Word. Plus, hockey the year the Stars won the cup was some of the worst hockey ever. Clutch, grab, ice. Clutch, grab, ice. But ultimately, you can be a fan of hockey without seeing it in person, but seeing it in person REALLY helps.
Working for the local team in their innaugural year I can say from experience that watching it on TV and watching it live are totally different experiences (I had seen live hockey before this season). At almost every game this past year someone made the comment of how much fun it was live. It is more than just a bunch of guys skating around swinging sticks. Ther is a lot of stratergy, and I garauntee that many of the guys that play hockey are way toughewr than many of the guys that play football. I have seen guys take 5-10 stitches come back and play. Another guy played half a game with a broken foot. As far as the arguments that 0-0 games are boring. I will tell you that the worst games we had last year were the blow-outs. I'll agree with Manny that not all low scoring basketball games are bad. If the teams are playing good D then It may be interesting. But in contrast if the score is low because the teams can't shoot, then the game probably stinks. The people that compare hockey to soccer either don't watch it or don't understand it. If you think that it is like soccer because the scores are similar, i'll tell you that is the only thing they really have in common. A 0-0 soccer tie may have 0 shots on goal. But in hockey ther are going to be shots on goal. For a game to stay 0-0 your going to most likely see some really good goaltending. In soccer teams hold the ball at midfield and pas it around. That never happens in hockey(there isn't enough space to do that for a long time). Calling it soccer on ice is flat out incorrect. It is more closely related to football on ice. There are some vicous hits (and fights), and even in low scoring games ther is still quite a bit of offense. I haven't heard too many complaints about football scores of 3-0 or 6-3. Those are classified as defensive struggles. The same can be said of low scoring hockey games except they are more correctly classified as goaltending showcases. The football similarities are one of the main reasons I think that people in the South can relate to hockey. Lafayette's ECHL franchise will celebrate their 10 year anniversary this season. Houston has had a AAA franchise for 10-11 years. The Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, and Tampa Bay Lightning have all made Stanley Cup appearances, with the latter 2 winning it. Teh St. Louis Blues (not an extreme Northern city) has made the NHL playoffs for 25 straight years and they have been in the top 6 in attendance since the 2000-2001 season. So before you start making ignorant statements watch a game live. You'll most likely find that once you give it a chance it will grow on you. There is nothing better than watching it live and nothing worse than watching it on TV and trying to get an understanding of the game. Even thought the NHL will be locked out. The minor leagues will be playing, and the talent level in the minors will be much better than years past. Most teams are affiliated and will get a trickle down from the NHL. Even without the NHL there will still be really good hockey available.
I don't know what it is about hockey that just turns me off so much. It's a fast-paced, in-your-face, athletic sport, but I just can't stand watching it. I was even bored at a Stars game I attended a few years ago. It's not the scoring/lack thereof, because I enjoy soccer and can tolerate baseball. I just don't know what it is.
What is all this "hockey" you speak of? There's a "National" league? Hope it works out sooner than later, and that Houston (with a hard freeze every 5-7 years) gets a franchise.
I've gone to a few aeros games and it was pretty good.. I juist could never see myself following them because they aren't on tv.. the only way to see a majority of their games would be to go to them all.. and that's never going to happen so the chances of me ever becoming a huge fan arent very high
time to date myself.... did anyone else ever go see the Aeros play when they were a NHL franchise? I did.....numerous times..Gordie Howe and his boys were the centerpieces of that team... and it was damn exciting to watch.....but I have tried to regain that enthusiasm by watching hockey on tv....and it isnt even close! Before you judge hockey...at least make an effort to go see a game live, at the very least you might find it mildly exciting...but I doubt you would ever call it boring again.
Aeros were in the WHL. That league folded and some of the teams were absorbed by the NHL I still have (somewhere) a Gordie Howe Aeroes hockey card. I think two of his sons played on that team too. You may even have seen a young Gretzky play as Edmonton was also in the WHL at the time. I actually read somewhere that Texas had the most professional hockey teams of any state. That info is now dated as some of the teams folded...but i found that an odd statistic. Hard to imagine someone relating to Hockey unless they've played. And I couldn't imagine playing hockey would be a priority in Texas.
WHL? ok...Ill take your word for it...that was a loooong time ago...and me memory aint what it used to be. and I do remember that much...yes, gordie and two of his sons played for the Aeros...I remember getting their autographs when I was like 10 or something like that.
Actually it was the WHA. He played in Houston from 73-77. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/wha19731974.html The team actually made the WHA finals in 74,75,76 and won the title the first 2 years.
I am ESTATIC ABOUT THIS LOCKOUT! Hockey is like ten months out of the year including their training camp and its absolutely ridiculous. Will not miss it AT ALL.
A shootout is an actual part of the game. Horse isnt, homerun derby isnt, levtria comercials are not apart of the NFL. and in some countries, i am sure they might kill you if you dont win that all important cricket match.
Well at least there are some of ya who do care about the NHL, which is fairly surprising in my opinion... It's gonna last for the entire season, cuz both sides are wide apart... I guess ESPN has released a revised version of NHL 2K5, check it out http://www.pfi2k.com/nhl/nhl.htm
WWE owner Vince McMahon could create the XHL during the lockout. i know the XFL was a failure but maybe the XHL could work. the XHL would be the alternative to the NHL. instead of playing with ice skates on a ice hockey rink, they should play with roller skates on a roller hockey rink.
