[Kickaha]

The US has a goodly amount of NHL support now (well, until this season), so I think it's time we break free from the Northern neighbor radicals and make a real league. Let them freeze their asses off while we tailgate outside before the finals.

Dammit, a pro sport needs skimpily clad cheerleaders!

[murbot]

I think the NHL almost overtook lawnmower racing in popularity... before the lockout.

It might have a tough time beaing out female armwrestling now. Maybe give it a few years.

[Kickaha]

Dude, nothing beats female armwrestling.

Except naked oiled female armwrestling, of course.

[murbot]

Dude, I've been to armwrestling tournaments. Trust me. Lots of things beat female armwrestling.

[Kickaha]

Was it naked oiled female armwrestling?? Yeah, didn't think so.

[murbot]

Man, that would be dangerous. Imagine scantily-clad female refs, reffing half naked oiled up competitors... you'd have to be pretty damn careful. Hard to keep a good grip when you're dripping in oil. Accidental fistings. Ouch.

[Kickaha]

Mmmmm....

I'm sorry, was there a point? I got lost there in the imagery...

[BuonRotto]

I dunno. Cheerleaders in cold climates don't sound so bad. So long as hey don't wear too many layers, that could be rather fun to see.

Instead of faceoffs, they could have two guys race from the goal line to center ice and whoever gets to the puck first gets first possession in the opponents' zone. No rules on stickwork during the race, mind you. It'll be like the XFL, which I think had better ratings for its championship (they did have a championship, right?) than the Stanley Cup finals last year.

Also, when are they going to start bringing the league president and game announcers down on the ice with any frequency? I mean who wouldn't want to see Bettman versus Goodenow done WWE style? They could construct, er, I mean, suggest open-mike night for fans and players too, leaving plenty of those foldable chairs around for -- sitting. Yeah. Sitting.

[Kickaha]

The Carolina Hurricanes *HAVE* cheerleaders, only team in the league that does.

They wear full pants and sweaters though. Thin ones, however.

[Paul]

http://www.ultimatesurrender.com/
that is all.
(NSFW)

[BuonRotto]

Really?! One very good reason to kiss Lou's Devil's g'bye. OK, I'm still a Devils fan, but the cheerleaders just made hockey season a lot better, if more sorely missed.

[Kickaha]

Yeah, during the Stanley Cup playoffs a couple of years ago, the visiting teams were VERY jealous... the RBC Center shares a massive parking lot with the NCSU football arena, it was late spring, we were all tailgating in shorts and tshirts, right next to the Center. Then we walk in, and voila, cheerleaders. There were more than a few comments from the Canuckian visitors about how much they wished they could do that.

And the Detroit fans were *really* envious that we didn't have to walk through a crappy part of town to get from the car to the ice.

[Moogs]

Right about now most years... the playoff races are at their apex and the run for the Cup is about to begin. 2005 sucks.

[murbot]

Hey, I was just having that discussion with a buddy on the phone. We shared a good cry.

[Moogs]

It hurts me man... it really does. I miss hockey, even if the rest of the world is probably forgetting it ever existed. Whatever happens this summer they better have their shit together for the start of next season or it's all over.

The game better be primed for more excitement with rules changes and some rink changes, as well as most of the big players signed and back from overseas. I think the first time Naslund, Morrison and Bertuzzi suit up again and take the ice at Canuck Place I am going to have a teary-eyed moment.

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Originally Posted by Kickaha The Carolina Hurricanes *HAVE* cheerleaders, only team in the league that does. They wear full pants and sweaters though. Thin ones, however.

There's a movement here in Hartford to get the Whalers back to CT. It'll probably never happen but I guess Baldwin is involved this time around.

[Moogs]

I doubt if Hartford will get their franchise back. There's no economy for it, really, is there? It's like Winnipeg. They say the same thing up there but it'll never happen. I think Halifax is probably more likely that either of those two places, and it's not real likely.

They'd just end up in the same boat as Pittsburgh most likely. Although (before the Lockout) the Pens had things looking up with Mario supposedly being granted a slots license from the new Casino / hotel going up there. Made a new arena *much* more plausible / likely since the Governor is too much of a fucking goober to help fund it, even though he got funding for Heinz field and the Steelers' stadium.

[bassplayinMacFiend]

Hartford is just a pit stop between Boston & New York. Anyone that believes anything else is sadly deluding themselves. This includes all the people that were in downtown Hartford last night demonstrating to get the Whalers back.

[Moogs]

Besides, I think it's pretty clear from the current situation, the league needs *anything but* more expansion. A two or four team contraction is not unlikely IMHO. Hopefully the Panthers go because despite their modern arena they have some of the most disinterested fans in hockey. If Mario can't get an arena deal done then the Pens should probably go too, though it would be a travesty because the fans in Pittsburgh are some of the greatest in the league, die hard to the end.

If I had my druthers Florida and Anaheim would both lose their franchises. Washington wouldn't be far behind. And to be fair (though I am a huge Pens fan), the Pens would probably be fourth on my list if four had to go based on either fan attendance or financial stability. That's only if they couldn't get an arena deal done in the 12 months following the start of the next season -- whenever that is.