Yup. That's what I heard on WGR this morning.
Sal Capaccio, subbing for Jeremy White, used that word when talking about Syracuse QB prospect Ryan Nassib. Capaccio said that Nassib may not be "the savior," but a quarterback to develop over the course of two or three seasons. Really? You're looking for a "savior?"
He also used the term "prototypical size." At 6'2", 230, Nassib has excellent size, although, according to Capaccio, he's one inch shorter than "prototypical."
*shrugs*
Whatever.
Those two terms--savior and prototypical--are the weights that will keep this franchise stuck in perpetual mediocrity.
Waiting for and/or hoping for and/or expecting "the savior" is a thought-process that runs throughout Bills-nation. It's the "damsel in distress" syndrome where they think that their straights are so dire and their suffering so long and hard, that somehow they deserve a "savior." It's a bunch of crap coming out of a loser-mentality that has gone on far too long.
Remember? Buffalo fans threw Drew Bledsoe a parade when he came over from New England--"all hail the savior!"
Medocrity.
As for "prototypical?" Exactly what does that mean? The physical aspects of a prospect which, with the proper growth-cycle and attributes, can be enhanced by workouts to achieve the "specimen."
Aaron Maybin anyone?
The Bills, plain and simple, need more "football players." More guys like Eric Wood, Kyle Williams and the emerging Kyle Moore. More guys like we saw last night in the Baltimore/Pittsburgh game. More men you'd like to be in an alley fight with.
The Bills don't need a "savior." They don't need more "specimens."
What they need is a group of players that will look at Sissyphus' boulder and will do everything in their power, both individually and collectively, to push the damn thing over the top.
Got it?
Monday, November 19, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
C'mon, Gary. Really?
A two week "moratorium" on negotiating?
And just what, Mr. NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman, would that accomplish?
Exactly. Nothing.
'We are extremely disappointed in where we and the players find ourselves," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday evening. "And from our perspective, we have made repeated moves in the players' direction with absolutely no reciprocation. Unfortunately, we have determined we are involved with union leadership that has no genuine interest in reaching an agreement. Regardless of what we propose, or how we suggest to compromise the answer is "no." At some point you just have to say "enough is enough."'
Apparently, according to TSN, NHLPA director Donald Fehr called Bettman and said that, 'he didn't know how the sides could proceed from their current stalemate.'
Bettman's response? The two week "moratorium" which Fehr said he'll need to bounce off the membership.
And the posturing is on.
In response to Daly's quote above, NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr said, "We believe that it is more likely that we will make progress if we meet than if we don't," he said in a statement. "So we are ready to meet. If indeed they do not want to meet, it will be at least the third time in the last three months that they have shut down the dialogue, saying they will not meet unless the players meet their preconditions.
"What does that tell you about their interest in resolving this?"
It's looks like more bullying tactics from the owners? And that they'll only negotiate on their terms.
Sounds like it to me.
The players have made considerable concessions on the overall split going from 57/43 in their favor to agreeing to a 50/50 in hockey related revenue.
Even with the issue not fully resolved, as they're trying to figure out in what year that will take place, the sides have moved to length of player contracts and salary-variance within the contract. Here's where the league stands on that issue:
The other points, not even including attempts to prevent teams from burying bad contracts in the minors--"The Wade Redden Rule"--are painting the players into a more restrictive corner.
This is the point of contention: the players are collectively giving up a billion dollars with the 50/50 split and the league wants to them to pay for the egregious contracts signed this past off-season (the "make-whole" clause,) and they want to control how long they're signed for.
Anything else you want, Mr. Commish?
Theres to be no give on the part of the owners with the players saying, "are you kidding me?"
And it seems as if the owners are ready to lose the entire season in order to get what they want--again.
Really?
And just what, Mr. NHL Commisioner Gary Bettman, would that accomplish?
Exactly. Nothing.
'We are extremely disappointed in where we and the players find ourselves," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday evening. "And from our perspective, we have made repeated moves in the players' direction with absolutely no reciprocation. Unfortunately, we have determined we are involved with union leadership that has no genuine interest in reaching an agreement. Regardless of what we propose, or how we suggest to compromise the answer is "no." At some point you just have to say "enough is enough."'
Apparently, according to TSN, NHLPA director Donald Fehr called Bettman and said that, 'he didn't know how the sides could proceed from their current stalemate.'
Bettman's response? The two week "moratorium" which Fehr said he'll need to bounce off the membership.
And the posturing is on.
In response to Daly's quote above, NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr said, "We believe that it is more likely that we will make progress if we meet than if we don't," he said in a statement. "So we are ready to meet. If indeed they do not want to meet, it will be at least the third time in the last three months that they have shut down the dialogue, saying they will not meet unless the players meet their preconditions.
"What does that tell you about their interest in resolving this?"
It's looks like more bullying tactics from the owners? And that they'll only negotiate on their terms.
Sounds like it to me.
The players have made considerable concessions on the overall split going from 57/43 in their favor to agreeing to a 50/50 in hockey related revenue.
Even with the issue not fully resolved, as they're trying to figure out in what year that will take place, the sides have moved to length of player contracts and salary-variance within the contract. Here's where the league stands on that issue:
- the NHL wants to limit contracts to five years
- make rules to prohibit back-diving contracts the league feels circumvent the salary cap,
- keep players ineligible for unrestricted free agency until they are 28 or have eight years of professional service time
- cut entry-level deals to two years, and make salary arbitration after five years.
