Reason #1 We Hate American Hockey Fans

The readers of this blog may wonder why I actually went through the (admittedly minimal) time and effort of my last post. Well, first it was actually a legitimate post critiquing the NHL. Second, it was pretty much a set up for this post.

While hanging with my boy Alvaro having some wings and beer and watching the Maryland-Duke basketball game, we noticed that the NHL All-Star game was actually on one of the televisions in the sports bar. A kid next to me, already having quenched most of his thirst this evening, starts talking to us about the hockey game. Apparently, this kid (around 25 but acting 16) played hockey somewhere in Ohio where his family is "known in the local hockey community". He played some small college club hockey, and still plays in some adult club leagues now (and yes, they do have hockey leagues in Florida). He also made it known that he was a dual citizen - United States and Switzerland. I guess if war ever broke out in the Vatican he could claim U.S. status rather than having to guard the Pope.

Anyway, Alvaro has a theory as to why hockey is not very popular in the U.S, because most of the great players are not American. Swiss Miss then proceeds to tell us why this is. "Because the way the bigger American players are taught to play has been legislated out of the league. Things like clutching-and-grabbing aren't allowed, so the Americans that grew up playing clutch-and-grab defense cannot make it to the professional level. However, the Europeans grow up playing a wide open style of hockey, which is being rewarded by the NHL." Now, Swiss Miss may be right, but he was indignant about it. Almost as if he wanted to say, "How dare the NHL keep less skilled players from bullying those that actually have more speed and talent." Like each sport doesn't try to showcase those players that actually have talent and skill over those less talented (the Pat Riley era Knicks notwithstanding). What a dope. This guy probably likes soccer's offside rule as well. The reason we hate hockey fans like this guy is:

THEY ACTUALLY THINK THEIR FAVORITE SPORT IS RELEVANT!

The NHL All-Star game was showing on one television out of 80 in this bar. ONE! The people were watching the Duke-Maryland basketball game (which by the way, if you haven't seen Bambale Osby play - make sure you catch him).

If the NHL is ever going to be popular in the United States it needs to: (1) Play on a real network; (2) reward the most skilled players - or at least not hinder the most skilled players; (3) find somehow for the true athleticism of the players to be showcased through the television camera; and (4) have hockey fans like Swiss Miss shut their traps until they actually know about what they are talking.