Letters to the Editor
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Old Time Hockey
Dallas? Uh, King, gotta map?
I agree that this was one of the coolest things in sport over the last few years. But that coolness was at least as much about the novelty of the whole thing. As King notes, as actual hockey, the game wasn't much. Also contributing to the coolness, the perfection of the weather and the rabid nature of Sabres fans.
I'm not sure that an annual reprise -- particularly in cities like Dallas (again, DALLAS?!) -- is a good idea. If you do stay with an annual event, I say keep it in Buffalo, though maybe a better idea would be to alternate it among the Original Six cities, along with Buffalo.
PS: while we're retiring the 72 Dolphins, can somebody swing by Chicago and help us rid ourselves of the 85 Bears?
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@laynegt
I know you're excited with all the visions of Pats dating supermodels dancing in your head (btw, other than Brady dating a supermodel, who?) but the Pats haven't played the Jags yet.
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Football
The Gators Wolverines game was great. So much for the hopelessness of the Big 10.
Patriots are really good. They just happened to be cheaters. Both of those statements cannot be denied.
Hmm. I was doing some thinking about the BCS coaches.
USC - Pete Carroll - former assistant coach at Ohio State
Illinois - Ron Zook - born and raised in Loudosville, Ohio. former assistant coach at Ohio State
Kansas - Mark Mangino - graduated from Youngstown State in Ohio. Served as a student assistant at YSU under Jim Tressel
Ohio State - Jim Tressel - born and raised in Mentor, Ohio
LSU - Les Miles - born and raised in Elyria, Ohio
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What advantage did they get?
Motivation. Belichick got caught on purpose to get his players amped up. First qurter of the first game. The guy is standing right out in the open with a monster camera.
Now THAT'S genius.
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Hockey Ice Bowl? Brilliant!
I agree, the NHL ought to make this an annual event, and it'll probably do something stupid instead.
If they manage not to, I'd like to see the Original Six teams get Ice Bowl games first. Second, I'd prefer that we not have Ice Bowl games in a warm-climate city. And say this being a Stars fan living in Dallas...
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Opposing Team Winning Percentage
If you look at the opposing team's games that didn't involve the Pats, those teams had a .500 record against the rest of the league. The Dolphins opponents had a .396 record against the rest of the league. Winning 16 games against teams that averaged .500 against the rest of the league would indicate that the Pats played a perfectly balanced schedule, while Miami clearly played a below-average schedule that year.
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The Big 10 still no so big
Michigan finally played up to their talent and gave an inspired effort to give Carr a nice sendoff but, even with that, the Big 10 is only 3-4 in Bowl games so far.
Man, this Ohio thing you have going is something else. I suspect that if somebody merely passes through Ohio, and does well elsewhere you'd credit their success to passing through Ohio.
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Hockey - a winter sport
I am not a hockey fan. I agree with the late, great Red Smith that "down and back" games don't do it for me. See also basketball. But I watched nearly an entire hockey game with the hockey fan I married because it was played outdoors in the snow in front of 71,000 screaming fans.
I also reiterated to my hockey fan spouse that the NHL should have adopted the shootout 30 years ago when I first posited the suggestion to her. Any sport that allows the possibility of a tie is stupid. Are you listening NFL? I jumped from hockey to whichever of the BCS blowouts was on at the time. Footkey? Hockball?
I suggest two games every season. New Year's Day and the Sunday before the Super Bowl when football fans are starving for some action. Giants Stadium holds 77,000 people. If half were Devils fans and the other half Rangers fans, there aren't enough NJ State Troopers available to keep the peace.
It could also be used for a rematch of the teams from the previous season's Stanley Cup Finals. Or an annual US-Canada grudge match, held in alternating stadia on either side of the 49th parallel.
Somehow, the NHL, the worst-run "major sport," has hit upon a brilliant idea. Even for this non-hockey fan, please don't screw this up.
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Outdoor Hockey
How about Minnesota/Phoenix in the twin cities? Dress the Coyotes in throwback Winnipeg Jets unis and you'd see a packed and passionate crowd beyond imagining.
Just a thought . . .
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Thank you, King, thank you
I got sick of those '72 Dolphins a loooong time ago. Mercury Morris, in particular. Keeping his mouth shut should have been one of the conditions of his parole.
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NHL---Here is your chance!
The Ice Bowl game in Buffalo yesterday was a great idea and the weather turned out perfect and it was an exciting game, despite the low 2-1 score. The good news: There were probably hundreds of thousands of people that watched NHL hockey for the first time due to that game, and luckily it all worked out.
The recent NHL rule changes such as the 4 on 4 overtime were a great addition (although I would make it go for 10 minutes, not five) and the shootout is also terrific. And, luckily, both of those happened yesterday, and Sidney Crosby, the Pens young superstar scored the winning goal.
Next step: The NHL needs to now consider adding one or more of these outdoor games in EVERY NHL city next year.
Some thoughts: If the NFL stadiums don't work, try other venues (with flatter surfaces) or even as one person suggested, skate on real ice somehow in a city with rivers that freeze over. These games will take on a life of their own, with big tailgate parties, like NFL games, and will be a surefire way to sell more season tickets. Other ideas: Have a High School ice hockey team tourney the day before. Or have the venue host a rock concert after the game. Or, let the fans skate on the ice afterwards! You could build mini NHL Fanfests around every one of these games. TV ratings would go up... There are plenty of ideas here.
NHL--it is up to you! Take this great idea to the next level!