The other points, not even including attempts to prevent teams from burying bad contracts in the minors--"The Wade Redden Rule"--are painting the players into a more restrictive corner.
This is the point of contention: the players are collectively giving up a billion dollars with the 50/50 split and the league wants to them to pay for the egregious contracts signed this past off-season (the "make-whole" clause,) and they want to control how long they're signed for.
Anything else you want, Mr. Commish?
Theres to be no give on the part of the owners with the players saying, "are you kidding me?"
And it seems as if the owners are ready to lose the entire season in order to get what they want--again.
Really?
Monday, November 12, 2012
They're changing their tune on WGR concerning the Bills and Ryan Fitzpatrick...
again.
They'll pick the tune to fit their needs, like all the media-types in the Buffalo area.
While listening to WTAM's Mike Trivisonno here in Cleveland (a team and area very similar to Buffalo) he had the best idea whilst talking about the Browns loss two Sunday's ago--fire all of the media.
The premise was this: The Browns last loss was unduly put at the feet of Head Coach Pat Shurmur. Cleveland's QB, Brandon Wheeden, had an atrocious game, yet all the talk was about firing Shurmur.
But the point Triv was trying to make was this: there are no sports journalists left in Cleveland. They don't report the game or add valuable insight, (nor do they even seem to have a grasp on the intricacies of the game.) All they seem to do anymore is look for one bad moment for their tweet and/or blog and harp on that. They then take that and proceed to do an expose' on a player or coach and demean them until the next bad moment for another player or coach and continue the cycle. Tis not for the fan, the team and/or the sport. It's for their own ego, their own satisfaction.
The same could be said for the Buffalo media.
I'm a big fan of WGR's Paul Hamilton. I believed that he was one of the few who could rise above media masturbation and come through as a journalist. But he seems to be falling into the abyss, being pulled by the likes of Jerry Sullivan, Mike Schopp and Jeremy White.
His latest article, The final big play is rarely there, is a continuation of his whining about QB Ryan Fitzpatrick who he deems "the franchise quarterback as named by Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey." He concludes his article with that same sarcasm, "in the end the guy anointed the franchise quarterback got them down the field, but couldn't come through in crunch time to win the game."
About the only thing missing from his Fitz-disdain was the token "I've been saying all along" pat on the back that Hamilton falls into when talking about the QB. A lot of the times I truly believe that the media-types, and fans as well, hope that things go wrong so that they can say, "I'm right."
Look, we all get it. Fitz has his limitations, but you mean to tell me that he'd be looked at in the same light, and would have the same record, if he was on a team like San Francisco or Chicago, both with elite defenses? And that both teams would be 3-6 like the Bills? Is Fitz worse than Alex Smith, Jay Cutler or even Mark Sanchez?
And look at the "franchise quarterbacks" that the media wanted to draft the past few years with the Bills first round pick. How is Blaine Gabbert doing? Or Jake Locker? Remember those two names, the ones most thrown around by the media in during "the year of the quarterback" draft in 2011. You might throw Christian Ponder in there as well, although the Vikes are 6-4 and he seems to be managing the game well (with a probable Hall-of-Famer in the backfield.) But, even his stats would have the media saying Minnesota could/should be better.
And should we even go to the likes of Tim Tebow and Wheedon? Hell, even Matthew Stafford is having a rough year.
Quick note to all you media types: defenses figure out quarterbacks, just ask Cam Newton.
There's nothing I'd like better than for Fitz to prove Hamilton--as well as Bills-nation--wrong and lead this team to the playoffs this year. But, methinks that even that scenario wouldn't be enough. He'd need to take the team deep into the playoffs. Then again, anything short of a Super Bowl win would have the media and fans finding flaws and tossing the words "draft a franchise quarterback" around.
Fitzpatrick doesn't have a halo around his head. He's not the savior that the sorry-asses in the Buffalo media (as well as it's fan-base) desire. It wouldn't fit the "damsel in distress" motif. Jim Kelly had the halo and fit the scenario (and choked in the Super Bowls.) That's what they want and Buffalo fans are still looking for a hero like him (even though Kelly initially spurned the Bills) to come in and save the day.
Gotta have that "franchise quarterback." And not only that, gotta have the halo. Gotta be a savior.
Hamilton's is in lock-step with Howard Simon who has been ranting about a "franchise quarterback" for umpteen months, although with less certitude and vile as Sullivan, Schopp and White (who all should've been "fired" yesterday). As early as the second week of October, was already looking at the 2013 draft trying to find one. And just this past week Simon and White (for the second week in a row) pressed GM Buddy Nix concerning a "franchise quarterback" in this years draft.
Simon, I thought, was doing a stellar job as host up until that early season article, but it's easy to see he's being pulled into the black hole that is the Buffalo media.
The more those lunkheads press on the "franchise quarterback" issue, the more I'm in Nix's corner. The Bills, like Nix has been saying for years, need much more than that (as the defense has proven so far this year.)
Today, though, did mark a change, at least for this week. The talk was not on the quarterback and his last throw--an interception with the game on the line. It was on the defense, which is where it should be. And Fitz can thank rookie WR TJ Graham for that. Graham admittedly said he made the wrong decision and should've went underneath. (Which leads to another question, how many times this season have the receivers ran the wrong route or made the wrong decision on a Fitz interception or incompletion.) That statement turned the microscope away from Fitz to where it should be--the defense.
