Why don't American's like Hockey?

[Mr.Jones]

Here are some things which do not help the game:

1. Neutral zone trap [#1 problem]
2. Instigator penalty
3. Goalies starting to look like LaCrosse goalies
4. Not enough obstruction penalties called
5. You can call yourself a purist, but the 1-1 ties were only exciting back in the days of the old six team NHL. The 6-5 games of the 80's simply were more exciting than what we have now.
6. Speaking of that, the game is simply too diluted despite the influx of European talent.
Most games equivalent in caliber to American League or Western League games of the 60's.
7. Too much dump and chase. Anybody remember the Canadiens of the 50's and 60's, eh? Jean Beliveau dumping in and Geoffrion, Richard, Moore, etc, etc, etc, chasing into the corners? No!! The game was not played that way.
Not enough playmaking. Hence expand the ice surface. Would help.
8. I CAN'T BEAT PUCKS. Otherwise I still love the game and am looking forward to the playoffs. Go Lightning.

 

[Fishhead]

All good and valid points JONES, but like you mentioned, still a grand game.

Hope your feeling better sir.

 

[SportSavant]

Fish, check out my Play in the NHL forum, I think it has a really good chance...

 

[DickyW]

Why don't americans like hockey???

Will said it best

"Hockey has geographic hotbeds in the US. New England, and the upper-midwest are the most notable. Minnesota is is very big on hockey"

If you grow up in a hockey climate you will most likely become a fan. If you ask sports fans from the regions Wil Mentioned if they loved hockey the answer would be overwhelming.

Most of the people who hate it either don't understand it or never played it.

 

[Jazz]

Dicky - you're right, if I had grown up where it was BIG then maybe I'd really like it - but I didn't. I also didn't grow up in the UK and as a result go to sleep before a soccer match begins and have no interest in cricket - yet others live and die by it. On the other hand, I understand the game and haven't played it, as I imagine the vast majority of people in the U.S. haven't, which is also the knock against soccer here ever becoming really big - that is, until the future population becomes more weighted towards immigrants from countries where futbol is the only game in town. I DO enjoy the Stanley Cup for the most part because I only have to commit to 4-7 games - and I do so without, believe it or not, a bet on it - lol. However, please understand that the only reason I have the NBA package is because of middles I from time to time get, and it's fun to watch for that reason. Unless it's a game that's going to really impact the playoff picture for both teams or it is the playoffs themselves, I couldn't give a rat's ass about the NBA either, but for different reasons. I can watch college bball all day long, the crowd and players really give it their all for the most part, but the NBA as we all know is a completely different beast - try watching your mediocre teams at the Hawks for a real waste of time.

p.s. That's why hockey finally dropped off the big non-cable networks completely - just not enough interest vs. other programming.

 

[Fishhead]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SportSavant:
Fish, check out my Play in the NHL forum, I think it has a really good chance...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Sport.......I just threw a C-note on it for some small action and to show you respect for your opinion.

I didnt even bother to analyze it.

 

[DickyW]

Good post Jazz and I think you adressed the reason why the NHL attendance is way down. The league expanded way too quickly into markets where there were no roots. Florida Panther and Carolina Hurricane fans are mostly transplanted northerners, tourists or NASCAR fans. Funny when the wings play at Phoenix there are more Detroit fans then Coyote fans. The fan base in markets with no roots are mostly fairweather fans, as long as your winning it's all good. The fand in the east and upper midwest tend to be alot more forgiving.

 

[Fezzik]

Don't understand it??

I find it hard to believe that Hockey's lack of popularity is based on people unable to grasp the game.

Compared to football and baseball, hockey and soccer are mind boggling simple to explain. Try to explain baseball to someone who has never seen it!! Rules here, there, EVERYWHERE.

You can say people are unaware of the subtle points of the game, but don't say they don't understand it. It's hockey's simpicity that allows many non savvy viewers (women) like to attend games in my opinion.

I will say this. I LOVE hockey vs. NASCAR.

I'll also say that betting hockey is a pain for most since with pucklines AND vig lines it is too confusing for novice players.

 

[Jazz]

Don't get me going on NASCAR - as a TV viewer sport, if you don't have some other connection to it (and I don't), I simply cannot even watch it, or actually all 'major-league' auto-racing including the Indy cars. Watching a car go around and around and around and around for 150-200 laps and then the lead car wins by less than a second is pure torture for me - but again, even if I did live in the South I never watched it on TV. I'd take hockey hands-down over any car race.

