Crosby to sign a new endorsement deal with Reebok

[Jarick 5]

I think it's just the cynical nature of people today. Can't appreciate talent, gotta tear it down. Chadd said it best, we complain because he's a bland interview and talks to the refs a lot...and that's a problem?

[Chadd 916]

I got back into hockey just over 2 yrs ago, so I knew nothing of Crosby. All the things that he did that make people hate him so much must have occurred before I started watching Hockey again....cause I just dont see anything that would cause such a reaction.

A lot of the animosity comes from the fact that he doesn't play for their team or that he can't be better than their favorite player. Some of it is lingering resentment from the whining, flopping and his immaturity when he came into the league. And a small percentage of it comes from the way the NHL treats him as the only marketable asset in the league.

I think it's just the cynical nature of people today. Can't appreciate talent, gotta tear it down.

That's also an unfortunate component of the problem.

I'm just happy to see that the face of the league is doing fewer things to earn legitimate criticism every year. I really feel the NHL is getting close to where they were in 94 and could be poised for a return to "major league" status again.

[psh 25]

A lot of the animosity comes from the fact that he doesn't play for their team or that he can't be better than their favorite player. Some of it is lingering resentment from the whining, flopping and his immaturity when he came into the league. And a small percentage of it comes from the way the NHL treats him as the only marketable asset in the league.

That's also an unfortunate component of the problem.

I'm just happy to see that the face of the league is doing fewer things to earn legitimate criticism every year. I really feel the NHL is getting close to where they were in 94 and could be poised for a return to "major league" status again.

Amen. I was a skeptic when he came into the league, and then when he seemed to lose his own bench after his first playoffs, my doubts increased. But, especially over the last two years, it has been great to stand back and just watch the kid. A consummate professional. He sets his mind to improving his game, and it happens. Works on shooting; leads the league in goals. Works on faceoffs; his win percentage increases by double digits. It's remarkable. And then to see him turn it on when it matters--wow. Youngest captain to win a Stanley Cup--check. Game winner for the Olympic gold--check.

What more can you ask? Staying out of jail, being gracious to fans, and seeming to enjoy being the game's diplomat? OK. Check.

I was a skeptic. Now I'm feeling blessed that we've got Crosby's ice and Ovechkin's fire to watch for many more years. Seeing young guys like Toews, Kane, Richards, and Stamkos doesn't hurt, either. You're right on. We may be on the edge of an NHL resurgence. The TV number seem to be bearing that out, too.

[TBLfan 25]

The NHL might be on the rise if the TV broadcasts don't screw it up too bad. I used to love Crosby and Ovechkin, now I'm just tired of hearing their names. The only games you get to see, outside of your market without buying center ice, are Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, NYR and Chicago, thanks VS/NBC.

[Chadd 916]

The NHL might be on the rise if the TV broadcasts don't screw it up too bad. I used to love Crosby and Ovechkin, now I'm just tired of hearing their names. The only games you get to see, outside of your market without buying center ice, are Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphia, NYR and Chicago, thanks VS/NBC.

It was no different when ESPN and Fox had the contracts.

[TBLfan 25]

Yeah but notice the other big sports? You can see more than literally ONLY those teams. Sure the Cowboys and Patriots tend to get a lot of games shown but you also see every other team during the course of the season on TV. The NHL doesn't exactly make it easy all the time, look at how many games needlessly overlapped in the playoffs.

As far as I can tell the NBA does a good job at exposure also. It seems like every time I turn on the TV in the evening there's another NBA team I've never heard of that used to be in Seattle or Vancouver.

[skyscrape 5]

I think it's just the cynical nature of people today. Can't appreciate talent, gotta tear it down. Chadd said it best, we complain because he's a bland interview and talks to the refs a lot...and that's a problem?

I appreciate his talent! There is just something about him that rubs me wrong. I would rather not watch him play. Just my opinion. but I guess I would watch him over the SHarks. I think I am one of the few in Northern California that can not stand watching the Sharks!

[xrickyb86x 1]

lol this thread got really funny, really fast.

I'm a Kings fan and I'd rather watch Doughty than Sid or Ovi. But...

I like Sid. He's always well composed on the ice. He knows where to be and how to do things in EVERY situation. He's fun as hell to watch because he has a bag of tricks for every game. He does complain quite a bit, but so did Gretzky and anyone else who were regular targets of the opposing team. He's dropped his gloves a few times (even if the fights sucked) and that really shows me he cares. I can't stand him in the media because he never really has anything interesting to say. He's super effective when he's needed most.

I don't like Ovi. There are multiple reasons why but in general his attitude kind of disgusts me. I look back to the Olympics when Russia was getting crushed by Canada and he goes to catch a puck, pretends he hurt his hand doing it, goes to the bench hunched over clutching his hand beneath him. They show the replay and the puck BARELY touched him. I also like to look at this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZKRizzYshk

His ear? He hurt his ear on that play? Are you kidding me? He throws a cheap hit and then acts like he's the one who got hurt. He's a one way player and when his game (big hit, big shot through a dman) is exposed he's just not any fun to watch. And when he is down, he is down and out.

I am ultimately sick of both though. Avery is more exciting to watch.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

Yeah but notice the other big sports? You can see more than literally ONLY those teams. Sure the Cowboys and Patriots tend to get a lot of games shown but you also see every other team during the course of the season on TV. The NHL doesn't exactly make it easy all the time, look at how many games needlessly overlapped in the playoffs.

As far as I can tell the NBA does a good job at exposure also. It seems like every time I turn on the TV in the evening there's another NBA team I've never heard of that used to be in Seattle or Vancouver.