Let's face it, the Bills have no linebackers. And finally the WGR morning crew came out and said (finally realized?) that much. They don't have a right corner either, which is/has been pretty obvious. How does that affect the underperforming defensive line and Defensive coordinator Dave Wandstedt (who wasn't mentioned by name very much today?) Immensely.
Teams know they can throw underneath on the Bills because their base linebackers can't cover. They also know that they can go over the top on the right side because the right corner can't cover. And when the Bills go to a nickle with "the little people" (as Tom Brady described them,) teams simply run on them. When the Bills defense covers their face, they get punched in the gut. When they cover the gut, they get punched in the face.
We'll see what the evening crew has to say about it all. Bulldog, Schopp's co-host, will probably go on some lunatic rage and go back to his "last-call, drunken hook-up" analogy concerning Fitzpatrick. Maybe throw in a "my-god, what are they doing on defense!!!" rant for good measure. Schopp will probably find some obscure stat to undermine Gailey and probably question the validity of going to a rookie in a spot like that. Hamilton will come on and say "I told you so" and carry on about how Fitz is not a good quarterback--maybe a good back-up--even though he's lacking top-notch playmakers at WR (save for Stevie Johnson.)
None of them will say that GM Buddy Nix has actually done a good job of rebuilding this team in the trenches. None will acknowledge that the team needs to stress defense--corner and linebacker--in the next draft.
One thing all of WGR will agree upon: CJ Spiller should be getting many more touches than he's gotten thus far. Spiller has put the "Thriller" back in CJ "Thriller" and the media types are starting to recognize it.
Oh. And by the way. This is the same CJ Spiller that those media types were calling a wasted #9-overall draft pick. Yeah, for years Nix was berated by the media for picking him but now, after they see what Nix saw, they're leading the "more touches for the playmaker" charge. (and, if you look at what's after that pick, it's even more apparent that Nix made the right move and that Spiller was unquestionably better than what was there.)
What a bunch of wafflers. Fire 'em.
Some players to watch in the 2013 draft for the Bills (assuming they'll end up with a pick in the middle third of the first round):
CB--Xavier Rhodes*, Florida State
OLB--Chase Thomas, Stanford
ILB--Alec Ogletree, Georgia
They'll pick the tune to fit their needs, like all the media-types in the Buffalo area.
While listening to WTAM's Mike Trivisonno here in Cleveland (a team and area very similar to Buffalo) he had the best idea whilst talking about the Browns loss two Sunday's ago--fire all of the media.
The premise was this: The Browns last loss was unduly put at the feet of Head Coach Pat Shurmur. Cleveland's QB, Brandon Wheeden, had an atrocious game, yet all the talk was about firing Shurmur.
But the point Triv was trying to make was this: there are no sports journalists left in Cleveland. They don't report the game or add valuable insight, (nor do they even seem to have a grasp on the intricacies of the game.) All they seem to do anymore is look for one bad moment for their tweet and/or blog and harp on that. They then take that and proceed to do an expose' on a player or coach and demean them until the next bad moment for another player or coach and continue the cycle. Tis not for the fan, the team and/or the sport. It's for their own ego, their own satisfaction.
The same could be said for the Buffalo media.
I'm a big fan of WGR's Paul Hamilton. I believed that he was one of the few who could rise above media masturbation and come through as a journalist. But he seems to be falling into the abyss, being pulled by the likes of Jerry Sullivan, Mike Schopp and Jeremy White.
His latest article, The final big play is rarely there, is a continuation of his whining about QB Ryan Fitzpatrick who he deems "the franchise quarterback as named by Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey." He concludes his article with that same sarcasm, "in the end the guy anointed the franchise quarterback got them down the field, but couldn't come through in crunch time to win the game."
About the only thing missing from his Fitz-disdain was the token "I've been saying all along" pat on the back that Hamilton falls into when talking about the QB. A lot of the times I truly believe that the media-types, and fans as well, hope that things go wrong so that they can say, "I'm right."
Look, we all get it. Fitz has his limitations, but you mean to tell me that he'd be looked at in the same light, and would have the same record, if he was on a team like San Francisco or Chicago, both with elite defenses? And that both teams would be 3-6 like the Bills? Is Fitz worse than Alex Smith, Jay Cutler or even Mark Sanchez?
And look at the "franchise quarterbacks" that the media wanted to draft the past few years with the Bills first round pick. How is Blaine Gabbert doing? Or Jake Locker? Remember those two names, the ones most thrown around by the media in during "the year of the quarterback" draft in 2011. You might throw Christian Ponder in there as well, although the Vikes are 6-4 and he seems to be managing the game well (with a probable Hall-of-Famer in the backfield.) But, even his stats would have the media saying Minnesota could/should be better.
And should we even go to the likes of Tim Tebow and Wheedon? Hell, even Matthew Stafford is having a rough year.
Quick note to all you media types: defenses figure out quarterbacks, just ask Cam Newton.
There's nothing I'd like better than for Fitz to prove Hamilton--as well as Bills-nation--wrong and lead this team to the playoffs this year. But, methinks that even that scenario wouldn't be enough. He'd need to take the team deep into the playoffs. Then again, anything short of a Super Bowl win would have the media and fans finding flaws and tossing the words "draft a franchise quarterback" around.
