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Sports |
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Reality bites for hockey fans
As the NHL lockout enters its second week, only one thing is for certain: both owners and players are out of touch with their clientele, the fans.
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$"/>In the fairy-tale reality of the NHL, players have so much money to throw around, they don’t even know what to do with it. How many people do you know take a taxi from the hotel to Starbucks and back because the coffee seems to be better there? This is a morning ritual on the road for some players.
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$"/>While the team provides a bus to get from the hotel to the arena, most players take a cab instead, to offset enormous income tax burdens — as if $8.50 is going to make a dent in their average $1.5 million salaries.
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$"/>NHL owners are also sitting pretty.
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$"/>A year and a half ago, I learned over dinner the details of a messy divorce involving a family member of an NHL owner. The ex subpoenaed the team’s books, and when the numbers were presented in court, the player’s association saw a side of the business that convinced them that they should hang tough.
$"/>
$"/>In the weeks to come, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will say how generous owners have been and how little they get in return, suggesting Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is as good, if the players will only give it a try. We will wait, listen, watch, listen again, instant coffee in hand, and even question why we have to pay up to $165 to take in a Canadiens game at the Bell Centre.
$"/>
$"/>The NHL is a league whose average ticket price should be $30 a game and whose best player shouldn't be paid more than $2 million a season. They all need a reality check or maybe stronger coffee. Yes, espresso for everyone!
$"/>
$"/>In the meantime, listen to what both sides have to say, sit back, sip and marvel at how dumb they think we are.
$"/>•••
$"/> “The Impact has yet to lose this season while I've attended a game. Sit down, enjoy this. You’ll win,” I tell squirmy team owner Joey Saputo.
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$"/>Unable to control himself, Saputo first punches me on the shoulder and then barks, “Why do you say that? You'll bring on the Malocchio (jinx).”
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$"/>But there seemed to be very little that could derail the Impact’s hugely successful season that saw them reach the pinnacle of the soccer A-League for the second time.
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$"/>Saturday night’s championship game was a big party. In a stadium that has 7,500 fixed seats, the Impact drew 13,468, an attendance record for the franchise, and just 888 fans short of the league mark.
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$"/>The story behind the win was the incredible recovery by defender Mauricio Vincello. Vincello, down and out with a severe case of the flu on Friday night, was dragged to the Royal Vic hospital by team Doctor Scott Delaney. He was fed intravenously overnight, and discharged the following morning at 9. Twelve hours later, Vincello, still green around the gills, scored and was awarded an MVP performance in the biggest game of his life.
$"/>
$"/>You can e-mail Dino Sisto at sports@thesuburban.com.
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2004-09-21 11:14:39
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