Hockey-based lamentations and frustrations

For those of you that don’t know, I like hockey. It is pretty much the only sport I follow. And this year, it looks like there will not be a season of which to speak.

The whole notion of sports is quickly disenfranchising me, so much, so I am just about ready to swear it off — hockey included. As I have previously written, I find much of the fanfare surrounding sports to be, shall we say, frivolous if not devolved.

But I do love hockey, in all it savage glory. Call it a contradiction in my personality.

However, that said, I grow tired of these frequent stalemates especially since they results in me having to sit a season out while owners and athletes work out a deal. Whatever. I am not taking sides in regards to collective bargaining. I couldn't care less about it. I care about my sport. But, it seems to me that sports fans’ increased fervor has created a new monster — one with an elevated sense of entitlement.

I’m not making judgments in regards to pay. I acknowledge that hockey players make a relatively small amount of money compared to basketball, football and baseball players. But there is no denying that with more entitlement comes more resistance on the part of the other party who feels they are entitled to the same things to which you believe you are entitled.

The last NHL lockout ended in 2005. I have been watching hockey since 1994 and can only recall one other lockout in that time. And it was only part of a season. Since then the league has worked hard, rather successfully, to build a broader fan base in hopes of generating more revenue.

Now, the NHL is on the verge of its second lockout in seven years. That’s can’t be a coincidence. I hardly think all those hard-earned fans are going to put up with these shenanigans every time the bargaining agreement expires. I know I won’t. I will move on to better things. When does lacrosse season start?

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