tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post8693888452010452170..comments2023-09-10T00:44:30.408-07:00Comments on FAUXRUMORS: Weekend ReviewFAUX RUMORShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00403913043629362701noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-4436957533776223402007-05-22T14:28:00.000-07:002007-05-22T14:28:00.000-07:00According to Neil Best at Newsday, Versus still ha...According to Neil Best at Newsday, Versus still has another year on a three-year deal and, get this... Versus has an option for ANOTHER three years. I just listened to the Bettman interview with Mike and Maddog on WFAN-NY, and the idiot Bettman said he'd make the same decision to favor Versus over ESPN if he had to do it all over again. In other words, with full hindsight of the ratings and coverage problems AND the discontent among the hockey fan base, the dope would single-mindedly make the same mistake.Cincyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896450802228164676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-24666756003812925782007-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:002007-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:001) Not sure, but we believe the NHL recently re-up...1) Not sure, but we believe the NHL recently re-upped its deal with Versus meaning it will be on the obscure sportsman channel for another few yearsFAUX RUMORShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00403913043629362701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-8831376583588265622007-05-21T13:30:00.000-07:002007-05-21T13:30:00.000-07:00The only complaint the NHL can have toward ESPN is...The only complaint the NHL can have toward ESPN is that they wouldn't give them any cash for the right to carry games. Otherwise, ESPN was an excellent conduit for hockey. While it's true that ESPN was going to cut back on the number of televised games during the regular season, they were justified in doing so... there was a reduced audience coming out of the lockout.<BR/><BR/>But the televising of regular season games is irrelevant to the NHL's predicament right now. As Faux points out, ESPN carried a nightly "NHL Tonight" show that was a perfect showcase for the league. Just what the league needed to re-attract the casual fan that would initially be more interested in good highlights and news on the up and coming young stars of the game.<BR/><BR/>Instead, Bettman sold out to Versus. And to make matters worse, he failed to exercise any influence to prevent Versus from playing hardball with cable systems that refused to carry the network on its "standard tier". That's ultimately what prevents Versus from appearing in more cable households. So Bettman sold out to a network that was willing to self-restrict its own growth in the near term in exchange for a bigger potential buck later on - the exact opposite of what the NHL needed. Idiot.Cincyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896450802228164676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-13414803039482561622007-05-21T12:03:00.000-07:002007-05-21T12:03:00.000-07:001) Lots of insightful comments sadwiched around Dj...1) Lots of insightful comments sadwiched around Djoe's comic relief. LOL<BR/>2) We agree B Washinton. If we can recall that far back, we believe that the NHL did have an agreement at some point with USA. That may be back in the dark ages(1980's) LOL But good points.<BR/>3) ESPN didn't treat the NHL great, but they did have a nightly show(NHL 2-nite) showed all their hilites on sports center and had a good in studeo/pre/post game show. However, the NHL is NOT the NBA/NFL so won't get the same amount of respect there, no matter what, but at least mostfans could get/find/watch the games! We agree Gary Thorne is NOT missed! LOLFAUX RUMORShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00403913043629362701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-59896401786337747062007-05-21T11:45:00.000-07:002007-05-21T11:45:00.000-07:00I think the PReakness race was actually a full 1:4...I think the PReakness race was actually a full 1:45 later.. yes they talked about horsracing for 2 hours before the race. Which makes it even worse.<BR/><BR/>I am not in favor of the NHL crawling back to ESPN, mainly because ESPN has treated hockey like ass the last 5-10 years, and other than Gary Thorne there's no real benefit to going cahk to the 4-letter.