Doc Holliday

I was listening to NHL home ice and they were talking about tonight's game. My first thought was, "they are starting tonight!?" Great surprise to a pretty crappy day. Now I'm stoked. Vancouver in 6.

I really want the Bolts to make it, but I don't think they have a chance against the Caps. They have been relying on Roloson on defense and with Washington I don't know how long he can relent. Washington has a much better offensive team than Pittsburgh.

Really wish I could participate in this round. For the next week I will be in between swamped with schematic drawings, working full time, and structural projects, so I may not be able to get to making anything till game 4 at the earliest. Glad to see Sharks fans coming in here with their work. Always love a good competition.

And the worst thing is if the Sharks beat Detroit AGAIN then we will be referred to as the team the Sharks can spank every year and we will be raging at the fact we can't beat those classless, diving jags.

The Sharks defense is an utter sham. While the Wings may still have issues on the PK, the Sharks have nothing to stop guys like Datsyuk from putting on a clinic. And Niemi hasn't looked solid at all.

Right or wrong, no good can come of whining to the media about officiating. Doesn't make the team look very resilient when the guy who decides who wears the uniforms is running to the media making excuses.

San Jose didn't do jack with that last season until they were on the powerplay. I like the Wings chances this year.

I want to play this team. Just so I can watch Detroit beat them.

And that is game.

The Leino of two years ago wouldn't have been caught dead in that position.

That is creepy.

Why wouldn't they like it?

Johnson? He'll pull a "noodles" McLennan on St. Louis.

This period has gone on forever.

You mean my statement meant confidence that the contract will be played out in its entirety and I'll talk to you about it then? Still has nothing to do with hate of dissenting opinion. You can debate all you want about whether it was the good deal or not. I made my peace on the issue and my lack of discussion on the topic has nothing to do with my hatred (or lack thereof) of dissenting opinions.

I'm sorry, are you upset that I chose to finish the discussion of ESPN vs. NBC with the simple fact the deal has been made and there isn't much left to do but see how it plays out? Seriously, grow up.

That's what happens when you give up on hundred year old sports. Someone else picks up the slack and runs with it. And with a sport as old and well known as hockey it was bound to stick around. The thing is, could is the issue. One bird in hand is better than two in the bush, and considering what ESPN did when the game was "toxic" compared to a network that did its damnedest to improve its coverage and how to bring the sport to viewers, that says a lot. So does their offer. I'll take the program willing to invest a great deal of money into the business over the "large" one that is barely willing to invest and is hardly guaranteed to do much to bring viewers in. And in the end didn't choose ESPN. They chose the network that gave them more opportunities to spend money and gain new fans, which they have been doing SINCE THEY GOT THE SPORT ON THE PROGRAM. I'll talk to you in 10 years when this conversation comes up.

ESPN lowballed the NHL and kept them to the dark corner in the room when it came to broadcasting. Even if the game was bad (In the early 00s it really wasn't bad at all) then, ESPN lost a growing product and now NBC and Versus are doing a bang up job of bringing money and fans into the NHL. All I can see from you now is twirling round and round with the assumption that signing with ESPN will somehow be a better option for the long run simply due to the "target audience" it has, despite your repeated statements that no matter what it will be considered a "niche" sport. The NHL will do fine. They have been and will continue to do so.

Gary Thorne enjoys his work. That is why he got into it in the first place. And look where it got NBC. You have nothing to imply there is a long term issue with this deal considering: 1. The league has gotten better 2. The ratings have gotten better 3. The coverage and programming overall has gotten better All you are repeating is "ESPN AND ABC ARE THE ROXORS YEAHH". The point is the NHL has thrived with these two programs and since ESPN refuses to match or compete with the offer from NBC/Versus, there isn't much reason to come crawling back. No, why are we debating a deal that seems to work out for just about everybody? They seem to treat the NHL a hell of a lot better than ESPN did, that's for sure. Can you provide something concrete that gives me a reason to not be content with this new deal?

Another plus for this deal.

And ESPN was not part of the solution. NBC and the OLN were. And now they reap the rewards for their investment. So the ratings will be better on NBC, they have treated the NHL better on NBC, and the NHL will make more money straight up with NBC. Why are we even questioning this deal, again?

With Versus and NBC leading the way. Strangely enough NBC had better ratings in the finals last season than any playoff game on ESPN ever had. What makes you think the NHL needs a program that kept the sport as niche and in a declining state? ESPN needs to come up with a better offer if they want the NHL to help their program. They obviously aren't willing to cough up the dough and that is a huge indicator of how much they value the League.

Agreed. Baseball is also much less involved compared the time you spend on the air, making play by play much easier. Can't blame Gary for keeping to baseball.