 

[-Slim-]

Well, to begin with, most of the Americas never experience ice, considering it started out as a winter sport and very few countries in the Americas actually experience winter Id say the problem starts there....

 

[DickyW]

fezzik
When I mentioned understanding it I did'nt mean the rules or the object of the game. I was referring to the silly comments "like soccer on ice" and glorified figure skaters. You obviously do not understand the game or probably never played it.

If you don't care for the game fine, it's not for everyone. But to compare it to soccer is just plain stupid. The speed of a hockey game is second to none. Body checks, pucks flying at 100 MPH + and the skill involved is as much if not more then the other 3 major sports.

Since you can't see the players faces I take it your not a NFL fan either. All the rinks look Identical?? and all football fields don't? baseball? basketball courts?? Go to a NHL game in Boston, Toronto, or Detroit then go to one in Tampa or Carolina and tell me it's all the same. As for cheerleaders, I never pay much attention to them. If I want to watch a bunch of slutty women with no real careers dancing around I'll go to Hooters and order some chicken wings and watch a game. Atleast you get to see the rack up close and personal. Pay a little more attention to the game and you'll be able to follow the puck much easier.

I hate the NBA but I do appreciate and understand the talent

 

[jwunderdog]

The same reason Eskimos don't seem to follow Beach Volleyball.

 

[iceman2002]

Nice writeup Mr Jones. I think the problem with hockey the most is number 2. Get back to old time hockey and let the star players play without some fourth liners all over them. Would Wayne Gretkzy have scored all those goals in
Edmonton without Dave Semenko looking after him.


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mr. Jones:
Here are some things which do not help the game:

1. Neutral zone trap [#1 problem]
2. Instigator penalty
3. Goalies starting to look like LaCrosse goalies
4. Not enough obstruction penalties called
5. You can call yourself a purist, but the 1-1 ties were only exciting back in the days of the old six team NHL. The 6-5 games of the 80's simply were more exciting than what we have now.
6. Speaking of that, the game is simply too diluted despite the influx of European talent.
Most games equivalent in caliber to American League or Western League games of the 60's.
7. Too much dump and chase. Anybody remember the Canadiens of the 50's and 60's, eh? Jean Beliveau dumping in and Geoffrion, Richard, Moore, etc, etc, etc, chasing into the corners? No!! The game was not played that way.
Not enough playmaking. Hence expand the ice surface. Would help.
8. I CAN'T BEAT PUCKS. Otherwise I still love the game and am looking forward to the playoffs. Go Lightning.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[TheGeneral+]

I like Hockey. I'm American.

 

[sherman]

We don't like hockey because the HARTFORD WHALERS are gone!

Playoff hockey is good though...

I don't get when people say they can't see the puck....why not?

Really though, I was into hockey when the Whalers were around and when they left, I stopped following hockey because I had no one to cheer for and I don't want to pick another team....

 

[EddfyMush]

I'm from Canada..where we all grow up playing the game...I used to consider it the greatest sport to both watch live and to play, but the professional game is being ruined and it is a shame...way too much hooking, holding ,interference and defence first systems...exciting offence has gone the way of the buffalo... the game, with the exception of the playoffs has become extremely boring. Even Canadians are getting bored with it!

 

[iceman2002]

If we had more games like the Ottawa/Philly tonight, I bet more americans would watch.

 

[Malibu]

The highest paid players and teams with the highest payroll are in the USA. Looks to me that Americans like hocky just fine, but we also have alot of sports to choose from.

 

[Horseshoe]

I'm a southerner, yet rate Puck Playoffs 5th best sporting event of the year, behind only Bowls, NFL Playoffs, March Madness, & MLB Playoffs..and ahead of NBA anything, Breeder's Cup, CWS, Ky Derby, MLB regular season, NCAA Hoops regular season.

Football on ice..what's not to like?

But agree with Eddfy, that even though I love to bet Unders in playoffs, the holding and hooking have killed the pretty game,the one that I got hooked to the sport in college by watching the Oiler dynasty.

 

[Fishhead]

To me, the NHL PLAYOFFS are far greater than March Madness.