Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Lighten up, Matt
OK! Bill Simmons has argued for years that the NBA All-Star Weekend should have a half-court shot contest and a HORSE competition. Agreed, I'd tune in to that for sure.
With the NHL Skills competition going tonight, is there anything they could modify or add to make it better? It's been a lot of years since I was jacking around at the end of a hockey practice, so I'm not really sure what kind of "fun" they could add, if any.
The one thing I can suggest is that I think the Shooting Accuracy competition would be a lot more entertaining if they were blasting slapshots off of cross-ice passes from inside the blueline (or the top of the circle); I think this would provide an actual (little) thrill when that target exploded. A wrist-shot from the hashmarks off of a dinky saucer pass from next to the net just doesn't do it for me.
Any others?
With the NHL Skills competition going tonight, is there anything they could modify or add to make it better? It's been a lot of years since I was jacking around at the end of a hockey practice, so I'm not really sure what kind of "fun" they could add, if any.
The one thing I can suggest is that I think the Shooting Accuracy competition would be a lot more entertaining if they were blasting slapshots off of cross-ice passes from inside the blueline (or the top of the circle); I think this would provide an actual (little) thrill when that target exploded. A wrist-shot from the hashmarks off of a dinky saucer pass from next to the net just doesn't do it for me.
Any others?
# posted by Matt @ 4:38 pm 
Comments:
I've never been a big fan of the "fastest skater", but I would have a lot of interest if someone were to run that course twice--once in a new uniform, and once in an old uniform. I keep hearing that it's faster, but something about endless convincing makes it seem not true.
Hell, I suppose we have the finishing times from a few years ago, let's see if there is noticeable pickup this year (although there is a semi-defensible excuse about Dallas ice quality).
Test, one two, test.
I think everyone is taking a few days off.
I agree with Earl that the fastests skater is kind of boring. What would be interesting is if they ran it like roller derby or short track speed skating.
The OIlers did a three on one skills event this year, and I enjoyed that. And would it be possible to have a toughest man competition? You want ratings? Have a 32 man tourney where players fight their way to the championship. Hey, Phanuef aparently fought someone once. He's a tough guy now, right? Throw him into the loop with Boogard and Le GG. I might have even flown to Dallas to watch that one.
I'm dating myself, but I once saw Kent Nilsson hit the crossbar from centerice on his first try after being goaded into attempting it by Gary Arthur (whatever happened to Gary Arthur) on a CBC spot on the local sportscast, I guess it was mid 80's.
You won't see a dip in times simply because players wear their own jerseys during the skills comp.
I missed the YoungStars game (was it worth watching, anyone?), but I see young Laddy got hit for -3 on the night. Then again, Seabrook was -4 and took the game's only penalty, so all is evidently not lost.
Have you guys seen this yet? Is there nothing sacred with Bettman?
http://oshlhockey.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-nhl-uniforms-more-radical-than.html
I'm personally sensing that Art is making a joke.
Anyway, topic. The goalie-scoring event was a bust a few years back. Maybe they should have a shootout competition analogous to the slam-dunk competition, judged on esthetics, difficulty, etc. Captain America would rock that event.
I got it.... a contest where we watch these guys hit on women. The only stipulation is that they must be married. It would be more interesting than the joke we watched last night and it would allow Pronger to take part in the all-star festivities.
How about end-zone keep away?
Two players race from the neutral zone face-off dots to get a puck behind the net, and the first one to keep possession of the puck for 10 seconds, wins. 16-player tournament style knockout. After 1 min, take percentage of possession.
Also, I would prefer to see non-all stars compete. Each team does a skills competition, and the top 8 for each challenge from around the league should have the opportunity to show up and compete.
If MAB has the hardest shot in the league he should get to compete.
Superbowl is still a week and a half away and sportscasts could fill that empty time with hockey hilights. Instead they can watch a no-intensity pond hockey game or a skills competition where they hand time the "fastest skater" with a stopwatch; when the skater isn't almost tripping over TV cables, that is.
I'm firmly in the "All Star Game is a farce" category. The game doesn't "show off" or "sell" the NHL in any meaningful way. It is fine as an excuse for a break in schedule, but they should try and do it at a time when they wouldn't lose potential additional sportscast coverage.
Superbowl is still a week and a half away; sportscasts could fill that empty time with hockey hi-lights. Instead those sportscasts can show a no-intensity, pond hockey game or a skills competition where the NHL hand times the "fastest skater competition (only out of the players that are there)" with a stopwatch (when the skater isn't almost tripping over TV cables, that is).
I'm firmly in the "All Star Game is a farce" category. The game doesn't "show off" or "sell" the NHL in any meaningful way. It is fine as an excuse for a break in schedule, but they should try and do it at a time when they wouldn't lose potential additional sportscast coverage.
Remember "Showdown in the NHL" which ran during intermissions of Hockey Night in Canada in the 70's or early 80's?
It was a penalty shot contest where players went head to head, 3 shots each with the winners advancing in a playoff format. Eventually it got down to the best shooter against the best goalie for a three shot showdown. I think the winner got a new stick or something.
Anyway, the skills competition should feature some good old fashioned Showdown.
I would like to see a body checking competition that would be graded like diving. Perhaps on a 8 scale.
We could line up some pantywaist europeans to be the targets, and let them have it -- open ice hits and on the boards.
I nominate Hemsky, Smid and Lupul to be the targets.
If MAB has the hardest shot in the league he should get to compete.
