Is There A Role for Ottawa?

[maplesyrup]

The NHL players have now been shut out for 90 days, with 414 games not played so far.

Is it now time for Ottawa to intervene and help to resolve the deadlock between the players and the owners?

After all, Canadians love their hockey!

[fellowtraveller]

No. The Liberals know that if they intervene, it could cost them a few votes no matter what they did.

They'd never risk it, not their style.

[caesar]

Why; if they got them back playing hockey; they might get my vote hehe. Run Betteman outta the country.

[shackwacky]

Legislate them back to work? I wonder if you could get away with calling hockey an emergency service?

[caesar]

I think it would be quite a stretch(economic hardships maybe) but even if they could stretch it; as half the teams are American; not very likely or possible.

Why do the owners need the players to approve a cap; why do they need the players to police the owners????

I think it is getting ridiculous and the can say goodbye to a lot of season ticket holders. They are still holding on to our money all this time.

[seabee]

The NHL? The "National" hockey league? As about half the teams are from the U.S.A., which "Nation" are we talking about? Has Canada annexed the U.S.A., or is it the other way around? The whole thing is ridiculous.

[caesar]

IN hockey; CANADA RULES he he. Anyhow, we are just having fun and dreaming. relax

[Slavik44]

IN hockey; CANADA RULES he he. Anyhow, we are just having fun and dreaming. relax

I suppose you could also say, in Canada Hockey Rules

[caesar]

Yes. round this house it sure did..Notice past tense. Oh well.

[stamps]

Is it now time for Ottawa to intervene and help to resolve the deadlock between the players and the owners? 

NO!!!...... not everybody relies on the Government to solve their problems.....the socialist way is not the answer here... and in my opinion Trevor Linden is a complete moron..... Quote; " The players will never accept an agreement that involves cost certainty".... the NHL is a business Trevor and the people that pay the bills have to deal with reality... something you need a large dose of.... and am sure will be receiving soon brother........ GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!

[maplesyrup]

What do you think government is, if not us?

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear maplesyrup,

What do you think government is, if not us?

Lol. Them. If you join the Civil Service, you, average shmoe, become 'them', the unwashed masses. There is a British comedy series called "Yes, Minister" that I strongly suggest you watch. My sister, who worked for one of our provinces Ministry's of Finance, could not believe how alike the shows were to reality. Sadly, the series was a comedy.

As to the hockey strike, let the owners and the players rot. Ottawa should have no place in this one, it is between the owners, the players and the fans. The owners are not fully to blame for not 'keeping themselves in line", because it only takes 1 owner to cross the line and then the rest must follow suit or be left behind.

The league needs a 'pay structure based on percentages', because that is the only way that everyone can avoid spending beyond 100% of revenues.

[Stoker]

As to the hockey strike, let the owners and the players rot. Ottawa should have no place in this one, it is between the owners, the players and the fans. The owners are not fully to blame for not 'keeping themselves in line", because it only takes 1 owner to cross the line and then the rest must follow suit or be left behind.

The league needs a 'pay structure based on percentages', because that is the only way that everyone can avoid spending beyond 100% of revenues.

Good point fleabag!!!

I love hockey as much as the next guy (GO LEAFS GO), but I agree, the government has no place in this. I do feel sorry for those that are affected by the lockout, that are not directly involved with the league and players association (ie bar owners, jersey makers etc) but I really do think the onus is on them to diversify their customer base.

As for lockout itself, I side with managment for the simple reasons that they are the ones that invested their money into the NHL teams and they are the ones that have taken the risks associated with a muti-million dollar franchise, and because of that, they deserve to make a profit, not the players.

I'm sorry, any person should feel fortunate to be making at least a six figure income (alot seven and some even eight) for playing a game.

Bring on the replacement players!!!

[caesar]

As for lockout itself, I side with managment for the simple reasons that they are the ones that invested their money into the NHL teams and they are the ones that have taken the risks associated with a muti-million dollar franchise, and because of that, they deserve to make a profit, not the players.

Bull. iT IS THE OWNERS FAULT; Why should the players need to police them. It is their responsibility to only use players that they can afford. It was, Philedelphia owners trying to "BUY" a stanley cup and paying top players extravagant prices to join their team that started this ball rolling. Since the players offer that large cut to their salaries; it is time the owners got off their duffs and return to playing hockey. Control their own spending. If a player wants too much don't sign him. Well run teams with responsible ownership and fan appeal CAN make money.

