sends Dr. Death to the patient’s aid… brilliant!
Can we somehow get Kevin Allen to write a scathing column on this??? There should be an uproar over this lunacy. Everyone seems to agree that the nhl needs espn WAY more than espn needs the nhl. If we have to pay them to get on, so be it. Outside of LittleGary’s LittleCranium, it’s been accepted that the league needs espns exposure. What exactly is in said LittleCranium anyway!?!?!
AARRGGHH! And @#%*&*&%#^@!!! you LittleGary
Or maybe I’m over-reacting because VS isn’t one of my 75 channels of nothing on (apologies to Springsteen)…
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 01/23/08 at 01:16 PM ET
I probably shouldn’t even have commented on it because I don’t even watch all-star games (any sport).
They don’t count as wins in the standings and I have no desire to see a player I want to be healthy have some bizzare injury - like a blown knee because he tripped over a squirrel that ran out onto the ice.
I guess I don’t worry about selecting names because it isn’t a real game. I don’t really care too much about it one way or another, actually.
What exactly is in said LittleCranium anyway!?!?!
Styrofoam packing peanuts?
Extra-virgin olive oil?
Shredded Enron files?
Anybody have any other ideas? 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/08 at 01:36 PM ET
1. Iwo’s right. Gary really is an ass.
2. If it’s true that the league invited Rafalski and was turned down, as reported during last night’s game, then the whole premise that Niedermayer would be sending a message of any kind by turning down the invite is out the window.
The league didn’t just announce that Rafalski was selected only to have Brian follow with a public rejection of the invite… they must have asked him before any announcement. Same with Niedermayer, I presume, and he could have easily turned it down for feeling he was undeserving — which it sounds like he does based on his comments — and the league could have moved on to someone more deserving before going public.
So shame on the league for a moronic choice and shame on Niedermayer for, IMHO, a greedy and classless acceptance.
3. Iwo’s right. Gary really is an ass. Oh. My bad.
Posted by BobTheZee on 01/23/08 at 01:53 PM ET
Even if there’s no announcement, I still think Rafalski sent a message about his priorities. Niedermayer would do the same, I think, and I’d rather hear about players who accepted their nominations than tried to determine on their own whether they were the right person to call or not.
If Pronger or Lidstrom decided other defensemen belonged in the game and decided to pass, we’d call their actions “selfish”. I don’t know that the same term applies to someone for accepting the league’s call.
Whatever, though. I fully expect Babcock to run the Duck d-men ragged, as much as he can get away with it.
Posted by Earl Sleek on 01/23/08 at 02:36 PM ET
While I totally agree that:
A.) Gary really is an ass
B.) Niedermayer (dead!) should not have been selected for the ASG
I have to take issue with the Vs. situation. First, I need to point out that I get FSN Detroit, Vs. and the NHL Network on cable, so I know I’m spoiled.
That being said, however, I’m pretty sure that I read recently that Vs. is getting ratings at or near the same level as ESPN 2 was prior to telling the NHL to go #@!$&*#@ itself. If that’s true, it’s not too shabby given the network’s relatively small reach. It logically follows that ratings would be even higher if Vs. were in more homes. So, if you don’t currently get Vs. but want it, you should be calling and emailing your local cable/satellite provider and raising hell.
In addition, since Vs.—unlike NBC or Disney/ESPN—is willing to pay for the right to broadcast games, the NHL would be foolish to pass up millions in revenue. Finally, from the reports that I’ve seen, there is still a decent possibility that the league may end up back on ESPN 2 for some games next season.
BTW—In case anyone thinks I’m making death threats against anybody, please understand that it’s just an Animal House reference. It pops into my head whenever I hear Scott and Rob’s last name.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 01/23/08 at 02:39 PM ET
I fully expect Babcock to run the Duck d-men ragged, as much as he can get away with it.
Really? I’m guessing it would get in Pronger’s head more to be benched. Not that Coach Babcock could ever be accused of playing head games. 
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 01/23/08 at 02:43 PM ET
YZ: I hear your point, but it’s not just about game ratings (though that would be nice). It’s about exposure. Goofy ESPN spots that end up on YouTube, bumper ads for specific games featuring stars of said game, an actual presence on SC that doesn’t have to begged for by Bucci - it’s all exposure that ‘average US sports fans’ don’t happenstance their way into on VS. Because they don’t watch bullriding or bullriding isn’t available with their cable carrier.
And who’s to say the ratings wouldn’t be higher on ESPN than VS? Like ‘em or hate ‘em, the nhl made a LOT of changes coming into the cap-era in an attempt to make the game more exciting and draw more fans. You can’t say that the VS ratings are a product of the VS footprint or broadcast quality any more than I can say it was the nhl’s genius plan (holy cow, what an oxymoronic thing that is).
FWIW: I have petitioned my cable carrier (WOW) for years, and it’s pretty simple: their competitor owns VS and they aren’t offering it on their analog basic. Period. I tried Comcrap for about 6 months and I ain’t going back to that. Period. I get BTN and zero tv/internet outtages. I lose VS. My choice I guess, but the ‘average joe sports fan’ isn’t going to switch networks so they can ‘bump into’ nhl exposure on VS while they watch bullriding.
I still believe that extending the VS deal instead of going back to ESPN with hat in hand was a colossally horrible strategic decision based on nothing but the contents of the LittleCranium.
