I am boycotting this NHL season.
Like many of you, I spent the last five months listening to millionaire players and billionaire owners bicker with each other and spew propaganda through their media shills.
They have now settled on an agreement and want everything to be hunky-dory. They're even offering goodies to woo the fans back.
The Canucks, for example, opened up their practices this week to the public. They are also offering those who attend their first two games $1 hot dogs and 50% off merchandise. Seriously?
After costing us almost half the season, this is the best they can do? And are they even losing money on the hot dogs? According to AmazingRibs.com, the wholesale cost of a hot dog (labour costs and condiments included) is about $0.40. Are hockey fans really buying this garbage?
I am still a hockey fan and Canada's pastime will still be a big part of my life. I will still be at the rink once a week for my beer league and still make it out to watch the Vancouver Giants and the Coquitlam Express. As most of us found out over the past few months, we don't need the NHL to get our hockey fixes.
I am not naive enough to think I have a lot support on this issue. I know that just like after the previous strikes and lockouts in 1992, 1994 and 2005, the fans will come back in droves. To be honest, I will probably even go back at some point in the future.
But I think it's time - for this season at least - that we send the league and players a message that they cannot take us for granted anymore.
They need to pay attention to us with regard to labour disruptions, scheduling issues and ticket prices. We are the ones who pay the owners' bills and players' salaries; we are the ones who make the NHL as successful as it is. They need to treat us with some respect - and $1 hot dogs aren't going to cut it.
My mama always told me not to hold grudges but in this case I am holding a grudge, darn it.
Who's with me?
