One Skate Forward, Two Skates Back

First off, my sincerest apologies to Matt for writing this blog, but I'm sorry, it has to be said.

I'm hereby calling for the the NHL to rename itself the NML...National Masochism League and Gary Bettman to pull an Ochocinco and official change his name to Dr. Kevorkian.

Now I admit, I'm not a huge hockey fan, but like most other casual icemen, I'll flip the switch (if I can actually find Versus or the Outdoor Life Network of course) to tune into some playoff action. Last night, however, when Sid the Kid, Marvelous Malkin and a young, exciting Penguin team were attempting to book a return flight to Hockeytown, I only watched for two minutes...evidently most of America did the same.

Going up against the NBA Finals proved to be a ten-minute major for Kevorkian and Krew.....in nearly every major American city (even Detroit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), the NBA ratings slam dunked those of the NHL. The highest NHL rating came in bumbling Buffalo, a city that enjoys only two seasons...Bills season and Bills offseason. Why in the name of Steve Avery, would Dr. K think extending the break between Game 5 and 6 to three days and slotting a do or die game on the same night as Game 3 of the NBA Finals is a smart idea.

Now in all fairness, the NHL has done a very respectable job in resurrecting itself following the disastrous 2004-2005 lockout. The game is faster, the action is more intense, attendance is up and many players are once again household names..so why go and euthanize yourselves!!!! You had a golden opportunity, with the game on NBC, to call the sporting world your own had Game 6 been on Monday. No NBA, No Red Sox/Yanks!!!!

The icicles don't end here though folks...the NML forces us once again to wait three days for Game 7 and puts it on a Friday night!!!! Guys, hockey fans are as passionate a group of fanatics as you will find and that will never change, but the people you want watching are the LazyBoy Loafers, the people who wouldn't know the blueline if they tripped over it or a slapshot if it hit them in the nuts....you're not gonna find those guys on a Friday night!!!

Dr. K...you opted for more money by choosing Versus over ESPN (awful decision whether you like The World Wide Leader or not), you expanded well beyond your limits and are now paying the price as one team after another cries bankruptcy (i.e. Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators) and your ratings are slumping in the midst of a Stanley Cup Finals that features an Original Six team and your marque star...here's our last will and testament Doctor, when you have a night to promote your product to the world, don't treat us like one of your patients...let us live and see the light!!!!