ESPN and the NHL

[GatewaySnayke]

Look, I'm not a hockey guy. I didn't grow up with it and as much as I try to get into it, I simply cannot. But as I watched "SportsCenter" last night and saw Barry Melrose get a 20-second window to cover the games, I got angry. ESPN's priorities are way out of wack. They have taken a sport that was once the fourth biggest in the country and made it as irrelevant as water polo.

What angers me the most is that they have loads and loads of time to discuss Bill Belichick's bowel movements, but hardly any time to give hockey fans out there the same respect.

[thrill]

Thanks, brah.

[Popeye_Card]

Thank you.

That segement is like an F-U to the NHL. It's like saying, "the games are mostly meaningless, but at least there were a few cool things out there. We'll just show you those moments."

I believe it's somewhat intentional. It's ESPN's way of saying, "Fine, you don't want to take our broadcast deal? We'll see if we're powerful enough to put you out of business if we don't cover you."

I think the NHL is doing fine though. Maybe not in TV ratings (hockey is not a good TV sport, although it's better in HD when you can see the puck clearer, and the screen is wider to show more action), but they seem to be faring well with attendance. The only real dregs on this list are teams who have been down recently (St. Louis and Chicago), and markets that the NHL shouldn't have expanded to in the first place (all the sun belt teams, plus Nashville and Columbus).

--P--

[mikechamp]

Blackhawk fans are finally able to see their teams' home games. (Bill Wuertz died.) That should help them build a bigger fanbase.

Well, that and Patrick Kane and the other new kid they have.

[thrill]

Kane and Toews are sick.

[Socnorb11]

Look, I'm not a hockey guy. I didn't grow up with it and as much as I try to get into it, I simply cannot. But as I watched "SportsCenter" last night and saw Barry Melrose get a 20-second window to cover the games, I got angry. ESPN's priorities are way out of wack. They have taken a sport that was once the fourth biggest in the country and made it as irrelevant as water polo.

What angers me the most is that they have loads and loads of time to discuss Bill Belichick's bowel movements, but hardly any time to give hockey fans out there the same respect.

In most regions of the U.S., Belichick's bowel movements are more relvant than hockey.

It wouldn't bother me if they didn't even acknowledge the existence of the NHL.

[Sutter'sBeard]

I agree, but I can see why there is a lack of coverage. If there was a tv show about mayonaisse, it would outrate the NHL.

[GatewaySnayke]

Look, I'm not a hockey guy. I didn't grow up with it and as much as I try to get into it, I simply cannot. But as I watched "SportsCenter" last night and saw Barry Melrose get a 20-second window to cover the games, I got angry. ESPN's priorities are way out of wack. They have taken a sport that was once the fourth biggest in the country and made it as irrelevant as water polo.

What angers me the most is that they have loads and loads of time to discuss Bill Belichick's bowel movements, but hardly any time to give hockey fans out there the same respect.

In most regions of the U.S., Belichick's bowel movements are more relvant than hockey.

It wouldn't bother me if they didn't even acknowledge the existence of the NHL.

Umm, no. "SportsCenter" does not serve as the hype machine for the NFL. There are hockey fans out there who would like to see their sport covered fairly and I agree with that. Just because you don't think they should acknowledge it doesn't mean a network dedicated to sports shouldn't.

[ghostrunner]

i have to say, I couldn't care less if they don't cover it again. I'd like to see more college hoops coverage, if anything. Well, and more non-Yankee/Red Sox baseball news as always.

[TheoSqua]

you guys do know that the NHL and ESPN signed a deal to broadcast games on ESPN again. The games that air on NBC now are going to air on ESPN instead.