The only problem with this is that, one of the rules with the hardest shot is that you have to hit the net. Has he hit the net yet this year? ;)
Does anybody watch Rent-a-Goalie on Showcase? They had a goalie derby a couple of weeks ago - basically rollerderby on ice with goalie pads. No holds barred. I'd watch THAT!
Van
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I've never been a big fan of the "fastest skater", but I would have a lot of interest if someone were to run that course twice--once in a new uniform, and once in an old uniform. I keep hearing that it's faster, but something about endless convincing makes it seem not true.
Hell, I suppose we have the finishing times from a few years ago, let's see if there is noticeable pickup this year (although there is a semi-defensible excuse about Dallas ice quality).
Test, one two, test.
I think everyone is taking a few days off.
I agree with Earl that the fastests skater is kind of boring. What would be interesting is if they ran it like roller derby or short track speed skating.
The OIlers did a three on one skills event this year, and I enjoyed that. And would it be possible to have a toughest man competition? You want ratings? Have a 32 man tourney where players fight their way to the championship. Hey, Phanuef aparently fought someone once. He's a tough guy now, right? Throw him into the loop with Boogard and Le GG. I might have even flown to Dallas to watch that one.
I'm dating myself, but I once saw Kent Nilsson hit the crossbar from centerice on his first try after being goaded into attempting it by Gary Arthur (whatever happened to Gary Arthur) on a CBC spot on the local sportscast, I guess it was mid 80's.
# posted by 
: January 23, 2007 9:48 pm
: January 23, 2007 9:48 pm You won't see a dip in times simply because players wear their own jerseys during the skills comp.
I missed the YoungStars game (was it worth watching, anyone?), but I see young Laddy got hit for -3 on the night. Then again, Seabrook was -4 and took the game's only penalty, so all is evidently not lost.
Have you guys seen this yet? Is there nothing sacred with Bettman?
http://oshlhockey.blogspot.com/2007/01/new-nhl-uniforms-more-radical-than.html
# posted by : January 24, 2007 3:26 am
: January 24, 2007 3:26 am I'm personally sensing that Art is making a joke.
Anyway, topic. The goalie-scoring event was a bust a few years back. Maybe they should have a shootout competition analogous to the slam-dunk competition, judged on esthetics, difficulty, etc. Captain America would rock that event.
I got it.... a contest where we watch these guys hit on women. The only stipulation is that they must be married. It would be more interesting than the joke we watched last night and it would allow Pronger to take part in the all-star festivities.
# posted by : January 24, 2007 9:28 am
: January 24, 2007 9:28 am How about end-zone keep away?
Two players race from the neutral zone face-off dots to get a puck behind the net, and the first one to keep possession of the puck for 10 seconds, wins. 16-player tournament style knockout. After 1 min, take percentage of possession.
Also, I would prefer to see non-all stars compete. Each team does a skills competition, and the top 8 for each challenge from around the league should have the opportunity to show up and compete.
If MAB has the hardest shot in the league he should get to compete.
Superbowl is still a week and a half away and sportscasts could fill that empty time with hockey hilights. Instead they can watch a no-intensity pond hockey game or a skills competition where they hand time the "fastest skater" with a stopwatch; when the skater isn't almost tripping over TV cables, that is.
I'm firmly in the "All Star Game is a farce" category. The game doesn't "show off" or "sell" the NHL in any meaningful way. It is fine as an excuse for a break in schedule, but they should try and do it at a time when they wouldn't lose potential additional sportscast coverage.
# posted by : January 24, 2007 10:54 am
: January 24, 2007 10:54 am Superbowl is still a week and a half away; sportscasts could fill that empty time with hockey hi-lights. Instead those sportscasts can show a no-intensity, pond hockey game or a skills competition where the NHL hand times the "fastest skater competition (only out of the players that are there)" with a stopwatch (when the skater isn't almost tripping over TV cables, that is).
I'm firmly in the "All Star Game is a farce" category. The game doesn't "show off" or "sell" the NHL in any meaningful way. It is fine as an excuse for a break in schedule, but they should try and do it at a time when they wouldn't lose potential additional sportscast coverage.
# posted by : January 24, 2007 10:57 am
: January 24, 2007 10:57 am Remember "Showdown in the NHL" which ran during intermissions of Hockey Night in Canada in the 70's or early 80's?
It was a penalty shot contest where players went head to head, 3 shots each with the winners advancing in a playoff format. Eventually it got down to the best shooter against the best goalie for a three shot showdown. I think the winner got a new stick or something.
Anyway, the skills competition should feature some good old fashioned Showdown.
# posted by : January 24, 2007 11:04 am
: January 24, 2007 11:04 am I would like to see a body checking competition that would be graded like diving. Perhaps on a 8 scale.
We could line up some pantywaist europeans to be the targets, and let them have it -- open ice hits and on the boards.
I nominate Hemsky, Smid and Lupul to be the targets.
If MAB has the hardest shot in the league he should get to compete.
The only problem with this is that, one of the rules with the hardest shot is that you have to hit the net. Has he hit the net yet this year? ;)
# posted by : January 24, 2007 12:44 pm
: January 24, 2007 12:44 pm Does anybody watch Rent-a-Goalie on Showcase? They had a goalie derby a couple of weeks ago - basically rollerderby on ice with goalie pads. No holds barred. I'd watch THAT!
Van
# posted by : January 24, 2007 3:35 pm
: January 24, 2007 3:35 pm Post a Comment
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