Fitzpatrick doesn't have a halo around his head. He's not the savior that the sorry-asses in the Buffalo media (as well as it's fan-base) desire. It wouldn't fit the "damsel in distress" motif. Jim Kelly had the halo and fit the scenario (and choked in the Super Bowls.) That's what they want and Buffalo fans are still looking for a hero like him (even though Kelly initially spurned the Bills) to come in and save the day.
Gotta have that "franchise quarterback." And not only that, gotta have the halo. Gotta be a savior.
Hamilton's is in lock-step with Howard Simon who has been ranting about a "franchise quarterback" for umpteen months, although with less certitude and vile as Sullivan, Schopp and White (who all should've been "fired" yesterday). As early as the second week of October, was already looking at the 2013 draft trying to find one. And just this past week Simon and White (for the second week in a row) pressed GM Buddy Nix concerning a "franchise quarterback" in this years draft.
Simon, I thought, was doing a stellar job as host up until that early season article, but it's easy to see he's being pulled into the black hole that is the Buffalo media.
The more those lunkheads press on the "franchise quarterback" issue, the more I'm in Nix's corner. The Bills, like Nix has been saying for years, need much more than that (as the defense has proven so far this year.)
Today, though, did mark a change, at least for this week. The talk was not on the quarterback and his last throw--an interception with the game on the line. It was on the defense, which is where it should be. And Fitz can thank rookie WR TJ Graham for that. Graham admittedly said he made the wrong decision and should've went underneath. (Which leads to another question, how many times this season have the receivers ran the wrong route or made the wrong decision on a Fitz interception or incompletion.) That statement turned the microscope away from Fitz to where it should be--the defense.
Let's face it, the Bills have no linebackers. And finally the WGR morning crew came out and said (finally realized?) that much. They don't have a right corner either, which is/has been pretty obvious. How does that affect the underperforming defensive line and Defensive coordinator Dave Wandstedt (who wasn't mentioned by name very much today?) Immensely.
Teams know they can throw underneath on the Bills because their base linebackers can't cover. They also know that they can go over the top on the right side because the right corner can't cover. And when the Bills go to a nickle with "the little people" (as Tom Brady described them,) teams simply run on them. When the Bills defense covers their face, they get punched in the gut. When they cover the gut, they get punched in the face.
We'll see what the evening crew has to say about it all. Bulldog, Schopp's co-host, will probably go on some lunatic rage and go back to his "last-call, drunken hook-up" analogy concerning Fitzpatrick. Maybe throw in a "my-god, what are they doing on defense!!!" rant for good measure. Schopp will probably find some obscure stat to undermine Gailey and probably question the validity of going to a rookie in a spot like that. Hamilton will come on and say "I told you so" and carry on about how Fitz is not a good quarterback--maybe a good back-up--even though he's lacking top-notch playmakers at WR (save for Stevie Johnson.)
None of them will say that GM Buddy Nix has actually done a good job of rebuilding this team in the trenches. None will acknowledge that the team needs to stress defense--corner and linebacker--in the next draft.
One thing all of WGR will agree upon: CJ Spiller should be getting many more touches than he's gotten thus far. Spiller has put the "Thriller" back in CJ "Thriller" and the media types are starting to recognize it.
Oh. And by the way. This is the same CJ Spiller that those media types were calling a wasted #9-overall draft pick. Yeah, for years Nix was berated by the media for picking him but now, after they see what Nix saw, they're leading the "more touches for the playmaker" charge. (and, if you look at what's after that pick, it's even more apparent that Nix made the right move and that Spiller was unquestionably better than what was there.)
What a bunch of wafflers. Fire 'em.
Some players to watch in the 2013 draft for the Bills (assuming they'll end up with a pick in the middle third of the first round):
CB--Xavier Rhodes*, Florida State
OLB--Chase Thomas, Stanford
ILB--Alec Ogletree, Georgia
Saturday, November 10, 2012
This would be cool
According to Slava Malumud of QMI via Slam.Canoe, former NHL defensman and 2001 NHL Hall of Fame inductee, Viacheslav Fetisov, is dreaming once again.
His idea? Grow hockey globally via a proposed Euro-Asian hockey league.
Presently the KHL has teams in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with Spain, apparently, in line to join next season. He is presently working on a team for Vladivostok on the Pacific and has dreams of adding teams from Japan, Korea and China.
His 'world domination' would include having a world series of hockey featuring the Stanley Cup Champion taking on the Gagarian Cup (KHL) Champion.
That's awesome. A throwback to the Super Series between Soviet Union teams and NHL teams which lasted for 15 years (1976-1991) and provided tons of memories.
Fetisov is familiar with that Series having been a big part of it during the 1980's. He and fellow defenseman Alexi Kasatonov, along with the KLM line--Vladmir Krutov, Igor Larionov and Sergei Markov, the most feared line in Europe--formed a formidable five-man unit for years. Fetisov and Larionov would end up winning Stanley Cups for the Detroit Red Wings in the 90's.
None of the North American "big four sports" has a true world-wide following with truly world-class athletes able to compete with the best North American athletes. Except for hockey.