<BR/><BR/>What I don't understand is why the NHL doesn't set up an agreement similar to the NBA's with TNT. Why can't the NHL have games on USA, or even MS/CNBC? What about TBS? In fact.. I am going to stop here and make that my blog post for the day...Jibblescribbitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17833352311064492403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-77766908077311471422007-05-21T11:38:00.000-07:002007-05-21T11:38:00.000-07:00The blame for this mess lies directly and squarely...The blame for this mess lies directly and squarely on the shoulders of the "biggest moron in professional sports" - Gary "the littlest weasel of all" Bettman... He personally screwed up the ESPN contract, and has done nothing to remedy the television situation... Has anyone noticed what ESPN2 has been showing these nights? REPEATS of old games, cheerleading competitions, and poker... Sure, few people were watching the NHL then, but NO ONE is watching NOW... And, the 15 who are watching in the US, don't get to see the end of pivotal games... BUTTman gave us a lockout and a stupid trapezoid, in addition to feminizing the sport... This incompetent asshole has got to go!!!!!Antzmarchinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14831888545205166172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-71561338433417977482007-05-21T11:16:00.000-07:002007-05-21T11:16:00.000-07:00Faux - I'm one and the same. Thanks.Faux - I'm one and the same. Thanks.Cincyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13896450802228164676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-35522980152285668492007-05-21T10:44:00.000-07:002007-05-21T10:44:00.000-07:001) Note/question to regular contributor "Sauce". ...1) Note/question to regular contributor "Sauce". Are you the same person having a discussion with Stan Fischler on his blog concerning the NHL and Gary Bettman?<BR/>2) If so, congrats on a great series of posts. To others on here that can be seen at:<BR/>http://blogs.msg.com/the_maven/2007/05/my_interview_wi.htmlFAUX RUMORShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00403913043629362701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-48361176753011877312007-05-21T09:36:00.000-07:002007-05-21T09:36:00.000-07:001) Sorry Shuck, we had intended to mention to our ...1) Sorry Shuck, we had intended to mention to our Canadian readers (we assume that's where you are?) that they didn't get the shaft that U.S. NHL fans did.<BR/>2) Unlike the CBC, which gives hockey TOP priority, the game on Saturday broadcast on NBC was treated much like a minor league sport and pre-empted for the Preakness Stakes (A horse race for those uninitiated)<BR/>3) They cut away a full 45 minutes BEFORE the 2 minute race even began. Why? Money of course. NBC makes almost no money from the NHL while its contract with the Triple Crown races makes them oodles of cash. <BR/>4) Thats fine of course, BUT the NHL should have known this was a possibility and makes them look bush!<BR/>5) We agree with your Ruff assessments. We have been saying for the past couple of months that he is an over rated coach <BR/>6) We see Drury being resigned and Briere allowed to go elsewhere.FAUX RUMORShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00403913043629362701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-63528934468699304782007-05-21T08:44:00.000-07:002007-05-21T08:44:00.000-07:00What? Where I live the game was shown in its enti...What? Where I live the game was shown in its entirety on one channel? Weird.<BR/><BR/>As for the Sabres, they may have a tough time being back where they were this year. It seems more and more likely to me that other teams will snap up Drury and Briere. It will be interesting to see who the Sabs can find to fill in.<BR/><BR/>As for Ruff. I think he must bear a lot of this loss on his shoulders. How often did he match lines? Rarely. How did he juggle his lines when things were not going well? Seldom. What did he change up throughout the 5 games? Very little. The players needed to step up, but it is the coaches job to help make that happen. I didn't see Ruff do much in the way of coaching this series.Shuck-A-Luckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16428281923865186366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024341463089279796.post-1653697988094078292007-05-21T07:48:00.000-07:002007-05-21T07:48:00.000-07:00Man i am with ya there. They start that crap with ...Man i am with ya there. They start that crap with ot shootouts and I'm done too!<BR/>I missed the Ottawa game winner. I must have been in the can when they said the game was going over to versus. Or did they even mention it? I wouldn't be surprised if they just shut it off. Either way it was a huge mistake that i blame bettman for. why even schedule a game when they knew they would get bumped?T. Lloydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05570608485857270536noreply@blogger.com