OT - NHL promotion in Europe, means further decline of hockey in the States??

Some comments from our friend, Big George Laraque...

After ripping on the NHL for its decision to host 4 games in Europe next season, BGL states that, poor US attendance (stating Newark) is due to the lack of hockeys promotion in the US.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_550646.html

Whats your oppinion of the NHL's promotion in Europe?

Side question: Does BGL have the brain age of a 10 year old?

I love how 87.4% is "half empty". It always has to be New Jersey.

It always have to be Pittsburgh who takes a cheap shot.

It always have to be Pittsburgh who takes a cheap shot.
Its not like the Penguins drew 10k fans a game before Crosby was dropped in their lap or anything. :sarcasm:
Im just really tired of NJ being used as the example, every. single. time.

Its not like the Penguins drew 10k fans a game before Crosby was dropped in their lap or anything. :sarcasm:
Im just really tired of NJ being used as the example, every. single. time.

It is getting pathetic...

Allthough its not like your going to have two generational, and a few franchise talents on your team in the stem of 20 or so years.... Oh wait a sec....

Id rather have a consistently good franchise, than a helter skelter franchise.

As far as NHL in Europe goes, hey, im all for it, we arent all soccer-nuts :yo:

Well actually we are, but I digress...

Ask yourself a few things about this 'article'.

- What was the motivation behind the question posed to GL?
- Why ask him?
- When was the last time you heard of Rob Rossi?
- When was the last time you heard a Pittsburgh Tribune Review article quoted on national sports talk news?

This is a cheap shot article aimed to get attention by asking gimmick question to a player to which the reporter knew would give a scandalous answer.

By the way Georgie boy... the NHL is testing the waters for potential long term expansion to Europe. It has already been discussed that 15-20 years down the line when the ability to travel is even easier and more economical, that you could see a European conference spring up to play in the NHL. Perhaps you should not speak on matters you know not of? His most intelligent statement was when he said "I don't understand..." - he should have stopped right there.

Ask yourself a few things about this 'article'.

- What was the motivation behind the question posed to GL?
- Why ask him?
- When was the last time you heard of Rob Rossi?
- When was the last time you heard a Pittsburgh Tribune Review article quoted on national sports talk news?

This is a cheap shot article aimed to get attention by asking gimmick question to a player to which the reporter knew would give a scandalous answer.

By the way Georgie boy... the NHL is testing the waters for potential long term expansion to Europe. It has already been discussed that 15-20 years down the line when the ability to travel is even easier and more economical, that you could see a European conference spring up to play in the NHL. Perhaps you should not speak on matters you know not of? His most intelligent statement was when he said - he should have stopped right there.

Exactly, Laraque is an idiot, and is just sour that, instead of being in Vegas or the Cancoun, he is going to be starting the season early, in zesty Sweden.

Its thinking like that, that turns most euro's off to ice hockey.

I love how 87.4% is "half empty". It always has to be New Jersey.The building was half empty excuse George for not reading the boxscore.

The building was half empty excuse George for not reading the boxscore.
Everyone knows George cant read.

I don't know how or why it doesn't happen...but wasn't Chicago drawing less than 10k a night prior to this season?

Why the **** are WE the example? Because we're NOT an original 6 team alone in a city with no one else near them for at least a 800 miles?

We're a ****in stones throw away from the biggest market in the US and an original 6 team with like century's worth of history behind it, and WE'RE the ****ing problem?

Not to mention how absolutely no one takes into consideration ticket prices and how expensive it is living in NJ. Whatever, they can eat my ****.

But he does have a point, the Europe games are stupid as ****. I'd rather see 4 outdoor games, including one at Yankee stadium before they tear it the **** down.

edit: I wonder if all the asterisks show how annoyed that made me. :biglaugh:

I don't know how or why it doesn't happen...but wasn't Chicago drawing less than 10k a night prior to this season?

Why the **** are WE the example? Because we're NOT an original 6 team alone in a city with no one else near them for at least a 800 miles?

We're a ****in stones throw away from the biggest market in the US and an original 6 team with like century's worth of history behind it, and WE'RE the ****ing problem?

Not to mention how absolutely no one takes into consideration ticket prices and how expensive it is living in NJ. Whatever, they can eat my ****.

But he does have a point, the Europe games are stupid as ****. I'd rather see 4 outdoor games, including one at Yankee stadium before they tear it the **** down.

edit: I wonder if all the asterisks show how annoyed that made me. :biglaugh:
******!
I feel your pain man, its ****ing hypocritical.

I don't know how or why it doesn't happen...but wasn't Chicago drawing less than 10k a night prior to this season?

Why the **** are WE the example? Because we're NOT an original 6 team alone in a city with no one else near them for at least a 800 miles?

We're a ****in stones throw away from the biggest market in the US and an original 6 team with like century's worth of history behind it, and WE'RE the ****ing problem?

Not to mention how absolutely no one takes into consideration ticket prices and how expensive it is living in NJ. Whatever, they can eat my ****.

But he does have a point, the Europe games are stupid as ****. I'd rather see 4 outdoor games, including one at Yankee stadium before they tear it the **** down.

edit: I wonder if all the asterisks show how annoyed that made me. :biglaugh:It's not like people here in N.J don't know about hockey. They know about the game and the Devils the problem is that too many are Ranger or Flyers fans or their Devil fans who can't afford tickets.

Everyone knows George cant read.
Actually, if I remember correctly from an article I read a year ago, it mentioned he likes to read books. He also likes long walks!

Actually, if I remember correctly from an article I read a year ago, it mentioned he likes to read books. He also likes long walks!
On the beach?

Just to say, I don't like being the example. But I wouldn't mind stronger promotion of the game to minorities, either. It seems like there are more and more minorities at the games at the Rock; that can't be a bad thing.

The NHL does a terrible job of marketing the game in the US. For starters, how about advertising on any network but Versus. The only NHL/NHL related commercials I see on TV are on Versus during hockey games. That Ryan Miller Amped commercial is pretty funny, run it on a major network, or even on ESPN during SportsCenter. You can't raise awareness for the game if the only people you target with your advertising are already fans of the sport.

The NHL does a terrible job of marketing the game in the US. For starters, how about advertising on any network but Versus. The only NHL/NHL related commercials I see on TV are on Versus during hockey games. That Ryan Miller Amped commercial is pretty funny, run it on a major network, or even on ESPN during SportsCenter. You can't raise awareness for the game if the only people you target with your advertising are already fans of the sport.
Or the fact that our carrier network only shows 2 games a week, each followed by and bull riding and fishing.

Or the fact that our carrier network only shows 2 games a week, each followed by and bull riding and fishing.

Last week they had 4 or 5 games. I know there were 2 double-headers.

He is right about the european thing.


not right about us.

Im all for NHL promotion in Europe. Theres more intrest in the NHL and hockey in general in Sweden than there is in say New Mexico. With that being said Im for marketing the game everywhere.:handclap: