I am one of those die hard hockey fans you read about. Anytime a game is on TV, radio. or playing in my city, I am interested in it. The only thing that prevents me from attending every AHL hockey game in my area is the fact I like playing it more.
When the NHL went on strike, blame was passed around all over. The players blamed the owners for not giving any room. The owners blamed the players for being greedy. The fans were stuck in the middle. Months went by without any talks or compromise. The first serious talks with any movement happened just 48 hours before the deadline to cancel the season. I thought for sure a deal would get done, but it was for nought.
With the season canceled, I no longer really paid attention to what was going on in the NHL bargaining until Friday when reports started coming out. A deal was in the works and was going to be done! I was pretty excited, but skeptical. Sure enough, as luck would have it, I had every right to be skeptical. No deal and the sides were still far apart when the day was done.
What happened in that room? Who spread the rumors that a deal was close to being done? What the heck is going on?
So now, here I sit, no NHL hockey. I will continue to blame both sides for this mess and the fact we have no hockey. The good thing is that I won't have to pay attention to the NHL news anymore for a while. Well, at least until the next bargaining session happens.
I just hope that next season will start on time.