Goodbye Brett Hull

Detroit loves hockey. No wait, I love hockey, Detroit loves winning; and as long as the hockey team wins, Detroit loves hockey. Unfortunately, Detroit (and every other major city) may be without hockey for quite a while.

As we know the collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners expires after these playoffs, and it doesn?t appear that a new deal is anywhere in sight. But what does that mean for us, the fan?

Regardless of what happens by the bargaining agreement, hockey as we know it is over. If it takes too long, interest in the game will fade, tv sales will slump, and owners will make even less money.

If it?s resolved too quickly somebody will have given in. Either tickets will rise, causing attendance to drop, ratings to drop and owners to lose money, or teams won?t be able to afford as many high priced players??? attendance drops, tv slumps, owners lose money.

Whatever happens, hockey doesn?t seem profitable anymore.

So long Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, Steve Yzerman, Chris Chelios and others (Boyd Devereoux, Mark Mowers, etc). We can?t afford you anymore.

What happened to the good old days? I remember when players had to PAY to have themselves put on a trading card. When it was an honor to be in a video game. Now, they demand millions for that right.

I?ll never forget when Martin Lapointe left Detroit after his breakout season. He left for $1million dollars more, but what good is 1 mil, when you already have 10 in the bank? Do you even notice it? Does it make a difference?

Hockey as we know it is over. It?s no longer about the love of the game anymore, and that?s sad, because Detroit loves winning, and if there?s a lockout nobody will win.

May 4th, 2005