No matter how many times the NHL will abuse this fan, like a low-esteemed boyfriend, I will always come crawling back to you. That is how much I love this sport. I grew up watching and playing hockey and I intend to watch and play it for another 60 years. But if what we're hearing from the NHL and NHLPA discussions are true, the NHL will probably cease to exist. The only benefit is that the Canucks will never reign as Stanley Cup Champions, but I digress.
Please reach a deal, compromise, and move forward. There is no need to hinder the growth of the sport by fighting for personal rights which can be negotiated off the ice while players show case hockey and generate revenue on the ice. A lockout is a last resort tactic that Bettman will reluctantly impose, and I firmly believe Bettman does not want this, considering he had a very emotional tone of voice when speaking about it last night. But nobody wins in a lockout, not the players, not the owners, not the employees, not the fans, not the bookies, not the bars and restaurants, not merchandise retailers, not a single entity stands to gain when a lockout occurs. So why force a lockout and accept to be locked out? It is a lose-lose-lose-lose-lose situation.
Bettman has to stop the tactic of using lockouts to string the NHLPA into agreeing with its proposed terms. It has damaged the sport and this third lockout will undoubtedly do more damage than ever. Even I am hesitant on supporting the league right now, when a short-term solution can be found that keeps the game on the ice and allows owners and union members to work on a better deal.
Conversely, I believe that Fehr and his lackeys at the NHLPA must acknowledge how good their employees have it. Their rights are more equitable than the rights of other professions. Unions were designed to give a voice to the front-line staff who were not paid enough to make ends meet, did not earn overtime, and worked in unsafe conditions. Instead, we have a union fighting for every penny when members don't necessarily need it.
I understand that the NHL and NHLPA want to battle for what's right and fair and I believe they should, but both parties must also accept that their biggest stakeholder is the fan, which happens to be their consumer. We represent a fraction of the revenue, but without any fan, there would be no revenue at all. We buy tickets, but businesses pay to advertise along the boards, to televise and broadcast the games, to sell hats and shirts and flags and cups all to us. Consumers and fans do not have a voice. Instead, we are heard through consumption and trends and businesses know that. This is why it is so critical that a deal is worked out because the NHL stands to lose too much over a few million dollars in a billion dollar industry.
I am not asking for the NHL and NHLPA to bow down to our every wish because the fans deserve it. No, I want both parties to create a perfect CBA agreement that simply can be renewed without work stoppages or disruptions for a very long time - a pipe dream perhaps. All parties want the same end result so listen to the fans that want to cheer for every great moment that your sport delivers, listen to the players that wish nothing more than to play for a shot at the holy grail, and listen to the owners that need to operate a business.
Please Mr. Bettman and Mr. Fehr, for the enhancement of the game, to respect the wishes of the fans, players, and owners, please find a way to come to terms to prevent a lockout. I can barely stand summer, you think I can survive another year?
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