I am a liar

Or at least I was mistaken. I DID tell y'all about my first hockey season. It was buried in a post about how much the Sabres were making me crazy in March- but here it is if you really want to read it.

I know that this blog tends to be rambly- and I'm totally down with that. I'm not a professional, nor did I ever claim to be one. I'm a hockey fan. (Besides, my degree is in Mass Communications- Broadcasting, not Journalism LOL) I write like a hockey fan. My likes and dislikes are somewhat based on reality- stats and whatnot- and somewhat based on gut instinct. I long ago learned to trust my instincts. (it helps when the two align but such is not usually to be..)

So when I heard that this year's NHL Awards were going to be in Las Vegas, my gut instinct was instant recoil- Vegas? Are you even serious? That's not a *hockey town*. I hate that phrase. I hate it when people say that places south of.. say, Cleveland, don't "deserve" hockey teams. I've been to hockey in a lot of random places- (Las Vegas was one of them) and I think there are hockey fans everywhere. Now, some places might not be very financially stable places for hockey, but that is another matter for another time.

All that being said, I still think that LV is not a good place for the year-end awards of the NHL. I really think they should have the awards show in an NHL city at least. I'm not even picky about which city, per se, as long as they have a team. It'd be like having the draft in.. Indianapolis. It doesn't make sense. It seems to me that the NHL prides itself on history (just look at the names on The Cup. Other sports don't DO THAT.) They also (used to at least, maybe I'm living in the past) market their players as a little more down to earth, and less money-grubbing, spotlight grabbing, (bad)headline-creating, "nice" guys. So why do you put those guys (even if they really aren't all of those things) in the "City of Sin"? for their end of year gala? It just doesn't compute. Yeah, I get that LV is all glitz and glamour (I've been there twice and frankly, I was not impressed all that much. The glitz is kind of blinding and the glamour is all a trick) but since when is the NHL a glamourous league? Maybe I missed the memo.

I doubt this will attract any random casual fans, and it may turn off some more traditional folks. I doubt people will stop watching hockey over this (that would be overkill) but again, it just doesn't compute with me. (I will admit to being kind of old school about my hockey views.) An event like the Winter Classic (in a proper venue, not like Phoenix or something) is a GREAT marketing move. It worked wonders in Buffalo and was amazing in Chicago last year. I've heard rumors about Boston next year and that would be sweet as well. The starting the season overseas thing is cool too (though I think they should be pre-season games because of the traveling and whatnot, that makes it hard on the teams..) In any case, that's a good move to get the game on a more "local" level with some fans overseas. Totally down with those things because they grow the game within the image of what hockey is about.

Las Vegas? Not what hockey is about.

Thoughts? Comments? Does anyone even read this blog? I want to know what you think!