NHL Out of Olympics?
I'm a hockey fan who enjoys the Winter Olympics every four years as well. But I'm not too crazy about the NHL taking off these two weeks to enable professional hockey players to play for their representative countries in the Olympics. It interrupts the "flow" of the season (OK, so my favorite team isn't flowing anywhere except last place), exposes key players to injuries and fatigue, and also deprives the NHL much-needed exposure during the post-NFL, pre-MLB spring training sports season. (I could care less about the NBA, and to me March Madness means drinking Guinness at a crowded Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day).
In this article, Michael Farber makes a compelling case for the NHL to rethink its alliance with the Olympics. The 2010 Olympics will take place in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Will that be the NHL's final appearance at the Olympics?
posted by louisj @ 9:29 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
But couldn't one also argue that the Olympics exposes hockey to more than the NHL fan? I mean who among us doesn't remember the miracle team of 1980? Couldn't the NHL capitalize on that? Just a thought.
Mrs. Lou
In 1980, how much Olympic hockey did anyone really watch up until it became apparent that the USA was playing for a medal? As of right now, the US hockey isn't doing so hot, and ratings for these games are way down anyway. No, I don't believe that this benefits the NHL, and I don't think that professionals - of any sport - should be allowed to compete in the Olympics.
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