This lockout -- I'm sure there will be plenty more of them to come over the years -- is fuelled by greed and it won't be solved until both sides can agree to share 50-50 on hockey-related revenue. In other words, I'm not very optimistic about this lockout ending any time soon.
TSN's Bob McKenzie wrote eloquently in his blog: JEOPARDY! THE NHL LABOUR STRIFE EDITION
As always, there were lots of comments on Bob's thoughts about the lockout. I particularly liked this one by penssince91:
NHL Hockey is an escape. When I was a kid I'd get stacks of books from the library on all of the old time legends like Orr, Mikita, Esposito, Dryden, Rocket Richard, Plante, Howe, Sawchuck, etc..and learn about these guys. Books written by Canadians to capture the imagination of Canadian youth of an older generation, yet still performing that same role years later on impressionable young hockey fans-in-the-making such as myself. I began reading on all of the greats when I was 9 or 10 and started collecting hockey cards soon after. I didn't care what their book value was. I was a student of the history of the game. When things weren't always great at home, I'd delve into my collection, match up players, create teams, and go outside and pretend I was a whole team, no matter what the season. Sometimes I could be 2 whole teams. I was east vs west, campbell conference, vs wales conference, Canada vs US..I was Mario Lemieux and Brett Hull, Jagr, Yzerman, Ron Francis, Trottier, Gretzky..I was Al MacInnis firing a bomber (tennis ball) off the side of the shed and I was Tom Barrasso (with the baseball glove still on while shooting)..coming up with the big save. If I was ever having trouble at school, if anyone gave me a hard time..hockey became my escape. It was my way of reaching into other worlds with the knowledge and passion I'd developed for the game. It garnered me new friends and was a wonderful distraction and that's the type of kid out there that I feel sorry for in all of this. The kid who goes home from a tough day at school or who goes home to a rough home life and is in need of a real distraction. And this is something that has played out for generations of Canadian kids.. NHL hockey has become a beacon for kids who rely on it. Its easy to say, 'find something else'..but its not that easy. Give the kids back their sport. Hockey is their friend. NHL players know this very well. End this lockout.
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