Pep And Petou Stickhandling

by admin on September 29, 2009 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pep & Petou

BETTMAN BOONDOGGLE

Since assuming the leadership of the NHL, Mr. Bettman’s record has been faltering and in his strategy to move to the U.S. Deep South, has been clearly disastrous. While the league tries to avoid the truth, several of these franchises will now collapse. Instead of admitting a mistake, Mr Bettman, backed by his near-sighted board, are fighting a futile and desperate rearguard battle, in the fortress Phoenix.

The controlling members of the NHL, ‘old boys club’, (still dealing with its dictatorial virus from the forty’s) are out of touch with the changing world of sport. Because of some veneer of success with the glitz of television and some truly amazing players – and the blinkered hockey media, they have constructed a hollow thing called the NHL. The crunch caused by the ill-conceived sortie into the south is a major mistake but the real problem is more dangerous – the systemic lack of foresight.

In their clumsy and doddering leadership, with Mr Bettman at the helm, they have spent their energy on steering the ship without having first read the weather report and charting a course.

  Comment

Pep And Petou Expansion

by admin on September 4, 2009 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pep & Petou

Sports Media Becoming Neutered?

Our Canadian sports media have become blushing bridesmaids to the NHL’s shotgun wedding to the Phoenix Coyotes. Throughout the ridiculous affair, the media have either agreed with the father of the bride, (Mr Bettman) or sat timidly on the fence.

There seems to be a lack of maturity on the part of our youthful media. They are so “into the game” they cannot see the big picture, or else they don’t want to talk about a vision for the betterment of the game. Or perhaps they are afraid of retribution from ‘the family,’ (NHL management and owners.)

There are a few mature, insightful hockey reporters – but many seem to follow the herd. One example of a wind bag spokesman for the NHL old boys club is the illustrious Mr. Cherry. For a while, in his early years on television, he was thought to be a wise old sage with his knowledge of hockey. That opinion has long been punctured after his many wrong viewpoints on positive changes to the game, i.e. visors (‘he’ men don’t need them), French Canadian players (chicken), new rules to emphasis skill/speed (game was fine), the stretch pass (no need to change), fisticuffs in the game (glorifies fighting). His role is now merely a humorous curmudgeon that no serious student of the Game would listen to.

Ah well, maybe someday – some of them will grow up.

Yes, it’s a sad day in hockeyville when reporters tiptoe around their laptops, afraid to give us the straight goods. From the real future of hockey – Europe, (instead of endless talk about the sunbelt) to specific game calls on bad plays.

└ Tags: , , , ,
  Comment

Pep And Petou The Crosby

by admin on August 27, 2009 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pep & Petou
  Comment

Pep And Petou The Goalie

by admin on August 26, 2009 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pep & Petou
  Comment

Pep And Petou Names

by admin on August 25, 2009 at 12:00 am
Posted In: Pep & Petou

HOCKEY: THE GREATEST GAME

I have spent my seven decades observing hockey – from the sloughs of Saskatchewan, to the glamorous halls of the NHL and find it the best of all major team sports because of what it demands: speed, skill, creativity and courage.

This game I love has come a long way from the brawling days of the Philadelphia Flyers.  The NHL bosses have made recent improvements to the game that has improved the flow which allows skilled players a better chance to flourish.

But with all the changes and the attempted assault on the US sunbelt and with statistics showing that hockey is in fact shrinking – the NHL hierarchy seems to be a brain freeze.

In the next weeks and months I will reveal some of the problems facing hockey and why the leadership have their feet in the sand.

William Roy Brownridge
Heart of Hockey.com

  Comment