Some of the Best Deals are the Ones that Never get Done

Another NHL trade deadline is almost upon us.  Like a dark cloud in the distance, we watch and wait for the inevitable storm.  Who’s gonna go, who’s gonna stay?

Some of the best deals are the ones that never get done.

Whoever said that first must be rolling in laughter every time it gets used.  Another great example of a sports cliche that pretends to say something but really means nothing.  We guess that is the beauty of it.  Seriously, we can think of a 100 great deals that will never get done in about 10 minutes.  So the saying is rather pointless.  Yeah, Luke Schenn for Sidney Crosby would be a great deal.  Too bad its not going to get done.  Therefore the saying works.  Ridiculous.

So we wait for the storm.  The eye of the day will be that it’ll be televised like no other in history.  Every player that gets traded will say:

• I hate to go
• Looking forward to a new challenge

In order to avoid the worst of the storm we are going to do things differently this deadline.  We’ll pass on the pretentious tv coverage, the interviews with the guys that really know nothing of any importance and the eversopainful2watch analysis.  For us, it marks the first of many that we’ll be following solely on the web.  We’ve never done that before and we are willing to give it a whirl.  At the end of the day, will we be just as informed?  Most likely and we’ll have avoided the mind numbing coverage of the networks.  A risk well worth the plunge.

Life Altering PeeVeeARGGHHHH!

It changed Woodpeck’s life.  Just this past Fall.  The PvR!

Seriously folks.  Get a PvR.  It’ll change the way u watch all your TV shows including sports.  Woodpeck now watches more tv in less time thanks to the PvR and seldomly misses the programs he actually wants to watch. When it comes to sports, we can fwd to all the good parts & viola!  U’ve watched the event in a fraction of the time it would have taken in real time!  Its so easy even a guy can use it. 

There we said it.  Now do it! You might be surprised to find out it only will cost ya a tad bit more then what you are already paying to watch tv… Do the research & find out for yerselves! Its not very often a gadget comes out that actually is a improvement to this level.  Now that woodpeck has one, he can’t ever imagine life without it & that’s the bottom line.

500 Channels & There’s Nothing On

The NHL is their own worst enemy.  They just enjoyed their most successful game in 13 years on American TV, the 2009 Winter Classic on New Year’s day. You’d think the league would want to “capitalize” on some newfound buzz and interest and highlight a tilt with tons of storylines, talent and importance.  The Washington Capitals vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Crosby vs. Ovechkin.  Malkin vs. Ovechkin.  Malkin vs. Semin.  Over achieving team vs. under achieving team.  Struggling goalies vs. powerhouse goal scorers.  Sounds like a great game doesn’t it?  Add to the mix the recent drama/feud between Malkin and Ovechkin and what’s there to lose?  EVEN IF YOU MADE THE TV SCHEDULE IN AUGUST THIS GAME BETWEEN THE PENS AND CAPS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE TV ALL ACROSS NORTH AMERICA!

A quick look at the TV sked sheds the light that the game will be nowhere to be found unless you subscribe to a NHL Centre Ice package or live in Washington or Pittsburgh.  Not even Canadians are excluded from this slight as TSN decides to air an important matchup between 2 of the worst teams in the NHL.  Yeah, Sens vs. Thrashers are featured in the Draft Cup as the Top Prospects play in Oshawa.  Coincidence?  We think not. 

NHL, you are your own worst enemy and truly are missing the boat on a fantastic match up.  WTG!  We’d compare this blunder to missing a breakaway with the game on the line and then having the opponent come back up the ice and score.  You have no one to blame but yourselves for the situation you find yourself in.  Enjoy!

Note to NHL: Time to Polish Up the Product or Remain a Poor Cousin

Here’s the thought of the day:

The NFL is widely regarded as the number one professional league in North America if not the world.  The EPL or any other Euro soccer league might have something to say about that last one.  But this thought of the day might well be applicable to them as well.  Regardless, the NFL product is top notch and why is that?   Well it dawned on us during the Debacle in Toronto this past Sunday what that reason might be:

•  Their game looks so darn good on TV. 

Its that simple.  The game looks great on TV.  From the cheerleaders to coaches to fans to the players themselves, everything looks so shinny, glossy, clean and crisp and that makes for great TV.  The NFL does not play in dingy arenas with poor lighting (ie: Leafs vs. Coyotes last week).  That happens all too often in the NHL.  We’ve seen the Roger’s Centre in Toronto look bad for CFL/Jays games for years but the NFL came into town the place looked great and the NFL cameras ate it up.  Even the outdoor NFL games looks great on TV.  We dunno how they do it but if the NHL weren’t run by Pinheads, they’d be smart and get a man on the NFL broadcasts to take notes.  What they’ve done to make the on field product look so good has got to be able to be duplicated.  Whether its just one simple thing or a contribution of many factors, its got to be replicated.  Its time to raise the standard of what an NHL game looks like on TV.  If all the arenas are now built to the same regulation size, it can’t be that hard to get them to all look the same on TV. If the game looks great on TV all the time, that can only help market the game and improve its image.  If it looks like a million bucks, the ratings and revenue will follow.

Shouts from the Top of the Hill!

Here’s some stuff we’re chewing on:

• Now that baseball is done, what is there on TV to fall asleep to?
• Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment employs 3 professional coaches in the Major leagues. Sam Mitchell (NBA Raptors), Ron Wilson (NHL Leafs), John Carver (MLS TFC). All cut from the same cloth? You can argue that all are no-nonsense, matter-of-fact, tempermental, tell-it-like-it-is coaches. A theme by MLSE? We think so. Discuss.
• Seriously, the Tennessee Titans need to make embattled QB Vince Young a running back. Its what he does best. They would win the Super Bowl with him in the equation.  Hands down.
• The Canada Sports Hall of Fame is granted to Calgary and is going to cost $50 Million. Meanwhile, Canadian Olympic athletes are beggin’ for private sector funding and recent polls seem to indicate that the populace supports more public funding for athletes. In these uncertain financial times do you support the past or the future or both or neither? We doubt there’s enough cash out there for everything so we’d choose to support athletes now. There’s always time for the HoF later.  Invest in the future!
• OMG! Tomorrow is Hallowe’en… Need a costume?