The NFL has that luxury because of FOX (NFC), CBS (AFC), ESPN/ABC (Sunday Night/Monday Night) and NFL Network (thursday nights, later on in the season). There's at least 3 "afternoon" games on, then sunday night, and MNF. I also like the fact that the NFL shows games with playoff implications towards the end of the season instead of the popular teams.

NBA usually show the Mavs, Spurs, Lakers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Suns, Magic, or Heat 90% of the time. If it's a holiday ie. Christmas it's always Lebron vs. Celtics and Lakers vs. Spurs/Mavs or something of that sort.

If you wanted to get more NHL teams, let VS carry one conference and ESPN/NBC carry the other one. Then you could at least get 3-5 days of hockey a week, couple with NHL Network.

[Chadd 916]

Yeah but notice the other big sports? You can see more than literally ONLY those teams. Sure the Cowboys and Patriots tend to get a lot of games shown but you also see every other team during the course of the season on TV. The NHL doesn't exactly make it easy all the time, look at how many games needlessly overlapped in the playoffs.

As far as I can tell the NBA does a good job at exposure also. It seems like every time I turn on the TV in the evening there's another NBA team I've never heard of that used to be in Seattle or Vancouver.

The NBA has always pushed their stars in the "big" games. Now that they have several national games per week, you are seeing more teams. The weekend games on the traditional broadcast networks or holiday games are still all about Kobe, Lebron, etc... It's no different than the NHL.

As for this season, I saw the Minnesota Wild on VS this year as much as any other team, if not more.

[chippa13 1844]

And we're one small step from yet another Sid/Ovie thread. As for the whole NHL marketing thing, the best thing that can happen Wednesday and Friday would be for Toews and Kane to really step it up and put on a magic show.

[tro 4]

This thread has gone sideways, Crosby appeal/vs Ovie/and NHL marketing but the NHL is doing pretty good, I didn't know people in Seattle were so into the hockey.

NEW YORK – June 1, 2010—Last night’s Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final registered the best overnight rating for a Game 2 on record. The 4.1 overnight rating and 7 share for the Philadelphia Flyers-Chicago Blackhawks Game 2 is higher than all other Stanley Cup Final Game 2’s since 1975. NHL overnight data prior to 1975 is unavailable. NBC again won the night, as it did Saturday for Game 1, finishing No. 1 in primetime (2.4, A18-49).

Game 2 posted a 21-percent increase over last year’s Game 2 (3.4) between the then-defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring Sidney Crosby.

Last night’s game peaked at a 4.7/8 in final half-hour. Chicago led all markets with a 25.1 rating and 39 share. Philadelphia followed with an 18.5 rating and 28 share.

The two-game average overnight rating for Games 1 and 2 is a 3.5, the best two-game average overnight rating for the first two games of a Stanley Cup Final in 11 years (3.8 on Fox in 1999, Buffalo vs. Dallas,) and up 17 percent over last year (3.0).

Top 10 Markets

1. Chicago 25.1/39

2. Philadelphia 18.5/28

3. Buffalo 10.2/16

4. Indianapolis 6.3/10

5. Pittsburgh 4.9/8

6. Detroit 4.4/7

7. Seattle 4.1/9

8. Denver 3.8/7

T9. Ft. Myers 3.7/6

T9. Las Vegas 3.7/6

On topic, does anyone know how much Gretz was paid to endorse Easton? found the answer, 1990 when superstar Wayne Gretzky, who had been traded two years earlier to the Los Angeles Kings, visited Easton to try its sticks. He liked the product so much that he agreed to a seven-year, $2 million endorsement deal

[LkptTiger 1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZKRizzYshk

His ear? He hurt his ear on that play? Are you kidding me?

I've really soured on Ovechkin lately....but, to be fair - have you ever been punched in the ear? It SUCKS. He obviously scummed Brown on the play and definitely deserved the (inadvertent) kick to the head, as well as the penalty, but that isn't going to make a shot to the ear hurt any less.

[TBLfan 25]

The NBA has always pushed their stars in the "big" games. Now that they have several national games per week, you are seeing more teams. The weekend games on the traditional broadcast networks or holiday games are still all about Kobe, Lebron, etc... It's no different than the NHL.

As for this season, I saw the Minnesota Wild on VS this year as much as any other team, if not more.

Well I guess we can add Boston and Minnesota to the mix. The Wild are the perfect team to repeatedly broadcast! ...Most boring style of hockey in the world.

Basically, I just wish the NHL would have teamed up with someone like Turner Broadcasting because that gives them multiple outlets instead of just one, very unpopular cable network... and Sunday afternoon Red Wings games on NBC. :( The XFL and AFL died had up to two games a weekend on NBC, the NHL can't do any better?

With the ratings for the Olympics and the talent in the NHL right now, there is no excuse that they aren't being more aggressive to get hockey on more networks.

[chippa13 1844]

Tough to get on more networks in the States when NBC/Versus have the exclusive nationwide broadcasting rights.

[TBLfan 25]

The VS contract ends this coming season, it's time they start pushing.

[phunky_monkey 6]

I appreciate his talent! There is just something about him that rubs me wrong. I would rather not watch him play. Just my opinion. but I guess I would watch him over the SHarks. I think I am one of the few in Northern California that can not stand watching the Sharks!

Well you have a compatriot in Australia, I find the Sharks incredibly boring to watch!

[Jarick 5]

Hey now, the Wild dumped Lemaire and got a run and gun coach.

Unfortunately, the talent level of the team is the lowest it's been in years so they're still really boring to watch.