vangvace 12 Report post Posted November 22, 2008 As yet ESPN's ratings do not reflect this surge in hockey interest. With all the Rangers' games contractually not available on ESPN in the New York market (the MSG Network carries the games there), ESPN has averaged a 1.8 rating, miniscule by NBA standards. “Nobody should read too much into the ratings,” says Bettman. “We were off TV so many years, we're in the rebuilding process. If we were still getting those numbers in five years, I'd be disappointed.” The NHL also had six games televised this season on an over-the-air network, ABC, where it drew a lowly 1.7 avearge rating. While the NBA's image has cooled, the NHL has ignited surprising new interest in hockey by E. M. Swift Sports Illustrated June 20, 1994 not really anything to discuss, just found it funny Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CaliWingsNut Report post Posted November 22, 2008 While the NBA's image has cooled, the NHL has ignited surprising new interest in hockey by E. M. Swift Sports Illustrated June 20, 1994 not really anything to discuss, just found it funny I don't find it funny. It scares me to think about Bettman for 5 more years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted November 22, 2008 I don't find it funny. It scares me to think about Bettman for 5 more years. While I also find 5 more years of Bettman scary, did you happen to look at the date of the article? Or did you see the mention of hockey on ESPN? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CrossoverThrash 0 Report post Posted November 22, 2008 (edited) Its funny because Bettman is a hypocrite because now all he talks about is the ratings and uses it for 90% of his arguments Edited November 22, 2008 by CrossoverThrash Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
haroldsnepsts 4,826 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Typical Bettman. "Pay no attention to the facts. Listen only to the sound of my voice. Everything in the NHL is, has been, and always will be perfect while I am commissioner. I know more than you do, ignorant fans. Don't worry your little heads." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 The game is better now than when I started watching, which was in 1995. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 The game is better now than when I started watching, which was in 1995. yes but is signifcantly worse than when i started watching, which was in 88' Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WingMachine91 0 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 yes but is signifcantly worse than when i started watching, which was in 88' haha classic Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 yes but is signifcantly worse than when i started watching, which was in 88' Stop watching it then. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManLuv4Clears 7 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 yes but is signifcantly worse than when i started watching, which was in 88' I have to agree with this. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
auxlepli 17 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 Don't like it, stop watching. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) Don't like it, stop watching. grow up. I was watching, and loving hockey when you were in diapers. i'm not going to stop watching the sport i love, just because it's different then what i remember. Do i miss the fighting, fast paced offense, goaltenders who worse equipment that didn't take up the entire net? Yes, but i love hockey and i'll never stop watching even if it eventually does turn into basketball. Edited November 23, 2008 by theman19 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaman 713 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 (edited) grow up. I was watching, and loving hockey when you were in diapers. i'm not going to stop watching the sport i love, just because it's different then what i remember. Do i miss the fighting, fast paced offense, goaltenders who worse equipment that didn't take up the entire net? Yes, but i love hockey and i'll never stop watching even if it eventually does turn into basketball. I assume youre in your 60s (since the person you called out is in his 40s)? I am glad a man of you age has enough time to pick fights on the internet... Edited November 23, 2008 by Shaman464 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theman19 47 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 I assume youre in your 60s (since the person you called out is in his 40s)? I am glad a man of you age has enough time to pick fights on the internet... dude whatever,.... i'm not picking any fight and i'm sorry if it came across that way, but it irks me when people say "don't like every single thing about the new nhl!" "Stop watching it then!" That's silly, i have every right to be disgruntled about certain aspects of the "new nhl" given when i started watching hockey. Is hockey better off since the dead puck era? Totally, i don't miss the trapping, the hacking and the lack of scoring at all. What i do miss, and you'll have few takers on people who enjoy this part is lack of an instigator rule, goalies who looked like humans beings instead of blimps under all that equpiment, Hockey being at the forefront of national coverage, an NHL not run by Gary Bettman (it's funny, the guy before him was even more crooked then he is, but at least he could run the league) i could go on..... But just because i don't drink the kool-aide and say everything is wonderful with today's nhl don't you dare tell me "stop watching". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shaman 713 Report post Posted November 23, 2008 dude whatever,.... i'm not picking any fight and i'm sorry if it came across that way, but it irks me when people say "don't like every single thing about the new nhl!" "Stop watching it then!" That's silly, i have every right to be disgruntled about certain aspects of the "new nhl" given when i started watching hockey. Is hockey better off since the dead puck era? Totally, i don't miss the trapping, the hacking and the lack of scoring at all. What i do miss, and you'll have few takers on people who enjoy this part is lack of an instigator rule, goalies who looked like humans beings instead of blimps under all that equpiment, Hockey being at the forefront of national coverage, an NHL not run by Gary Bettman (it's funny, the guy before him was even more crooked then he is, but at least he could run the league) i could go on..... But just because i don't drink the kool-aide and say everything is wonderful with today's nhl don't you dare tell me "stop watching". Oh I agree that NHL needs to keep changing even if that change is back to where it was 10 years ago in some cases, but I like some of the changes personally, like the new face off rules, especially the no commercial time outs after icings. But you are right, some things like goalie equipment should be re-examined and taken back more towards the 90s standards. As for the instigator rule, I havent seen many called for example 17:35 DET Brian Rafalski : Tripping - 2 min 19:42 DET Andreas Lilja : Fighting (maj) - 5 min 19:42 EDM Sheldon Souray : Fighting (maj) - 5 min 2nd Period 04:41 DET Nicklas Lidstrom : Hooking - 2 min No instigator was issued there, though Souray clearly started the fight. It seems more and more the Refs are just choosing not to call it. Anyway my final point is what really would help the league would be parity....not like youve heard it though, I mean with the refs and how they call the games, a hook should be a hook no matter whos refing, not one game its the stick up for a second and the next game the guy can catch a ride on the other guy and its fair game. Thats is what gets on more people nerves than anything else is the lack of consistency of the calls. But thats my humble opinion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites