My wife and I are big hockey fans. We have NHL Center Ice and watch nearly a game a night, if not more on some nights. I like to follow several teams, but one that I have really started to enjoy watching lately is the Chicago Blackhawks. Which is why both my wife and I were excited about this year’s Winter Classic.
If you are not a hockey fan, I should explain, twice before the NHL has hosted an outdoor game. Last year they called it the Winter Classic, it featured the Penguins and the Sabres. It became an instant classic, Crosby scored a shoot out goal to win the game for the Pens. It was indeed a great game and although some of the shots made it tough to see what was going on, it flowed just like a real NHL game played indoors would.
This season they decided to hold it in the Windy City at Wrigley Field. I have to say the idea of one of the most exciting young teams in hockey playing their hated rivals, the Detroit Red Wings, in one of baseball’s hallowed grounds just seemed too good to be true. All week my wife and I were talking about it, getting psyched up, we watched the home / at home first game on Tuesday where the Wings handled the Black Hawks. So we DVRed it and waited until my wife got home from work, sat down and watched it.
First off, the NHL had so much to gain from this game. They aren’t on national TV at all except this game, so the game has to be a hit to gain some attention to the sport. NBC who is doing the NHL a favor by showing it on TV knows this and decides, we will handle all the pre – game lunacy. I think you know where I am going with this. Almost 40 minute intro, much like baseball’s All Star game, then the game starts.
Now I have watched a lot of hockey in my life, being a season ticket holder and a fan of watching it on TV. The announcers, spoke about everything except hockey and when they did actually get to hockey it was to plug some sponsor. When there was a penalty, we didn’t get to hear what it was or for how long. Great checks were never replayed or replayed minutes after it happened. Insane saves were glossed over, and mentioned like any other save. The announcers got more excited about two families vying for a trip to Orlando then goals being scored. I just felt let down. The final straw was when we missed the end of the game by 40 mins. (thanks to the extended intro).
NBC treated this game like a meaningless All Star game (which they are also hosting so god help us). The only drama built up was what was built up by me as the Blackhawks kept giving up goals. Certainly not by the announcers. I just feel bad for the NHL, I feel like their big day in the sun was a dud that was presented horribly. It was a fantastic idea that just went dud. The worst part is there were so many made for photographs moments that you know Upper Deck will be pumping out tons of cards for next year’s sets.
As a hockey fan, I am just flat out disappointed, I hope they learned something from this one and make it better next season, where ever it will be (my money is on Boston, at Fenway). I’m curious about how everyone felt about the presentation. The game was great, but it was even better when we turned off the sound. Let us know how you felt watching it and knowing that this is one of two nationally televised hockey games for the NHL.
Watching sports on network television has become painful. The NHL is on network TV so rarely that when it is, it’s obvious how awful it is compared to seeing it on a regional network or on the CBC.
But it’s that way for all sports. I can’t stand watching baseball on network TV. Networks are so indebted to advertisers and their own programming that it’s killing my enjoyment of games on network TV. The NFL, with its stupid, artificial television timeouts are as annoying as anything. I don’t watch the NBA, but I’m sure it’s the same there.
The networks just seem to keep finding new ways to impose advertising on the viewer and new ways to turn a game into a Hollywood event. People say, “Well, it’s entertainment.” No it’s not. It’s “sports entertainment.” There’s a difference. It’s not a Hollywood gala movie premiere.
I felt the same way about the announcing.
I’ve followed hockey loosely for years but with the changes that have been made in the Blackhawks organization over the past year I’ve really become a fan. I was really excited about the Winter Classic, but the calling was terrible. No explanation of the penalties (which probably made it more difficult for the average person to understand what was going on), and the calls on the saves were boring.
Anyways, I’ll be watching Sunday when the Hawks take on the Flames with Pat Foley behind the mike.
You pretty much summed up the commentary. I didn’t think that they were ever going to show the replay of the check into the bench in the first. Then when they did show replays, they would show about four clips. When the replay was over, you had missed maybe ten seconds of the actual game.