Right now the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin are in the KHL while the lockout drags on. 2012 #1 overall pick Nail Yakupov is Russian and Sabres 2012 first rounder (#12-overall,) Mikhail Grigorenko is of Russian decent. The Czech Republic gave us Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Elias, and David Krecji. Slovakia--Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik and Zdeno Chara. And that's just a quick sample of the world-wide talent the NHL has on it's rosters.
It's also being said that the KHL is considering a strong effort to keep Kovalchuk, Malkin and Ovechkin. Fetisov even took it a step further in offering "material incentives" and thinks that ' if $1 billion were offered immediately to the NHL's brightest locked-out stars, it would create an exodus of players into the KHL that would pound Bettman into submission.'
Not that he would care. He likens Bettman a 'local lord-ling.'
And not that I would care either. Pretty sure most of the Crosby's, Stamkos', Miller's, Weber's Toews' and Kane's would stay in North America with an exodus of washed-up vets, money-grabbers and bottom-six-types cashing in.
As for the Russian's? For my money, I have no problem with the likes of Ovechkin and Kovalchuk heading home to the mother land to stay. Never liked their game. I love the North American game and would love nothing better than a return to Cold-War-era international hockey pitting the two styles against each other.
When this lockout is over and there's labor peace (however temporary,) I really hope that Fetisov's plan comes to fruition. Sorry New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Edmonton, money talks, especially tax-free money for mother-land Russians who are tired of being bullied by the 'local lord-ling.'
His idea? Grow hockey globally via a proposed Euro-Asian hockey league.
Presently the KHL has teams in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with Spain, apparently, in line to join next season. He is presently working on a team for Vladivostok on the Pacific and has dreams of adding teams from Japan, Korea and China.
His 'world domination' would include having a world series of hockey featuring the Stanley Cup Champion taking on the Gagarian Cup (KHL) Champion.
That's awesome. A throwback to the Super Series between Soviet Union teams and NHL teams which lasted for 15 years (1976-1991) and provided tons of memories.
Fetisov is familiar with that Series having been a big part of it during the 1980's. He and fellow defenseman Alexi Kasatonov, along with the KLM line--Vladmir Krutov, Igor Larionov and Sergei Markov, the most feared line in Europe--formed a formidable five-man unit for years. Fetisov and Larionov would end up winning Stanley Cups for the Detroit Red Wings in the 90's.
None of the North American "big four sports" has a true world-wide following with truly world-class athletes able to compete with the best North American athletes. Except for hockey.
Right now the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin are in the KHL while the lockout drags on. 2012 #1 overall pick Nail Yakupov is Russian and Sabres 2012 first rounder (#12-overall,) Mikhail Grigorenko is of Russian decent. The Czech Republic gave us Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Elias, and David Krecji. Slovakia--Marian Hossa, Marian Gaborik and Zdeno Chara. And that's just a quick sample of the world-wide talent the NHL has on it's rosters.
It's also being said that the KHL is considering a strong effort to keep Kovalchuk, Malkin and Ovechkin. Fetisov even took it a step further in offering "material incentives" and thinks that ' if $1 billion were offered immediately to the NHL's brightest locked-out stars, it would create an exodus of players into the KHL that would pound Bettman into submission.'
Not that he would care. He likens Bettman a 'local lord-ling.'
And not that I would care either. Pretty sure most of the Crosby's, Stamkos', Miller's, Weber's Toews' and Kane's would stay in North America with an exodus of washed-up vets, money-grabbers and bottom-six-types cashing in.
As for the Russian's? For my money, I have no problem with the likes of Ovechkin and Kovalchuk heading home to the mother land to stay. Never liked their game. I love the North American game and would love nothing better than a return to Cold-War-era international hockey pitting the two styles against each other.
When this lockout is over and there's labor peace (however temporary,) I really hope that Fetisov's plan comes to fruition. Sorry New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Washington and Edmonton, money talks, especially tax-free money for mother-land Russians who are tired of being bullied by the 'local lord-ling.'
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Donald Fehr's the man, plus touching upon possible NHLPA decertification
Granted, he's no angel, but the NHLPA did well hiring him.
Yeah, the haters can let loose and talk about baseball and the loss of the 1994 World Series, but has there been a work stoppage since?
And for those who say the players should just take what's been offered and get back to playing, put a sock in it...
and get a life.
Sorry that you have no focal point for you docile life now that hockey's gone, but that's not the fault of hockey. There's plenty of hockey outside of the NHL to watch as the AHL is stronger and the minor leagues offer glimpses of future NHL greatness.
Oh, you're not interested in that? Not interested in what those have to offer? Won't pay to see second and third-rate hockey?
Thank you. You justified why the players make what they do. The average AHL attendance for last season was 5638. The Phoenix Coyotes, whipping-boy for everything that's wrong with Commish Gary Bettman and the foibles of NHL owners, had an average home attendance of 12,420.
"The players are spoiled millionaires," you say, "while I bust my ass just happy to have a job and make what I make."
Dump that thought.
Once again, any comparisons between professional athletes and "Average Joe" need to stop immediately and y'all need to get your head straight. Nobody in their right mind would spend money to watch "Average Joe" unload a truck, crunch numbers at an accounting firm, design a building, or flip a cheeseburger. About the closest thing is watching a "Cocktail"-like bartender ply his trade or a Japanese chef swirl his knives while cooking your dinner. In which case, there's no admission charge as the entertainment is paid for by tips. (btw, the better the bartender or chef, the more they make which might be construed as a Pro athlete/Average Joe comparable)
So get over yourself. Sidney Crosby should never be compared to "Joe Schmoe." Nor should the NHL be compared to any other business in the "real world."
