The game is different, basically, the rink is bigger, that makes a huge difference, just like a smaller basketball court in Olympic basketball makes a huge difference, and give NHL hockey another chance, this season has been more free flowing.
This is the most idiotic thing posted on this thread. How can you insinuate and say ordinary people can pick up a hockey stick and start playing. You ever watch a professional hockey game before. You obviously don't see the mastery of the top Russians and other Euro's who play the game. You ever see those crisp passes and masterful goaltending. Why does someone need to be 300lbs or 7 foot tall to enjoy them play. Why don't you go watch sumo in that case. Baseball players arent mammoth individuals but you seem to think they are elephant size monsters. The average height of an MLB is about 6 foot. Just because you dont want to have a chat with Wayne Gretzky, doesnt mean these are boring individuals. You just don't like the sport or its players because you're entirely ignorant about hockey.
Also not to mention about Marc-Andre Fleury (a franchise goaltender) and Evgeni Malkin (a franchise center destined to become NHL's top rookie next season)... Oops, that's not to mention about a top three pick in this year's draft (if the Pens still linger around the basement by April)
Thanks for skimming through my post and not really reading it. Here's another where I give credit to the skills of hockey, just in case you want to skim it also. I actually watched the final game of a Stanley Cup Finals and frankly I was nodding off. The speed of the players was apparent, but the back and forth without any progress was getting monotonous. Talk about idiotic, that's an idiotic interpretation of my posts. Where the bleep does it say I care about the stature of a baseball player. What I meant by larger then life is the things that they excel at that makes them superstars. When you start having .340, 40 hr, 1500 rbi, 40 sb type of numbers against ML pitching then you tend to get alot of attention. Yeah I know there are skills involved with hockey that not just anyone can master, I was being a bit sarcastic on the common schmoe comment. I just happen to think those skills are not as astounding then the other Big 3's skills needed. More precisely, I just don't think swinging a hockey stick with high precision while skating is as interesting as a double play, a behind the back pass for a layup, or even a fumble where everyone is diving for the ball. Please check your reading comprehension before you get into hissyfit about someone's opinion again. Thanks.
The NHL game, and the Olympic game is different. in the NHL, the Ice is 200 x 80, or 200 x 85. I can't remember. In Olympic competition, it's bigger. I think that is what they use in Europe. There's no center line, which the NHL just adpoted this year. (I think it's like that in the Olympics) The game is quicker also, which is nice. When I mean quicker, I mean, the do the face off less than 30 seconds after a stoppage in play. The Europeans are waaaaaaaaaay more skilled than the North American players. North Americans prefer to play the dump and chase style, aka the NJ Devils game. Atleast, that's what they say.
V 3.0 Of the 3 major sports, the only one I find that interesting to watch when my team isn't playing is basketball. Football is just not that fun unless you have a guy like Vince Young they can change the game at every play playing. Especially today where it's run for 3 yards, short pass up the middle for 6, screen pass for 2 first down repeat. The short west coast offense style passing is effective, but there just isn't enough game changing plays that makes you jump out of your seat any more. Though I think it's the best game to watch if your team is playing. Baseball is a just a yawner all around unless your team is playing or a storied series (a la the Boston Yankee serious 2 years ago where they break the curse is in my top 10 series/ games of all times (up there with the 94 series against the suns for the rockets ...kiss of death, this years National Championship ... Vince Young). You either get the dominant pitching which leads to low scoring, or bad pitching which usually leads to a blow out. To make the game entertaining, you have to hope for under performing pitcher.
I didn't read the whole thread. Sorry if this is a repeat. If Les has so much money, why the hell is he so cheap with the Rockets? Why can't he spend a few million more to get us some players?
When I saw you had posted in this thread, I thought to myself, "What's the negative focus of the glynchster's post?" Thought you might make some tangential connection to only evil rich white people like/can afford the NHL, the lack of minorities in hockey, something about bringing the Canadian healthcare system to town along with their national passtime...I didn't think of "Les's cheapness hurts the Rockets." Outstanding.
In a way that's a myth, the truth is that there is a luxory tax and some owners are willing to pay it more than others, my attitude is that it's not my money.
If NHL came to Houston...I'd have to stop rooting for the Stars. Baseball sprained pinky= do not play Football sprained ankle= do not play Basketball sprained toe= do not play Hockey Fractured Wrist= still plays, scores goal with 70mph WRIST shot in Stanley Cup Playoffs Bruised Ribs= Tape up ribs in locker room..come back out & make hard checks against opponents into glass Sprained Ankle= Lots of tape..but still plays I'm convinced Hockey players are the toughest athletes out of all the major sports. If you ever get to see it live...its pretty darn exciting.
well except for the fact that hockey's the lamest sport to ever be invented. i do agree on one point, which is injuries in sports today. athletes have to be the biggest p*****s alive (this coming from someone that played through a broken spine in the summer of '97) if you've got a sprained toe , play through it. if you've got back spasms and can barely walk, play through it. broken spine? you guessed it, find a way, make it happen and play.
I don't care about the ballet. I don't like going to the ballet. I find it boring. My sister loves the ballet. She grew up dancing ballet. She loves the Houston Ballet and loves taking her daughters to events. I find ballet boring. But I think it's great that Houston has a ballet company on this level. It adds to the city to have it...whether I like it or not.
Good news, and it's definately a buyer's market now with Hockey in such a slump. I don't follow Hockey at all; I think that the fighting really slows down the flow of the game, much like the NBA in the 70s when there were NBA 'enforcers' (see Kermit Washington). But I would definately follow a Houston hockey team. And for all the hockey and soccer haters out there- if you don't like it, just keep it to yourself. We don't care.
Not an attack, man, and apologies for any offense, just seems to be a lot of negativitude in your posts. The weather's beautiful, the Rox are playing better, smile dammit. And don't anybody be fooled by Max, if you get enough zimas in him, he won't shut up about the Dance of the Sugarplum Faeries.
