hockey playoffs.

#76
#76
then perhaps i should be more clear. i'm talking from a players perspective of the sport and not a fan's perspective.
 
#78
#78
I think that is an enormous reason soccer is sort of stagnant in this country as a tv-based spectator sport.

Your comments about soccer are right on. At least they've started making the refs announce how much injury time they're going to add at the end of regulation, so you know that there's going to be three extra minutes or four or whatever. It used to be that they would just play for awhile extra and then suddenly it would be over -- often leading to accusations hurled at the officials for stopping it too soon or letting it go too long, etc. But yeah, I can't see soccer ever catching on here in a big way. TV doesn't like it because it doesn't chop up into commercials easily, and the pace of the game is glacial. Soccer is great fun to play, but very dull to watch unless you have a real rooting interest.

That said, given the way the NHL is being managed and the way interest in the English Premier League is slowly starting to bubble up, it wouldn't shock me if soccer far outstrips hockey's popularity in a few years. And that's sad.
 
#79
#79
And the other lovely point is that you must be prepared for people to disagree with you and to razz you for liking things they don't. I would also point out that I gave two specific reasons for not liking it -- that there is too little scoring and that, on television, you can't see the flipping puck!!!

.
I suggest you buy a bigger television, I mean come on.....you are a lawyer, right? Kidding aside although I am a hockey fan and watch almost every Preds game, even I am still frustrated at the lack of puck visibility on TV. It is much easier to see in high def, but very few games are broadcast in high def. I do find that even in analog I can follow the puck fairly easily on my big screen but I can understand the frustration of a non hockey fan trying to not only follow whats going on with the rules of the game but follow a black dot that is sometimes dwarfed by a fly passing by your set.
 
#80
#80
I suggest you buy a bigger television, I mean come on.....you are a lawyer, right? Kidding aside although I am a hockey fan and watch almost every Preds game, even I am still frustrated at the lack of puck visibility on TV. It is much easier to see in high def, but very few games are broadcast in high def. I do find that even in analog I can follow the puck fairly easily on my big screen but I can understand the frustration of a non hockey fan trying to not only follow whats going on with the rules of the game but follow a black dot that is sometimes dwarfed by a fly passing by your set.

Dude, I got a good tv and I don't even see a black dot... Like I said, the folks that already know the game seem to be able to sort of discern where it is based on how players are reacting and setting up, but I ain't one of them and I really think most people are in my boat on this.
 
#81
#81
Back to Hockey, away from Soccer or Televisions, tonights Rangers/Thrashers game proved that the NHL does not belong in the south.

The crowd in Atlanta made less noise throughout than the 7 people in the barroom in my house. They seemed to, generally, be there because the hometown team was in the playoffs for the first time, not because they actually cared about the outcome.

The 1/2 capacity crowds at the Hartford AHL games are more supportive and raucous than the Atlanta fans were tonight...not that i'm complaining, we need a nice easy series before we play Jersey.
 
#82
#82
Back to Hockey, away from Soccer or Televisions, tonights Rangers/Thrashers game proved that the NHL does not belong in the south.

The crowd in Atlanta made less noise throughout than the 7 people in the barroom in my house. They seemed to, generally, be there because the hometown team was in the playoffs for the first time, not because they actually cared about the outcome.

The 1/2 capacity crowds at the Hartford AHL games are more supportive and raucous than the Atlanta fans were tonight...not that i'm complaining, we need a nice easy series before we play Jersey.

I guess Baseball does not belong in the south either. Ever seen the crowd at a Braves or Marlins game?
 
#83
#83
Braves games at least fill up pretty well for playoff games. I believe hatvol said once that most Miami natives aren't even aware that the Marlins exist. Other than those two and the Devil Rays (the Devil Rays) are there even any true Southern baseball teams?
 
#85
#85
Be interesting to see their playoff attendance totals if they were to ever make it there or their attendance if they were at least competitive for a year or two.
 
#86
#86
I had a job interview in Tampa one time and during lunch one of the things they tried to sell me on was Devil Rays games. I decided no thanks if that was a selling point.