Jeremy White is a world-class owner apologist whenever the lockout comes up on WGR. "The players are paid well, they should take their cut and play hockey," he says. And he also says that there is no partnership, the owners own the business and they're in charge.
White, like many of us "Average Joe's," doesn't fully understand the relationship of owners, players and U.S. anti-trust laws either.
A caller on The Hockey Hotline yesterday laid out the relationship very well, and here it is in a nutshell:
I'd bet that most fans never even considered the aforementioned partnership of pro sports ownership and their respective unions.
As for Fehr, he knows what he's doing. He knows how to decipher offers, how to bargain (if the other side is ready to sit down at the table) and he's a great communicator with his constituents.
From the get-go, he knew what was coming and told the players to put money away (two years salary) as the owners were serious about this lockout.
From the first offer made by the NHL, he explained to the players what the offer was and how it would affect their career (not that much needed to be explained with that nonsensical offer.)
He's a shrewd negotiator and has kept his agenda on the table, much to the consternation of the NHL, knowing full well where the NHL wants to be.
Fehr keeps the players informed and will travel anywhere they want him to as evidenced by his trip to Minnesota in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
But, through all of this, his biggest task will be to keep his 700 constituents together as one. Right now, any cracks in the union are hairline, as the players won't feel the full affects of the lockout financially until next month when there will be no income coming in ( they just received their one and only escrow check.)
Fehr was in Minnesota briefing players on the lastest developments and sat down with Minneapolis Star-Tribune columnist Mike Russo (via CBSSportlsine's Brian Stubitz) and admitted that there are some fractures in the union but said, 'it doesn't mean you make a bad deal because of it.'
He also knows (and has always known, one would think) that there eventually be a 50/50 split of revenues between the NHL and the players. How they end up there remains to be worked out as well as a bevy of other "smaller issues" that are on the table, but he is willing to work and to keep the best interests of his constituency in mind.
Former NHLPA reps Bob Goodenow and Paul Kelly opened the door to the salary-cap world in 2004. With that in place the owners seem hell-bent upon wringing everything they can out of the players, not only to increase revenues but also to cover their own foibles and constant missteps.
With those salary-cap floodgates open, Fehr is trying to place the responsibility of the owner's problems in it's proper place, right on their laps, not where the owner's want to place it, with the players.
If there ever was a negotiator to get the job done on behalf of the players, it's Donald Fehr.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/48812-NHL-finally-getting-serious-at-bargaining-table.html
Addendum from the Washington Post, November 21, 2012 by Thomas Boswell on Donald Fehr
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/nhl-lockout-owners-shouldnt-underestimate-the-fehr-factor/2012/11/21/7529ec82-341b-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html
Yeah, the haters can let loose and talk about baseball and the loss of the 1994 World Series, but has there been a work stoppage since?
And for those who say the players should just take what's been offered and get back to playing, put a sock in it...
and get a life.
Sorry that you have no focal point for you docile life now that hockey's gone, but that's not the fault of hockey. There's plenty of hockey outside of the NHL to watch as the AHL is stronger and the minor leagues offer glimpses of future NHL greatness.
Oh, you're not interested in that? Not interested in what those have to offer? Won't pay to see second and third-rate hockey?
Thank you. You justified why the players make what they do. The average AHL attendance for last season was 5638. The Phoenix Coyotes, whipping-boy for everything that's wrong with Commish Gary Bettman and the foibles of NHL owners, had an average home attendance of 12,420.
"The players are spoiled millionaires," you say, "while I bust my ass just happy to have a job and make what I make."
Dump that thought.
Once again, any comparisons between professional athletes and "Average Joe" need to stop immediately and y'all need to get your head straight. Nobody in their right mind would spend money to watch "Average Joe" unload a truck, crunch numbers at an accounting firm, design a building, or flip a cheeseburger. About the closest thing is watching a "Cocktail"-like bartender ply his trade or a Japanese chef swirl his knives while cooking your dinner. In which case, there's no admission charge as the entertainment is paid for by tips. (btw, the better the bartender or chef, the more they make which might be construed as a Pro athlete/Average Joe comparable)
So get over yourself. Sidney Crosby should never be compared to "Joe Schmoe." Nor should the NHL be compared to any other business in the "real world."
Jeremy White is a world-class owner apologist whenever the lockout comes up on WGR. "The players are paid well, they should take their cut and play hockey," he says. And he also says that there is no partnership, the owners own the business and they're in charge.
White, like many of us "Average Joe's," doesn't fully understand the relationship of owners, players and U.S. anti-trust laws either.
A caller on The Hockey Hotline yesterday laid out the relationship very well, and here it is in a nutshell:
- There are anti-trust laws in the U.S. that say there cannot be a monopoly in an area of business.
- The NHL (like the other major U.S. sports) have a monopoly on their sport.
- They dictate the professional life of an NHL player from being drafted, to the minors to his entry-level contract, to restricted free agency to the point of unrestricted free agency.
- They also, as a group, the owners say how much a player can make on his entry-level contract and through the cap, at all stages of his career.
- The NHL is in complete control, and it would be illegal in the United States except for the existence of the players union and the negotiated collective bargaining agreement between the two sides.
