NHL: 2008 - 2009 season is upon us

[Grace]

Thanks Grace, I appreciate that. I will just say that the team I was speaking about is in the same conference as the Pens and they have an intense rivalry. That does make for some fun games though!

I'm quite sure I know which team you mean, but I will not mention it.

Back to the word "dignity" - using that in connection with the sport of hockey is oxymoronic, don't you think. Unless one goes back 40 - 50 years, to the Montreal Canadiens of Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard.

[Grace]

This is really going to p*ss people off -

From the Detroit News -

Monday, June 8, 2009
NBC blocks Joe Vision broadcast of Red Wings-Penguins
Terry Foster / The Detroit News

Detroit -- There will be no "Joe Vision" broadcast of Tuesday night's Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals because NBC would not rescind its exclusive rights to the telecast.

The game will not be shown at Pittsburgh's outdoor plaza either.

At issue is television ratings, and a large crowd at Joe Louis Arena could be hundreds -- if not thousands -- of television sets not tuned into NBC.

"It is certainly something we wanted to show but were unable to secure the rights," said Steve Violetta, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs for the Wings.

NBC representative Brian Walker did not immediately return a phone message for comment, but NHL media relations vice president Frank Brown confirmed the situation while expressing sympathy to Red Wing fans.

"We are very much in tune and very sensitive to the great experience that fans have by coming to a great venue and watching a great hockey game," Brown said. "That said we need to be sensitive to the business end of things and that business is ratings driven."

[JenBKR]

I'm quite sure I know which team you mean, but I will not mention it.

Back to the word "dignity" - using that in connection with the sport of hockey is oxymoronic, don't you think. Unless one goes back 40 - 50 years, to the Montreal Canadiens of Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard.

So true! Too much testosterone perhaps

This is really going to p*ss people off -

From the Detroit News -

I know, NBC has been doing that in Pittsburgh too. They haven't been able to show any of the NBC games outside the arena. NBC just wants the ratings, and that's all they really care about

[Grace]

I know, that in the past, the Joe has shown the game - perhaps before the games were on NBC?

Anyway, they would charge a flat fee of $5, and all the money went to charity.

NBC - the Scrooge Network

[RICHARD]

It's 2:35 PST..On days when there is a big game I think about the players and try to think about how THEY feel hours from the opening faceoff!


Under pressure?

[Grace]

It's 2:35 PST..On days when there is a big game I think about the players and try to think about how THEY feel hours from the opening faceoff!

Under pressure?

Well, Bernie Smilovitz just interviewed Zetterberg on the local news, and Z is definitely not showing any pressure. Maybe because he's Swedish?
Hopefully that is the case, as our team is chock full of them -Swedes, that is.

[Grace]

Cup Trivia.

In order to have ones name engraved on Lord Stanley's Cup, a player must play in 41 regular season games or one game in the Finals.

The NHL makes exceptions for players who do not meet the standard because of injury or other extenuating circumstances.

That is why you will find the name of Vladimir Konstantinov on the 1998 list - even though he has not played a game since game 4 of the finals in 1997. Vlady was the inspiration for the Wings 1998 victory.

Their motto for 1998 was Believe - верить

[RICHARD]

I'm quite sure I know which team you mean, but I will not mention it.

Back to the word "dignity" - using that in connection with the sport of hockey is oxymoronic, don't you think. Unless one goes back 40 - 50 years, to the Montreal Canadiens of Jean Beliveau and Henri Richard.

Don't forget Gump Worsley.


Watch, the Burgers will bombard NBC with calls and the game will air.

But, then again, you really can't trust a network that promotes Keith Olberman and Rachel Maddow