Posted on 05/29/2009 10:52:55 AM PDT by shove_it
Detroit Free Press - link only
http://www.freep.com/article/20090529/COL01/905290355
Albom is spot on. The NHL and NBC screw up big time.
Preparing their excuses?
If the NHL were more popular, they could dictate to TV. As it is, they are bacisally begging NBC for coverage. As such they will play according to NBC’s schedule.
Waiting more than a week (10 days for the Penguins) to start the final round would have been ridiculous.
What if the Wings/Hawks series went seven games?
When was the last time you’ve seen two NHL finals games on consecutive nights?
Back to back games in the playoffs is unheard of. Plain and simple. The could have started the series on Tuesday night on ESPN or even FOX. Most shows are done for the year anyway.
The NHL has been completely mismanaged in trying to put teams in places like Phoenix. Hockey is not a southern sport — imagine that, a sport played on ice not popular in the south. Go figure. Same with NBC. Who knows what’s going through Bettman’s mind.
So what if it went seven games? Both teams are in the same predicament. It is only the opening two games that are back-to-back. The rest of the games have ample resting time between them.
Don't tell that to the Penguins and Capitals who played such games this year.
The could have started the series on Tuesday night on ESPN or even FOX. Most shows are done for the year anyway.
Their contract is with NBC. They would frown on televising games on another network.
BUT - without saying that NBC/NHL is justified in moving the finals up to this weekend - what the h*ll is the NHL doing playing hockey games in June!?!?
Not only does that just "feel" wrong - watching hockey at home with in shorts and a T-Shirt with the fan running full blast due to the heat - but it leads to soft ice, which affects the play. That's especially true in the last period or overtime, when players are exhausted as it is.
They still play hockey? I stopped watching after the last strike/no Stanley Cup year...that did it for me.
Once upon a time, there was no “advance schedule” for playoff games. When both teams finished up their respective series, they were expected to square off a couple of days later. It was only when they were tied to a TV schedule that this changed, leaving potentially long lulls in the playoff schedule at various points.
So, no, I don’t have any “sympathy” for the players in this regard. The league and NBC are doing the best they can (in their opinion, which could be incorrect, of course) to try and make money, which will help the future of the sport. Truth is, right now the NHL doesn’t draw a high enough share to replace post-sweeps weeknight TV. It’s sad, but that’s not entirely NBC’s fault (one could make the argument that they need to make a stronger regular-season and playoff commitment on weekends, at least, but that’s another issue.)
The Penguins have played more games than the Red Wings (17 vs. 16), and have the extra day’s rest only because they managed to win their conference final in 4 games, as opposed to Detroit needing 5. But I haven’t heard any complaints from Pittsburgh about the shortened schedule — of course, that stands to reason as they are extremely hot right now and would prefer to not have a long layoff.
That was an amazing article, no? He even managed to take a swipe at Sid because, well, its just too easy.
The poor put upon Wings, boo freakin' hoo!
Its funny but I've never seen the defending champs crying before a series even begins
It's that damn Crosby I tell ya!
Then NBC could have staggered the games. There isn’t one show on NBC Primetime that would pull in higher ratings than the Cup.
That’s nothing. Two weeks ago, the Caps hometeam advantage against the Pens was wiped out because they had to play on Saturday after a Friday game, so that they would not interfere with a YANNI concert on Sunday!
And the Caps are almost on par with teh Deadskins in DC.
Yet, the stoke ‘n’ choke Nats get prime time, weekend time, anytime.
NBC = (If it’s) Not Baseball, Can (it)
Wow, you snarky Penguin fans have a short memory don’t you?
Go WANGS!
Southern Detroit supporter.
The Wings are the Champs, they should just shut up and play.
WHo took the cheap shot? Blame Albom, not the Wings.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.