- Through that agreement, the players allow the league that control as long as they are compensated (in their eyes) fairly.
I'd bet that most fans never even considered the aforementioned partnership of pro sports ownership and their respective unions.
As for Fehr, he knows what he's doing. He knows how to decipher offers, how to bargain (if the other side is ready to sit down at the table) and he's a great communicator with his constituents.
From the get-go, he knew what was coming and told the players to put money away (two years salary) as the owners were serious about this lockout.
From the first offer made by the NHL, he explained to the players what the offer was and how it would affect their career (not that much needed to be explained with that nonsensical offer.)
He's a shrewd negotiator and has kept his agenda on the table, much to the consternation of the NHL, knowing full well where the NHL wants to be.
Fehr keeps the players informed and will travel anywhere they want him to as evidenced by his trip to Minnesota in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
But, through all of this, his biggest task will be to keep his 700 constituents together as one. Right now, any cracks in the union are hairline, as the players won't feel the full affects of the lockout financially until next month when there will be no income coming in ( they just received their one and only escrow check.)
Fehr was in Minnesota briefing players on the lastest developments and sat down with Minneapolis Star-Tribune columnist Mike Russo (via CBSSportlsine's Brian Stubitz) and admitted that there are some fractures in the union but said, 'it doesn't mean you make a bad deal because of it.'
He also knows (and has always known, one would think) that there eventually be a 50/50 split of revenues between the NHL and the players. How they end up there remains to be worked out as well as a bevy of other "smaller issues" that are on the table, but he is willing to work and to keep the best interests of his constituency in mind.
Former NHLPA reps Bob Goodenow and Paul Kelly opened the door to the salary-cap world in 2004. With that in place the owners seem hell-bent upon wringing everything they can out of the players, not only to increase revenues but also to cover their own foibles and constant missteps.
With those salary-cap floodgates open, Fehr is trying to place the responsibility of the owner's problems in it's proper place, right on their laps, not where the owner's want to place it, with the players.
If there ever was a negotiator to get the job done on behalf of the players, it's Donald Fehr.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/48812-NHL-finally-getting-serious-at-bargaining-table.html
Addendum from the Washington Post, November 21, 2012 by Thomas Boswell on Donald Fehr
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/capitals/nhl-lockout-owners-shouldnt-underestimate-the-fehr-factor/2012/11/21/7529ec82-341b-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_story.html
Friday, October 19, 2012
Jeremy Jacobs takes his hockey net and stomps on home
"I wanna play center!"
"No, you can't."
"If I don't play center, I'm taking my net and going home."
"Go ahead."
*stomp, stomp, stomp*
Anyone who's played street hockey knows the scenario, and it's exactly what the NHL owners' reaction to the NHLPA "counter offer" sounded like to me.
It took 10 minutes for the NHL to take their net home. Apparently Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs just walked out followed by his younger "brother," Commisioner Gary Bettman, and his "cousin," Deputy Commisioner, Bill Daly.
We also know what happens after they leave. We continue playing on with what we have.
Eventually there's an agreement somewhere down the road as he's allowed to play some forward and everyone gets back to playing hockey.
Seems like the NHL is locked into bullying their way into an agreement that, in the words of Phoenix forward, Shane Doan, not only demands the money from the players, but hurts them as well.
“After the proposal was made, they did what they’ve done before,” NHLPA Director Donald Fehr said. “They take a very few minutes - they don’t think about it very much, they don’t analyze it, they don’t talk to the other owners, they don’t do anything. They take less than 10 minutes, maybe it was 15…and we are told two things. All three proposals are rejected in their entirety and secondly, the proposal we recently got is their best offer."
Ken Campbell of The Hockey News puts it plainly, "This is going to get nasty now," in his fine piece on the NHL rejection of the NHLPA's offers.
No matter what happens, the picture I get from this latest session is Jacobs, Bettman and Daly stomp on home saying, "I want to play center," and the players say, "Go ahead."
"No, you can't."
"If I don't play center, I'm taking my net and going home."
"Go ahead."
*stomp, stomp, stomp*
Anyone who's played street hockey knows the scenario, and it's exactly what the NHL owners' reaction to the NHLPA "counter offer" sounded like to me.
It took 10 minutes for the NHL to take their net home. Apparently Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs just walked out followed by his younger "brother," Commisioner Gary Bettman, and his "cousin," Deputy Commisioner, Bill Daly.
We also know what happens after they leave. We continue playing on with what we have.
Eventually there's an agreement somewhere down the road as he's allowed to play some forward and everyone gets back to playing hockey.
Seems like the NHL is locked into bullying their way into an agreement that, in the words of Phoenix forward, Shane Doan, not only demands the money from the players, but hurts them as well.
“After the proposal was made, they did what they’ve done before,” NHLPA Director Donald Fehr said. “They take a very few minutes - they don’t think about it very much, they don’t analyze it, they don’t talk to the other owners, they don’t do anything. They take less than 10 minutes, maybe it was 15…and we are told two things. All three proposals are rejected in their entirety and secondly, the proposal we recently got is their best offer."
Ken Campbell of The Hockey News puts it plainly, "This is going to get nasty now," in his fine piece on the NHL rejection of the NHLPA's offers.
No matter what happens, the picture I get from this latest session is Jacobs, Bettman and Daly stomp on home saying, "I want to play center," and the players say, "Go ahead."
