Help an NHL player (off-topic)

[ref18]

Well, now that we don't have any hockey, the NHL players need all the help they can get

This was sent to me by one of my assignors, and I thought it was pretty good.

We need to pull together. Since September 11, 2001, Americans and
Canadians have come together as never before in our generation. We have
banded together to overcome tremendous adversity. We have weathered
direct attacks on our own soil, wars overseas, corporate/government
scandal, layoffs, unemployment,stock price plunges, droughts, fires, mad
cow, SARS, high gasoline prices, and a myriad of economic and physical
disasters both great and small. But now, we must come together once
again to overcome our greatest challenge yet.

Hundreds of Professional Hockey players in our very own nation are going
to be locked out, living at well below the seven-figure salary level.
And as if that weren't bad enough they could be deprived of their life
giving pay for several months, possibly longer, as a result of the
upcoming lockout situation. But you can help!

For only $20,835 a month, about $694.50 a day (that's less than the cost
of a large screen projection TV) you can help an NHL player remain
economically viable during his time of need. This contribution by no
means solves the problem as it barely covers the annual minimum salary,
but it's a start, and every little bit will help!

Although $700 may not seem like a lot of money to you, to a hockey
player it could mean the difference between spending the lockout golfing
in Florida or on a Mediterranean cruise. For you, seven hundred dollars
is nothing more than a month's rent, half a mortgage payment, or a month
of medical insurance, but to a hockey player, $700 will partially
replace his daily salary.

Your commitment of less than $700 a day will enable a player to buy that
home entertainment center, trade in the year-old Lexus for a new
Ferrari, or enjoy a weekend in Rio.

HOW WILL I KNOW I'M HELPING?

Each month, you will receive a complete financial report on the player
you sponsor. Detailed information about his stocks, bonds, 401(k), real
estate, and other investment holdings will be mailed to your home. Plus,
upon signing up for this program, you will receive an unsigned photo of
the player lounging during the lockout on a beach somewhere in the
Caribbean (for a signed photo, please include an additional $150). Put
the photo on your refrigerator to remind you of other peoples'
suffering.

HOW WILL HE KNOW I'M HELPING?

Your NHL player will be told that he has a SPECIAL FRIEND who just wants
to help in a time of need. Although the player won't know your name, he
will be able to make collect calls to your home via a special operator
in case additional funds are needed for unforeseen expenses.

YES, I WANT TO HELP!

I would like to sponsor a locked out NHL player. My preference is (check
below):

[ ] Forward [ ] Defenseman [ ] Goaltender [ ] Entire team (Please call
our 900 number to ask for the cost of a specific team - $10 per minute)
[ ] Jaromir Jagr (Higher cost: $32,000 per day)

Please charge the account listed below $694.50 per day for the duration
of the lockout. Please send me a picture of the player I have sponsored,
along with an Jaromir Jagr 2001 Income Statement and my very own Bob
Goodenow (Executive Director of the NHLPA player's Union) pin to wear
proudly on my hat (include $80 for hat).

Your Name: _______________________

Telephone Number: _______________________

Account Number: _______________________ Exp.Date:_______

[ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Other

Signature: _______________________

Alternate card (when the primary card exceeds its credit limit):

Account Number: _______________________ Exp.Date:_______

[ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa [ ] American Express [ ] Other

Signature: _______________________

[JRutledge]

What is the NHL?

Peace

[canuckrefguy]

Because they are professional athletes, the level of their salary is just beyond what we can appreciate. But take away that, and many of the issues in this labour dispute are the same as any other. We have two sides who disagree on the financial health of their industry. From the owners' perspective, the players' wage demands are too much for them to support and still remain viable. From the players' perspective, the owners are not doing as poorly as they say, and are trying to make the players pay for the owners financial challenges.

The players presented a proposal that would have at least been a good starting point - revenue sharing and a small wage rollback. But the owners won't even talk if the NHLPA won't agree to a salary cap.

On the other hand, most other professional leagues, ones who make a whole hell of a lot more coin than the NHL, have salary caps and revenue sharing. And their athletes don't seem to be starving.

It's important to remember that, for the first 40 years of the NHL's existence, the league abused, lied to, and took unfair advantage of the players year after year, while making obscene profits (for that time period).

I must admit, I don't get as pumped about hockey as I used to, probably just a "getting older" thing. But this is a bad situation all the way around - one that could decimate the U.S. portion of the NHL.

But it's unfair and ignorant to immediately blame the players. Last time I checked, good seats to an NHL game in Canada were well over $100, with concession prices through the roof, and fans being gouged at every turn for every conceivable part of the NHL experience. Yes, the players have to buck up to help the league's long-term future. But the owners aren't being completely truthful.

It just sucks all the way around. No Hockey Night In Canada. For Rut and all you non-hockey types, it's like going without NFL football on Sundays.

[rainmaker]

Originally posted by canuckrefguy
For Rut and all you non-hockey types, it's like going without NFL football on Sundays.

Yea? So, what's wrong with that?

[ChuckElias]

The problem IMHO is not simply a player/owner issue. Yes, the players' salaries are too high; but who agrees to pay them those salaries?

The larger issue, the real problem, and the reason the NHL is doomed to a collapse back to the original 6 teams, is that nobody in the USA watches hockey on TV.

Why is the NFL the most financially successful professional sport? Because of its national TV contracts! People want to watch football on TV. People will sit through commercials in order to watch football on TV. People get excited about watching commercials during football's championship game.

The money that is necessary to pay high salaries and still have a viable league comes from the TV networks. FOX paid a ridiculous amount for their NHL contract and bled cash. They couldn't wait to get rid of the contract. ESPN is ecstatic when they get a 1.0 rating for a weeknight game. ABC hates their contract so much that they show almost no hockey until the Cup finals.

The networks simply won't pay enough to make the league successful financially anymore. So my guess is that several teams will fold, the schedule will shorten to about 50 games, and the NHL will return in a couple years. From what I've heard, the owners have pretty much written off the '04-'05 season. It's a shame too. I was really looking forward to a good Columbus/Tampa Bay game on a cold Wednesday night.

[Jimgolf]

The other problem (at least here in NY) is that the owners have eroded the fan base by catering to corporate ticket buyers. While I can afford to take the kids to one or two hockey games a year, it's about the same price as a trip to Disney World. Guess which one the kids would rather do?

The corporations are a source of easy money, but when the team is losing consistently, they'll spend their entertainment money elsewhere and noone will step up to buy the tickets. It's hard to get into watching a hockey game on TV if you've never seen one in person, so it's no wonder ratings are so low.

[mick]

Originally posted by ChuckElias
People will sit through commercials in order to watch football on TV. People get excited about watching commercials during football's championship game.

CBC occasionally has some twists with their commercials.
Interesting humor at times.

[We have a sorta D1 Hockey program in town, but I will generally go, instead, to see the D2 Women play hoops about 500 feet away. ]

mick

[Jurassic Referee]

And what about the NBA? The NHL is unwatchable lately mainly due to the clutching, grabbing and holding that's allowed, and lets the plumbers keep up with the superstars. Imo, the NBA has the exact same problem. I can't stand watching an NBA game now either, for the same reasons, and I used to be a great fan of theirs.

[Skahtboi]

Originally posted by rainmaker

Yea? So, what's wrong with that?

Not a thing in my book. I've been doing for 20 years!