That's one bitter deceased hockey fan (via CollegeHumor.com):
BENNITZ, Archibald (Archie) Wednesday, January 19, 2005, at the age of 84. Predeceased by his wife Vicky, Archie was the beloved father of son David and daughter-in-law Wendy and a wonderful grandfather to Joshua, Michael, and Adam. He leaves behind his brother Doug in B.C. and many nephews and nieces. Archie was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia and served overseas with the 422nd squadron RCAF in WWII. A long-time resident of Niagara Falls, Archie was an avid fan of watching hockey. He asked that Mr. Bettman and Goodenow know that they are "skunks" for denying him the pleasure of watching the NHL on TV this year. he also asked that Mr. Bettman steps aside and gives Wayne Gretzky the job that rightfully belongs to him.
I can always appreciate anger that outlives our normal human lifespan. It's kind of like The Grudge, only with the ghost saying "aboot" a lot.
And on the heels of this, we learn that next Tuesday is very likely the drop-dead date for ending this year's season (kind of a foregone conclusion at this point). The alternative? A 30-game season. Sounds exciting.
My money's on a complete loss of the season, with possible serious ramifications for the future of the league itself. Bottom line: the owners absolutely insist on a salary cap, and the players absolutely refuse.
If a new collective bargaining agreement cannot be worked out, the NHL would become the first North American professional sport to lose an entire season because of a labor dispute.
I've about reached the end of my patience with professional sports in general. Every one of these NHL bastards can kiss my ass, for starters, but my tolerance for all overpaid egomaniacs and their greedy masters is essentially nil at this point. One of the reasons I didn't comment on the Super Bowl was because I just...didn't care. One group of Cro-mags pummeling the other for 10 second bursts in between 5 minute commercial breaks has lost a bit of its appeal (and I don't need to watch the game to collect my money from taking the Eagles and the points). As for baseball - and my interest in last year's World Series notwithstanding - I'm slowly confronting the ugly truth that there's little joy to be found in watching 'roided out zillionaires hit a ball with a stick and then make battlefield metaphors about it. The leagues themselves don't help, with their inability to effectively manage their businesses while hyping every contest up like it was as important as the Battle of El Alamein. Following sports might be a hard habit to break, but I have faith in my willpower (I did quit smoking the rock, after all).
Not counting fantasy sports, of course. My addiction to gaming is somewhat more severe.
More than anything, I guess I don't want to walk the earth like Archie Bennitz after I die, haunting the commissioners of the major sports leagues like an undead Johnny Gasparini.
Oops! Wrong thread. Ay Carumba!
I promise you will get many more zillions of dollars worth of pleasure from a T-ball game or youth soccer. You can even provide refreshments for the entire team cheaper than you can get a beer at the big stadiums.
Perhaps in lieu of watching hockey, you'll have to return to the rink
1: The mental image of you smoking The Rock is one that won't soon be burned from my brain.
@: El Alamein was no Leningrad. I mean Saint Stalingrad.
All I can say is EEEEEWWWWWW!!!!!!