Thursday, October 18, 2012
NHL cranking up the propaganda machine trying to sway public opinion
Let's face it, during the last lockout the NHL clearly had the public on it's side and proceeded to win by a landslide the last contract.
This time 'round it's a little more complicated with the public squarely on the players side.
The NHL is trying to sway the public to it's side. It's latest tactic is it's surprise contract proposal. This was after they hire noted focus group guru/pr/marketing/Republican strategist, Frank Luntz.
In my post yesterday, I was hinting that the NHL was twitching and getting ready to blink. Maybe it is that, or maybe they were readying themselves for the big offensive.
The league touted it's latest proposal headlining it with a 50/50 split with the players. Which is all well and good. In fact I'd hazard to guess that most players see the writing on the wall and are planning on that as part of their future.
But, like with all things, "the devil's in the details," and the big question is, "50% of what?"
Then there are the other issues that you can read here as the NHL posted their proposal on their web site.
You can read all the gobbledy-gook you want, take in all the numbers and do all the calculating you want, but the second line should give you all you need to know, "HRR Accounting: Current HRR Accounting subject to mutual clarification of existing interpretations and settlements."
"Mutual clarification of existing interpretations and settlements." Which means that they have not clearly defined HRR, which means that the question remains, "50% of what."
Upon further review, most everybody who reads this proposal sees it heavily weighted in favor of the owners.
But...All they had to do (thanks to Frank Luntz) was throw out that 50/50 split, and the PR campaign to sway hockey fans was on. Didn't matter what was in the details,"50/50" was all they'd need to get the propaganda machine moving.
Union Chief Donald Fehr countered in his letter to the players, outlined here. Once again, feel free to look it over, but it's safe to say that Fehr didn't like the details.
Sure, both sides got their message out via the electronic media. And in this day and age, message board instantly fill up.
But it's interesting to note that the NHL must have some serious plants working the boards.
For instance, as I was typing yesterday's piece, I grabbed some early message board reaction to the contract proposal and added their like/dislike +/-.
Even while I was copying and pasting, their plus/minus doubled or tripled, now it's off the charts. Some responses I charted yesterday with where they are today (pgs. 68, 69 on the message board):
Same thing with Fehr's notes to his players on TSN. Look it up:
They even went to the negative:
The NHL is on the offensive, and Frank Luntz gave them direction.
Don't be fooled. The NHL didn't hire the master of marketing propaganda, Frank Luntz, for nothing.
And they'll use every means necessary to get what they want.
This time 'round it's a little more complicated with the public squarely on the players side.
The NHL is trying to sway the public to it's side. It's latest tactic is it's surprise contract proposal. This was after they hire noted focus group guru/pr/marketing/Republican strategist, Frank Luntz.
In my post yesterday, I was hinting that the NHL was twitching and getting ready to blink. Maybe it is that, or maybe they were readying themselves for the big offensive.
The league touted it's latest proposal headlining it with a 50/50 split with the players. Which is all well and good. In fact I'd hazard to guess that most players see the writing on the wall and are planning on that as part of their future.
But, like with all things, "the devil's in the details," and the big question is, "50% of what?"
Then there are the other issues that you can read here as the NHL posted their proposal on their web site.
You can read all the gobbledy-gook you want, take in all the numbers and do all the calculating you want, but the second line should give you all you need to know, "HRR Accounting: Current HRR Accounting subject to mutual clarification of existing interpretations and settlements."
"Mutual clarification of existing interpretations and settlements." Which means that they have not clearly defined HRR, which means that the question remains, "50% of what."
Upon further review, most everybody who reads this proposal sees it heavily weighted in favor of the owners.
But...All they had to do (thanks to Frank Luntz) was throw out that 50/50 split, and the PR campaign to sway hockey fans was on. Didn't matter what was in the details,"50/50" was all they'd need to get the propaganda machine moving.
Union Chief Donald Fehr countered in his letter to the players, outlined here. Once again, feel free to look it over, but it's safe to say that Fehr didn't like the details.
Sure, both sides got their message out via the electronic media. And in this day and age, message board instantly fill up.
But it's interesting to note that the NHL must have some serious plants working the boards.
For instance, as I was typing yesterday's piece, I grabbed some early message board reaction to the contract proposal and added their like/dislike +/-.
Even while I was copying and pasting, their plus/minus doubled or tripled, now it's off the charts. Some responses I charted yesterday with where they are today (pgs. 68, 69 on the message board):
- '50/50 is a great offer and the players should take it - if they refuse, they can kiss the little public support they have goodbye!! Well done NHL!'---Yesterday +50, today +633
- 'TAKE IT!!!!!!' +46, +423
- '50/50 split and salvage all 82 games. Sounds fair to me. Take it and lets play some hockey' +44, +474
- 'NHL just made a 50-50 revenue split offer. If they PA doesn't accept this offer I don't know anymore' +35, +347
Same thing with Fehr's notes to his players on TSN. Look it up:
- Every time i hear Fehr speak or write something down, my disdain for him and the players position
- In other words: Lost season. Tables are turning. Fehr now looking greedy +223
They even went to the negative:
The NHL is on the offensive, and Frank Luntz gave them direction.
Don't be fooled. The NHL didn't hire the master of marketing propaganda, Frank Luntz, for nothing.
And they'll use every means necessary to get what they want.
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