The players make the game possible; suffer the life long injuries with resulting arthritis etc; lose their teeth; get smashed in the face with a puck. Let the owners use a little self discipline and better marketing of the games. If they can't get sell out crowds; lower their darn ticket prices.

[August1991]

What do you think government is, if not us?

Us? Sometimes. But I agree with you MS, in this case.

NO!!!...... not everybody relies on the Government to solve their problems.....the socialist way is not the answer here...

Stamps, you're wrong.

As to the hockey strike, let the owners and the players rot. Ottawa should have no place in this one, it is between the owners, the players and the fans.

Thelonious, I disagree.

I love hockey as much as the next guy (GO LEAFS GO), but I agree, the government has no place in this.

Stoker, you're wrong too.

----

The owners and players are playing "chicken". It's a really stupid game that is costly. Worse, the cost of this chicken game is greater to others (fans) than the cost and potential benefits are to the players (owners and hockey players) of the "chicken game".

We have government for several reasons. One reason is to stop individuals from such foolish, costly behaviour.

PM PM offered his services. Now he should impose them. Everyone (players, owners, fans) will agree. (After all, everyone is losing for each day of this strike.)

PS. I'm preparing my argument with Hugo about why the the State (PM PM) should have the authority to decide a strike.

[stamps]

Bull. iT IS THE OWNERS FAULT;

It is some but your right..... and now they are going to fix it....

[stamps]

The players make the game possible; suffer the life long injuries with resulting arthritis etc; lose their teeth; get smashed in the face with a puck.

... and for the amount of money the league brings in are over-compensated.... player salaries eat up more than 70% of revenues which is far higher than the other major leagues... ML baseball, the NFL and NBA are in the 50 to 60% range....

[Stoker]

Bull. iT IS THE OWNERS FAULT; Why should the players need to police them.

To a degree, but nobodies asking the player to police them........

It was, Philedelphia owners trying to "BUY" a stanley cup and paying top players extravagant prices to join their team that started this ball rolling. Since the players offer that large cut to their salaries; it is time the owners got off their duffs and return to playing hockey. Control their own spending. If a player wants too much don't sign him. Well run teams with responsible ownership and fan appeal CAN make money.

Philly was not the only team, just one of the teams......it doesn't mater who started the dramtic wage increases (Kings? Rangers?), all it took was for one GM to offer a player "X" amount of dollars, and in doing so set a precedent for player's wages........with the result being, the small market teams (Calgary, Edmonton) can't afford to keep their star players, when a big market team (Toronto, New York) can out bid them..........And as such, the league as figured out how to solve that problem, and thats with a hard cap.....it works with the NFL.......it's great, the league is way more competive and the players can still make some real good coin.

The players make the game possible

Who owns the teams?IOW who pays the bills?

I'd love to see the players try and start their own league Exuse me Mr Ferguson, can we lease the Air Canada Center to play our hockey games in?

suffer the life long injuries with resulting arthritis etc; lose their teeth; get smashed in the face with a puck.

Boo-Frigging-hoo..........none of them have to play hockey........they can all go get a real job like normal people if playing pro-hockey is sooooo rough

Let the owners use a little self discipline and better marketing of the games. If they can't get sell out crowds; lower their darn ticket prices.

They can't lower the ticket prices......how are they going to pay the players?

Stoker, you're wrong too.

----

The owners and players are playing "chicken". It's a really stupid game that is costly. Worse, the cost of this chicken game is greater to others (fans) than the cost and potential benefits are to the players (owners and hockey players) of the "chicken game".

We have government for several reasons. One reason is to stop individuals from such foolish, costly behaviour.

PM PM offered his services. Now he should impose them. Everyone (players, owners, fans) will agree. (After all, everyone is losing for each day of this strike.)

Is NHL hockey an essential service?

Though it might look like a game of chicken, it's not, the players (rightfully so) don't have a warchest anywhere near that of the size of the owners/league. I heard an interview the other day with Eagleson (formor player rep) and his sources are telling him the the majority of the players don't have enough money to last past Jan 2006........and there will be Hummer payments needing to be made.......I can't think of that many jobs the pay a six-seven-eight figure salary that doesn't require some sort of post secondary education.........

