Ericsson leaves hospital to go watch WCF Game #5

[Mike 0]

If you didn't like Ericsson before, you certainly do now.

Funny note on both Jonathan Ericsson's team loyalty and the NHL's crappy TV package. Ericsson went into surgery (appendicitis) Wednesday before WCF Game 5 asking if he's be awake by game time. He was awake by 5:30 p.m., but DMC's TVs didn't get the game. So instead of an overnight at the hospital, Ericsson checked out, had his girlfriend drive him to JLA and watched the Wings eliminate Chicago from the rink. His girlfriend drove him home after that.

Red Wings Corner

Edited May 30, 2009 by Mike

[Chris Avram 18]

Red Wings Corner

hahaa

[b.shanafan14 733]

BIG E! haha what a guy!

[uk_redwing 495]

Versus sucks.

[Dabura 12,207]

His girlfriend sounds cool.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Versus sucks.

Blame ESPN for not offering a TV contract then.

[Dabura 12,207]

Blame ESPN for not offering a TV contract then.

Or we could blame Versus for sucking.

[HkyTwn 5]

Yay big E! That's awesome.

[Shaman 713]

Blame ESPN for not offering a TV contract then.

I blame Bettman, the reason the contract didnt get renewed, by the sounds of it, was because Bettman wanted equal exposure for all teams, while ESPN, like it does with all sports would want to have the ability to select large market/successful teams to air. Honestly, I am with ESPN, who wants to watch a Canes/Panthers game?

[Z and D for the C 712]

I blame jesus.

[PenaltyShot 96 521]

That's awesome!! What a team player! I just hope none of the Pens are dumb enough to try and spear him in the incision...

[redwingslady87 130]

I give props to his girlfriend. She knows what her role is.

[reedlarson 1]

I blame jesus.

Why am I to blame?

[evilmrt 636]

“A lot of people don’t even realize that Versus exists,†Chicago Blackhawks president Rocky Wirtz told the Chicago Tribune, recently. “You just have to grin and bear it. It’s a league-mandated decision.â€

“It is not ESPN,†NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly said. “It doesn’t have a sports highlight show. It doesn’t have a lot of properties people want to tune in to, unless you are a hunter or a fisherman or you like turtle wrestling.â€

Thumbs up to Ericsson and his girlfriend, though!

[HanKarin40 7]

Ahhaha! Now that's dedication!

[DraperFan MN 0]

I blame Bettman, the reason the contract didnt get renewed, by the sounds of it, was because Bettman wanted equal exposure for all teams, while ESPN, like it does with all sports would want to have the ability to select large market/successful teams to air. Honestly, I am with ESPN, who wants to watch a Canes/Panthers game?

If true, further proof that the marketing decisions in the NHL from the top down are THE reason the NHL isn't one of the more successful leagues in sport. One of the more beautiful games played on the planet, and the morons in Toronto and New York cannot get it right.

[I Sandemic I 0]

If true, further proof that the marketing decisions in the NHL from the top down are THE reason the NHL isn't one of the more successful leagues in sport. One of the more beautiful games played on the planet, and the morons in Toronto and New York cannot get it right.

Pictures of his girlfriend or it never happened.

[wingsdiehard13 33]

I blame Bettman, the reason the contract didnt get renewed, by the sounds of it, was because Bettman wanted equal exposure for all teams, while ESPN, like it does with all sports would want to have the ability to select large market/successful teams to air. Honestly, I am with ESPN, who wants to watch a Canes/Panthers game?

He also took the money from Versus over the exposure ESPN offers.

[ben_usmc 253]

personally i like vs (b/c I get it). But I'd love to have NBC/ESPN/VS/FSN all showing games more channels= more games

[stevie for president 42]

while TNT had Lebron and NBC had sid and malkin, ESPN had womens softball. the NHL tv contract in the US really benefits noone.

and if its true that Bettman wanted a contract with equal exposure to all teams, why is trying to run the NHL like its socialist? every team is not equal. some teams are better, some teams earn more, some teams can afford to spend more, some teams draw bigger audiences. why is it that teams like phoenix and atlanta can continually hurt teams like detroit, toronto, montreal, etc? it makes no sense. If you want every team to be equal, help teams become better, dont hinder teams to be on par with worthless franchises that shouldnt exist.

[C-TownWing 0]

and if its true that Bettman wanted a contract with equal exposure to all teams, why is trying to run the NHL like its socialist? every team is not equal. some teams are better, some teams earn more, some teams can afford to spend more, some teams draw bigger audiences. why is it that teams like phoenix and atlanta can continually hurt teams like detroit, toronto, montreal, etc? it makes no sense. If you want every team to be equal, help teams become better, dont hinder teams to be on par with worthless franchises that shouldnt exist.

I don't think it IS true. Proof's in the pudding--how often did you see Phoenix and Atlanta on Versus this year compared with us, Pittsburgh, etc.? You can't really bring the Canadian teams into it, since we're talking about broadcasting in the US. All teams are not being broadcast equally on Versus.

FWIW, I think Versus does a good enough job with the games. I think Paul Kelly hit it on the head though. So many people in my demographic (18-35 year-old males) just turn on ESPN when there's nothing else to watch. You might not like EVERYTHING they have on, but if you're at all into sports generally, you'll find their programming remotely interesting. So you turn on ESPN and get ads for what's on ESPN jammed down your throat, which isn't hockey. Hell, I have it on right now for background noise while I read LGW.

Versus on the other hand...there is absolutely ZERO reason for people who might be interested in hockey to watch that channel when there's not a game on, which severely limits the ability of the hype to get to the people who might be swayed by it.

[thedisappearer 291]

while TNT had Lebron and NBC had sid and malkin, ESPN had womens softball. the NHL tv contract in the US really benefits noone.

and if its true that Bettman wanted a contract with equal exposure to all teams, why is trying to run the NHL like its socialist? every team is not equal. some teams are better, some teams earn more, some teams can afford to spend more, some teams draw bigger audiences. why is it that teams like phoenix and atlanta can continually hurt teams like detroit, toronto, montreal, etc? it makes no sense. If you want every team to be equal, help teams become better, dont hinder teams to be on par with worthless franchises that shouldnt exist.

You are tracking ESPN wanted to be able to show better teams and the NHL wouldn't do it, so they went with the socialist "we'll show EVERYONE" Vs... right?

Also, you have no idea what "socialist" actually means.

Edited May 31, 2009 by thedisappearer

[Rocket Queen 30 1]

If you didn't like Ericsson before, you certainly do now.

Red Wings Corner

I loved him before.

[stevie for president 42]

You are tracking ESPN wanted to be able to show better teams and the NHL wouldn't do it, so they went with the socialist "we'll show EVERYONE" Vs... right?

Also, you have no idea what "socialist" actually means.

Socialism refers to any one of various economic theories of economic organization advocating state or cooperative ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods, and a society characterized by equal opportunities/means for all individuals with a more egalitarian method of compensation based on the full product of the laborer

and i didnt call vs. socialist, i called the NHL socialist

Edited May 31, 2009 by stevie for president