Hockey opinions March 26, 2009

Alexander's Ovechkin after scoring his 50th goal
That is a non-issue. Sure his demonstration is a little excessive, especially by hockey standards, but I thought it was amusing. It's definitely not as bad as many of the NFL touchdown celebrations. That said, I usually prefer the more low-key approach. Act like you've been there before. On the other hand it's good to see the exuberance and enthusiasm of some who score.

The four-letter's coverage of the NHL
It still sucks ... hard!
Last night after attending the Indiana Pacers' game I walked to a local sports bar, and ESPN was on two TVs. I watched intermittently, and for like an hour that the sports highlight show was on, only highlights for one NHL game. Six games and only one game's highlights were shown. ONE. That's not a network where I want the NHL.
It's been more than a year since I started my Mike & Mike boycott, and I'm better for it. I can't remember the last time I logged onto the ESPN.com, and I'm better for it. Except for that Mickey Mouse network ubiquitousness I wouldn't bother with it at all either, and I'm better for it.

Red Wings, Yankees, Patriots, Bulls & Spurs
Everybody gets it wrong. The Detroit Red Wings are not the New York Yankees of hockey, the Yankees are the Detroit Red Wings of baseball, and the New England Patriots are the Red Wings of American football.
In the last 20 years, no other North American professional sports franchise has been as successful as the Red Wings have been. The Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs might be the exceptions.
This year the Red Wings will make their eighteenth consecutive trip to the post-season. They have won four Stanley Cups, and six President Trophies in the same time frame.
The Bulls won six championships in the 1990’s, but they haven’t sustained that success. The Spurs have won four championships as well, but I don’t know how many consecutive years they’ve made it to the post-season.
The Red Wings organization is one not just other NHL organizations should emulate, but all sport franchises.

Driving from Indiana to New Jersey and back
Surfed my non-satellite radio for hockey coverage while traveling.
In Columbus I found an hour-long hockey show on a local station there. That's better than my experience when I visited Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. It also better than what I found traveling through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on this trip.
I really hope the Columbus Blue Jackets make it to the playoffs this year.