:)
 
#87
#87
I guess Baseball does not belong in the south either. Ever seen the crowd at a Braves or Marlins game?

The Marlins are horrific, but I'm pretty sure the Braves have averaged 30,000+ for the past 15 years. That's obviously tickets sold, but still...
 
#88
#88
The Marlins are horrific, but I'm pretty sure the Braves have averaged 30,000+ for the past 15 years. That's obviously tickets sold, but still...


Yea but the fact they can't sell out playoff games is pitiful. Anyway don't take my point as jabbing at the Braves or anyone else, just playing off the fact that hockey does not belong in the south because of some bad fans is a little ridiculous.
 
#89
#89
Back to Hockey, away from Soccer or Televisions, tonights Rangers/Thrashers game proved that the NHL does not belong in the south.

The crowd in Atlanta made less noise throughout than the 7 people in the barroom in my house. They seemed to, generally, be there because the hometown team was in the playoffs for the first time, not because they actually cared about the outcome.

The 1/2 capacity crowds at the Hartford AHL games are more supportive and raucous than the Atlanta fans were tonight...not that i'm complaining, we need a nice easy series before we play Jersey.

Were you at the game? I was.

The crowd was great at the beginning, then lackluster from about midway through the first period through the end of the second -- largely because the Thrashers were playing soft, passive hockey and getting it taken to them. Once the Thrashers started playing more aggressively and creating some chances in the third, the crowd got back into it and was great for the rest of the game. To say that the fans in that arena "didn't actually care about the outcome" is totally baseless.

Now I'm sure you're going to tell me that you could tell more from from the crowd microphones over the TV in your living room than I could sitting in the building, so go right ahead.
 
#91
#91
well the pens went down the other night hope they do better tomorrow.

Do you know why that series has been scheduled so oddly? Game 1 on Wednesday, and then you don't play again till Saturday? Three full days off in a series is ridiculous.
 
#95
#95
Vancouver wins tonight....in 60 Minutes

Excellent prediction. Just about as accurate as your post last night, in which you described an arena in which the entire lower bowl was on its feet for the whole third period as A) making less noise than your 7 friends, and B) not caring who won the game. Cause, of course, you and your seven buddies can tell what's going on from your basement in Connecticut.
 
#96
#96
Excellent prediction. Just about as accurate as your post last night, in which you described an arena in which the entire lower bowl was on its feet for the whole third period as A) making less noise than your 7 friends, and B) not caring who won the game. Cause, of course, you and your seven buddies can tell what's going on from your basement in Connecticut.

Actually it's an outbuilding, not a basement, ground floor is a woodshop, top floor is a bar. Secondly, i believe i said 'generally' on the post which offended you so much. I didn't say all Atlanta fans didn't care, just that it seemed the crowd was less rambunctious than one would expect for a playoff game. If nothing else, try not being an *******, i don't recall personally attacking you in any way, your tounge-in-cheekiness is not appreciated.
 
#97
#97
Do you know why that series has been scheduled so oddly? Game 1 on Wednesday, and then you don't play again till Saturday? Three full days off in a series is ridiculous.

we were discussing this at work this morning, they play tonight in Canada and back to Pittsburgh on Sunday and Tuesday. I have no answer for you my friend.
 
#98
#98
The schedules are pretty random, it seems...After today the Blueshirts and Thrashers are off for 2 games, which isn't too odd considering a travel day, but then play in MSG back to back on Tuesday and Wednesday. :detective: I don't get it, but thats just how it is
 
Sharks started a wicked fight last night at the GEC after the Preds scored on the empty net to seal the deal. Playoff hockey is insane.

On the talks about hockey popularity... I find it important for a person to GO to a game first before they ever try and watch it on TV. Being there completely changes your perception of the game. TV doesn't begin to do it justice.

My guess is that soccer is similar, but if you make the effort to appreciate other parts of the game that are the buildup to scoring, watching a soccer game is very interesting. Far better than a baseball game, IMO. One thing that amazes me is the physical fitness of soccer players on the top level. I thoroughly enjoy watching World Cup and Champions League.
 

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