My God...It's Full of Stars!Written by Paul Bliss
There are not too many opportunities while running a business where there is a defined period of work stoppage, thus giving you time needed to go over details of your product or service.Right now, NHL's little details are eagerly waiting to be re-defined, yet are being completely ignored. While major issue of a work stoppage should be addressed, this is also a time when NHL could be on verge of breaking out into public eye. Even though I am a die-hard hockey fan, I can see that NHL is not "4th" sport in America. It's Nascar. How did this happen? What Nascar did, and what they are continuing to do is exactly what NHL needs to do when they come back to work. Market individuals. Sure they marketed Gretzky and Lemieux, but after them, how many casual fans could name 10 other players in league? With all of bad press that NBA and Baseball are currently getting, NHL should take advantage of this. In this rare time of reflection, NHL should be aggressively thinking about it's comeback strategy. It should make rule changes to open up scoring. That's what public wants to see. The NFL listens. They make changes to keep their game on top. History be dammed, they continue to stride for ultimate user experience. In today's world of instant information and numerous choices, you need to create as much saturation as possible. You need to personify user experience to as many different types of people out there. That's why there will always be fans of Lemieux, easily addressing class, style and talent - attributes that most people aspire to - and there will be fans of players such as Darius Kasparaitus, of whom they can see his hard work, although misguided sometimes in his decision making. Everybody makes mistakes, but "blue collar" types appreciate hard work and effort. Knowledgeable fans appreciate a great stay-at-home defenseman. The casual fan would think guy is a bum since he can't score. The solution is to convey to casual fan value of that type of player. You can't have a defense consisting of 6 Paul Coffey's - As exciting as that may seem to be, it would liken hockey more to Lacrosse, rather than highly skilled sport it is. The NHL needs to spotlight young high flying aces such as St. Louis, Kovalchuck and Nash. By marketing these players in their youth, there will be time for casual fan to absorb impact they have on game when they watch sportcenter highlights. This is where NHL could put a huge stamp into public eye. Instead of marketing teams, use marquee players. Most teams have at 3 or more players that could be used in this manner. Look at NBA - do you think there is no one in America who hasn't heard of Lebron James? It doesn't matter whether you watch sport or not, but even casual fan knows who he is.
| | The NFL Needs a New Tie-BreakerWritten by Terry Mitchell
After enduring that disgusting final weekend of NFL season, I have come to conclusion that a new tie-breaker is needed. How a team performs during final weekend should be first tie-breaker, with all current tie-breakers falling in line after that. A team that won its final game would hold first tie-breaker advantage against a team they're tied with that lost its final game. If they both lost, both won, or both tied their final game, then current tie-breakers would take effect in order that they currently exist. That would accomplish at least three of positive things. First, a team with a one game lead for a playoff spot, headed into final weekend, would have more difficulty "backing in" to playoffs way Minnesota did this year. By all rights, New Orleans should have made playoffs instead of Vikings. They finished with identical records. However, Saints won their final game, while Vikings lost theirs. In fact, under NFL's current crazy tie-breaker system, Vikings' loss, while ultimately not damaging their own playoff hopes, ironically was one of major factors that kept Saints out of playoffs! Under my proposed rule, Saints would have been in and Vikings would have been out. Second, it would keep more playoff berths/positions open going into final weekend and maintain more excitement and suspense all way to end. Currently, a team with a one game lead for a playoff berth, bye, home field advantage, and/or seeding can have that position clinched before final weekend if they own tie-breaker over team(s) they lead. Under my proposal, that would not be possible. That position would still be open through final weekend of season. For example, Pittsburgh Steelers would not have clinched home field advantage in AFC until they beat Buffalo in final weekend, instead of having it already clinched going into that game.
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