The players will cave.

[caesar]

They can't lower the ticket prices......how are they going to pay the players? 

Quantity; duh Then when they get a reliable fan base; raise prices.

We don't pay the big bucks to see the owners; we pay to see the hockey players; the best ones.

[caesar]

To a degree, but nobodies asking the player to police them........

It is the fault of the teams that wanted to buy the Stanley cup and overpaid the players.

What do you think the cap is; why do they need the players to activate a cap; do it themselves with self control. The players are the only ones making any concessions. Without the big stars the owners own NOTHING but a money gobbling hockey arena.

[caesar]

I'd love to see the players try and start their own league  Exuse me Mr Ferguson, can we lease the Air Canada Center to play our hockey games in?

Hey, maybe you accidently stubled on a good idea. The owners will be hungry for money.

[PocketRocket]

I dunno. Grown men making more in one year than most of us earn in a lifetime, to play a game that they enjoy.

Meanwhile, the fans have to spend a week's worth of wages, or more, just to bring their family to a game.

Seems fair to me.

I quit watching pro-hockey years ago when it became evident that it was more about the money than about the game.

And now??? Well, I've enjoyed the year so far. It makes saturday nights in front of the tv much easier. No games on, so there are so many less channels to skip over.

Kinda nice, really.

[caesar]

Well, I've enjoyed the year so far. It makes saturday nights in front of the tv much easier. No games on, so there are so many less channels to skip over.

Kinda nice, really.

Well if you like re runs good for you. Hockey or no hockey; there is not much to watch on tv.

[ndpnic]

I hope the NHL folds!

Let these GREEDY assholes(players) get REAL jobs and see what life is like!

I find it Absolutely OBSCENE that grown men get paid Millions per season to play a game, when Doctors have billing-cap!!!!!!!

[Stoker]

Quantity; duh Then when they get a reliable fan base; raise prices.

We don't pay the big bucks to see the owners; we pay to see the hockey players; the best ones.

We pay big bucks to see the products iced by the owners......not the other way around.

WRT ticket prices, that has nothing to do with the CBA or the league, the onus is on the indivdual markets to control their ticket prices........IOW $300 a ticket wouldn't fly in Nashville, but the Leafs have no problem selling out the ACC every game with prices like that.......

It is the fault of the teams that wanted to buy the Stanley cup and overpaid the players.

Yeah, the point has already been made, and it's the same people (the owners) that are going to have to fix the game...........for the poorer owners.

IOW, the teams that you say are trying to buy the cup (Rangers, Leafs, Wings, Avs, Stars etc) are exploting the holes left in the 1994 CBA. Now, these very same teams are going to have to sacrfice their finacial advantage to even up the playing field for the Calgarys and the Nashvilles.

What do you think the cap is;

A ceiling on team salaries

why do they need the players to activate a cap; do it themselves with self control.

They don't need the players to activate a cap, thats the league's job........as for self control, what magical world do you live in.....Teams want to win, if they have an advantage (money) over another team they will use it. Bring in a cap, no more advantage.....

Thats to say nothing about revenue sharing..........

The players are the only ones making any concessions.

Feed a pig, slaughter a hog.......boo-hoo.......I'm really going lose sleep with the knowledge that the Jagrs in the world won't be making 10 million a year anymore, but a measaly 6-7 million

Without the big stars the owners own NOTHING but a money gobbling hockey arena.

What are the big stars doing now? Playing in Europe for peanuts.

WRT the arenas, the teams that were losing money last year (most where) are now losing less money without having to pay salaries.

Also, most arenas in the league are duel use, in that alot also have basketball teams and other advents. Once the league cancels the season, arenas can book other events that make money, like concerts and car/boat shows.

You also have to remeber, that for the majority of the owners, having a hockey team (or any sports team) is just a hobby or a toy if you will........it's not their main source of revenue.......whats the players main source of revenue?

Hey, maybe you accidently stubled on a good idea. The owners will be hungry for money.

Nope, for the reasons stated above.

billionaire owners > million players

The outcome is certain, it's just a mater of time.

Mind you, one option I heard (forget where) is after a certain amount of time, the league can leagally fold. Then start another league with the owners, thus navigating around any debt and labour problems.