John Flyers Fan said:
Bettman's complete unwillingness to get away from his "cost certainty" salary cap is unacceptable. Nothing is certain in this world.
John Flyers Fan said:
Greschner4 said:Stopped reading after the cliche "the players are the product."
False. The players wearing the brand names of the teams, with the attendant goodwill in those names as built up over the decades, are the product. And the brand names are the more important asset.
The "Toronto Maple Leafs" brand is worth more than any current Leaf or all current Leafs combined. Same for "Detroit Red Wings," "Philadelphia Flyers," etc.
Every time one of these things hits sports, a group of star players get together and talk about barnstorming games. And in the NHL lockout this year there actually were such games. Nobody ever goes to them. It's happened time and time again.
Why? Because the players aren't skating for the valuable brands.
Jaded-Fan said:Add another NHLPA apologist to the very small list. That article was a joke. To quote that 24% gimmick giveback as the cure for the bleeding of cash by the clubs shows what a big market apologist that hack writer is.
If he had been even slightly more balanced in his criticism he would have maintained a shred of credibility. As it is I want my 3 minutes back for having wasted the time reading this.
I think it was supposed to be more hissy fit then anything, Idaknow, kinda sums up how a lot of people feel.CarlRacki said:With all due respect to Mr. Conway, this column is more hissy fit than thoughtful analysis.
Jaded-Fan said:Add another NHLPA apologist to the very small list. That article was a joke. To quote that 24% gimmick giveback as the cure for the bleeding of cash by the clubs shows what a big market apologist that hack writer is.
If he had been even slightly more balanced in his criticism he would have maintained a shred of credibility. As it is I want my 3 minutes back for having wasted the time reading this.
Never admit that!s7ark said:Agreed. I feel stupider for having read that.
John Flyers Fan said:They're both important.
I'd gladly pay $50 to go watch the players at the World Champs, Olympics, or World Cup .... and I'm sure as hell not going to pay $50 to watch the Phantoms in the Calder Cup playoffs.
It's not just the jersey. It's what tha jersey is supposed to represent, and that is the best hockey in the world. If the NHL resumes without the best hockey players in the world ..... that brand loses value in a real hurry.
mooseOAK said:I find it amazing that so many people think that the NHLPA's one and only proposal was the perfect one that addressed the goals of both sides.
gc2005 said:I haven't heard anyone call it perfect. What the article points out is that the PA proposal got the salaries pretty damn close to where the league wants them, that's a fact. And that the luxury tax wasn't steep enough, which we're all aware of.
Now, Bettman decided it wasn't good enough, so he used some make-believe numbers to "prove" it wouldn't work, saying salaries would rise 12% each year even though under the last two years of the old system, the year over year increase was somewhere around 2.5%. He also used 3% as an annual increase in revenue. Plus, owners would have to refrain from being and employing idiots. So no deal.
gc2005 said:I can guarantee Jaded-Fan is much more of a hack than Russ Conway, a well respected investigative journalist. This guy knows more about hockey and the current situation than most other people could ever dream of. I don't care if you agree with someone, but to dismiss the guy's credibility because he doesn't share the exact same view as you is atrocious. Do some research on the guy. He knows his stuff. At least he has the guts to question King Bettman's actions and motives.
Greschner4 said:The PA sure thinks it was close to perfect. When it got rejected they acted like a girl who put on her best lipstick, best perfume, and most sexy outfit and still couldn't get the guy to touch her.
Trottier said:The tally so far:
One thread.
Seventeen posts (this being the 18th).
Two anti-NHLPA posters (Jaded, Greshner) who have actually addressed anything in the article, as opposed to attacking the messenger.
e-townchamps said:tell me why this guy's a well-respected jouralist? just because he happends to question Bettman's motive's?
since when does that Dec. 9th proposal form the PA solve the NHL's problems?
waste of time to read this garbage
gc2005 said:Kinda sums up the NHL's reaction every time they put out a proposal the PA wouldn't touch, don't you think?
Greschner4 said:I spent about a hundred words attacking the cliche that the players are the product -- Conway's words.
Trottier said:Which is why I cited you as one of the two exceptions. Did you not understand that?