Also, NBC will be doing a game just about every week starting on the 19th. At least I think it will be once a week on Sunday since that is what they did last year. And, I’m not positive about this, but I think that the All-Star game will be on Versus.
zman, your right it is on Vs. Also starting the 19th like you said they will be doing an NHL game of the week. Which means it’ll be blacked out on Center Ice and I’ll be forced to watch it. What happened to network TV sports? Did they forget how to do it?
By the way… how did NBC not prep these guy on who was going to be representing the Cubs? They couldn’t tell the difference between Fergie Jenkins and Billy Williams.
It’s not like they had Mickey Morandini and Mike Fontenot – these are two HOFers.
Come on!
Wow who’d of thought. Mickey Morandini would find his way into a Hockey post.
I still love the idea of this game, and would like to go to one someday. I would think they would bring this game to Philadelphia at some point.
Guess I am even happier that I was at the game and not stuck watching it on TV. Went to both this years and last years in Buffalo and can say for sure that inside the stadium this was a much better atmosphere. Everyone was on their feet until the end. The chants of “Detroit Sucks” vs “We got the cup” were defining at times.
To bad the announcing sucked because the play was great. This year the ice was in good shape and the players got to play hockey. Last year the players had to pull up when going into the boards because of the soft ice, others fell as they made cuts, and overall the game was slow last year.
Not sure how many of the big hits they showed on TV, but in the first 5 minutes alone there had to be at least 8 really big hits and many where away from the puck so if they didn’t replay it you would have never seen them.
Anyways the game was great and if you ever get a chance to go to a Winter Classic it’s worth it. Just wait until the day of to pick up tickets as you will save a bunch of money…have done that for both games. Someone is always stuck with a few tickets the day of and they don’t want to eat them.
I watched a little bit of the Winter Classic before the Rose Bowl, and I was a bit bored by it. I’m not sure if it was because of the announcers or the Western Conference teams that I hardly ever watch…
Anyway, here’s hoping that they bring the Winter Classic to Raleigh someday! Carter-Finley Stadium would be a perfect location. And it shouldn’t matter that it doesn’t get that cold here – they have an outdoor skating rink in Cary that somehow survives.
I don’t think NBC or the NHL perceived the New Years classic as a non successful event. It will go on next year.
Now, the repeated Harry Carry “Take me out to the ballgame” commercials got a little repetitive and boring, but that’s advertising for you.
I do wish they would have had a ‘pre-game’ of the old timers. That would have been enjoyable, not only for the fans, but for the Old timers.
I just wished there was a better outcome to the game, that’s all. I have friends that made it out to that game and loved it, so I guess it’s just a matter of opinions.
hawksfansite.ning
Johnny B
If you thought the announcers were boring, you are lucky that Mike “Doc” Emrick wasn’t doing the play by play (due to laryngitis).. There would have been a whole lot more talking about nothing, or saying how great Crosby is. (Do I need to mention that Crosby doesn’t play for DET or CHI?)Seriously, if you have ever watched a game on NBC or Vs. you know that they can go 5 minutes without any talk about the very game you are watching. ABSURD!
I thought that Dave Strader did a fine job of play by play, that is when the color analysts allowed him to do his job. It was Pierre McGuire and Eddie Olcheck who schmucked the whole broadcast up.. Olcheck couldn’t get the score right, and McGuire is just a dolt. I mean, McGuire stating that the wind was a major factor when they had the same amount of time (actually the Wings had more time against the wind. they were supposed to switch at the 10 min mark of the 3rd but there wasn’t a whistle until around the 12 minute mark.)with the wind in their faces.
I think the Winter Classic is a great idea, it is a novelty for the fans (and players) to be able to see them in this kind of setting. It also draws national attention to the NHL, which is a good thing.
Maybe save the color guys for before, after, and intermissions and let the Play by Play guys announce the game. They need an alt audio channel to just broadcast the sounds of the game with no announcers at all, I would listen to that!