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 01/23/08 at 02:54 PM ET
Don’t trust Versus on that ratings thing…
Ratings come from major markets, not hockey markets.
And
They mention ESPN2, and fail to mention that ESPN1 also covered some games. What is missing with the Versus contract is the huge International Audience that ESPN has.
I am in favor of just giving ESPN the rights to all W/conf games. Versus avoids those, as if it were the black plague.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 01/23/08 at 03:00 PM ET
S. Niedermeyer didn’t really have any other option once asked.
He could have “retired” for 3 or 4 days and then come back.....again. His anointment is so absurd on so many levels from the NHL brass on down to his own selfish needs. There are many other deserving players that would have looked upon this as an honor. Now the All Star event becomes the joke that we all know it to be.
Jeez, if your looking for an “Ambassador” send Chelios...after he is the oldest player in the NHL. (I heard that somewhere) and he has 17 games in this season.
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 01/23/08 at 03:31 PM ET
“Jeez, if your looking for an “Ambassador” send Chelios...”
Yeah, I’d be cool with that. I’m not trying to defend anybody’s choice of Niedermayer (that’s pretty indefensible); I’m just saying that it’s not deplorable to accept an All-Star invite once asked.
Hell, if you want the ASG spots so bad, take ‘em. I guess what’s ironic in this is that I think there are four more Ducks on the roster than what I’d prefer; I’d rather they all had the weekend off.
Posted by Earl Sleek on 01/23/08 at 04:07 PM ET
A little bird just told me that Gary has Teemu on a plane for Hot’Lanta, should injury befall another Western Allstar (e5)
Posted by dougie on 01/23/08 at 04:23 PM ET
I agree with Earl completely. And sorry, but as much as I love Chelly, he doesn’t have enough of the skill left to warrant it, 17 games, less, or more, whatever the case may be…
What doesn’t make much sense is that Kronner didn’t get a call. He has the best credentials of all the remaining d-men in the West that weren’t picked after Rafalski turned down the invite. Only a couple d-men that aren’t at the game have more points than him, but their +/- ratings are far worse. He’s finally had a healthy year (knock on wood), and he’s showing that he has the ability to be right there with the likes of Phaneuf and Weber going forward.
Posted by Nathan on 01/23/08 at 04:37 PM ET
Wow, this is depressing. Another three years of Vs. Does anyone in the NHL management have any common sense? Sigh. We all know the answer to that one. I could do a better job taking care of this sport than they do. I really feel sometimes that they are trying to kill the NHL. I don’t know how else you can see the Vs decision and some of the other decisions that are made. Can we just cancel the ASG and instead have two games a year against the Eastern Conference teams?
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 01/23/08 at 06:00 PM ET
anybody know how much the ESPN companies offered the NHL for the TV contract? What if they low balled the NHL and Vs was the only network to pony up the most bucks?
All I’m saying is if we aren’t in the offices, how do we know what went on? unless all this information is public available…
Either way, I agree, Gary is an ass.
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 01/23/08 at 06:50 PM ET
I’d rather they all had the weekend off.
Hey, Earl, we sure agree on this part, at least. I’d much prefer the Wings’ Atlanta-bound had the weekend off, too.
And I guess I can acknowledge your point about it not being deplorable to accept an all-star invite. I don’t see it exactly that way, but I s’pose I can’t expect that everyone else would see it the same way I do.
Oh, and one more thing… in search of common ground: Gary really is an ass. Are we agreed on that, too???
Posted by BobTheZee on 01/24/08 at 01:47 AM ET
Of course Bettman wants to get Niedermeyer into the All Star game to increase viewership in that great Orange County TV market, such a hockey hotbed. Bettman is a tool.
Posted by RWBill from the Capital of the Confederacy. on 01/26/08 at 04:06 PM ET
Idiots are running this league, clearly. All Star breakaway competition...and no Datsyuk.
F’ing morons.
Posted by Paul from Miami Beach, FL on 01/26/08 at 08:50 PM ET
Oh, and I’m quite fond of the graphics explaining each event, that are too big for the screen and look like 10 year old did them.
And the player mics they can’t seem to make work.
Sheesh. What an embarrassment.
Posted by Paul from Miami Beach, FL on 01/26/08 at 08:51 PM ET
OK, so they had Pavel in the “style” breakaway competition.
Too bad he disappointed. WTF do Wings always disappoint at the All Star game? I’ll be watching tomorrow. If by the middle of the first period Pavel doesn’t have a sweet goal I’m turning it off.
Granted, it was nice seeming him hit 4-for-4 on that “shoot over the barrier into the little net” thing. But for him, that’s easy.
Posted by Paul from Miami Beach, FL on 01/27/08 at 12:57 AM ET
Paul,
I was disappointed by Pavel’s showing too, but I don’t think he’s the kind of guy to just conjure up something crazy. He does that kind of stuff much more easily in the heat of the game. That’s why he can score a great goal in regulation or overtime, but has been having trouble in the shootout.
Or at least that’s my theory.
Fortunately, failing to impress in the breakaway challenge doesn’t detract from a player’s known ability.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 01/27/08 at 09:42 AM ET
Wow I went on quite the rant last night over the skills competition. I shouldn’t have taken it out on Pavel...my frustration is with the league. Yet another poor job of production, IMO. It just always has the feel of a high school track meet or something.
Posted by Paul from Miami Beach, FL on 01/27/08 at 01:48 PM ET
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