Hartley Miller's Slap Shots August 21st, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009 03:45 AM
If you believe Prince George is in the minority with the decline of interest in hockey you may want to think again.
It's not a secret that paid attendance at WHL Cougars and BCHL Spruce Kings games has dropped
significantly during the last few years. Consistent losing or mediocrity has obviously been a contributing factor, but perhaps, lower interest in the game is a trend that has hit many other cities in Canada.
significantly during the last few years. Consistent losing or mediocrity has obviously been a contributing factor, but perhaps, lower interest in the game is a trend that has hit many other cities in Canada.
Recently, I read a news story that suggested interest in the NHL has been on a steady decline over the past two decades, with teenagers being the largest proportion of fan losses. In his recently published book, entitled The Emerging Millennials, Reginald Bibby, University of Lethbridge Sociologist found that since 1990, adult interest in the NHL has dropped from 35 to 30 % and that teenage interest in the league has shrunk from 45 to 35 %.
In addition, the amount of teens that follow the NHL is lower in Toronto than in any of the six Canadian NHL cities. I am not surprised especially since the Maple Leafs are so inept.
Bibby’s research included a sampling of more than 5,500 teens around Canada and the results are accurate within three percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Bibby stated, “What these findings point to is the fact that the entertainment choices of young people and the rest of us have exploded. Forget the rhetoric about the NHL needing to add teams in Canada because the country is in love with hockey. These findings suggest the NHL needs to add teams in Canada in order that more Canadians – starting with young people – will fall in love with hockey.”
In all fairness, teenage interest is also on the decline in Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NFL, and the CFL.
TV ratings in Canada for the 2009 Stanley Cup final between the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins peaked at 3.5 million for game seven. Yes, this is a healthy number, but remember that nearly 5 million viewers (4.96) watched game 7 of the Canucks-Rangers final in 1994 and that as many of 4.79 million Canadians tuned into the Flames-Canadiens 1989 Stanley Cup championship series. These latter ratings were higher despite Canada’s smaller population 15 and 20 years ago.
I think as Canadians we hold a belief that most Canadians love hockey. While hockey will always have a strong following and will continue to be the most prominent sport in this country, what Bibby’s research suggests is that not everyone is a fan, new NHL or not.
#
What is there not to like about Brett Favre joining the Minnesota Vikings?
Ok, sure he waffled, and of course the story grew a little tiresome, and naturally he did not want to participate in two-a-days at training camp.
Whether you like Favre, or not, there is no disputing that the Vikings intrigue has skyrocketed. There
is no doubt that they are a much more interesting team with the 39-year-old 3-time MVP at quarterback than either Sage Rosenfels or Tavaris Jackson.
The Vikings host the Packers Monday, October 5th and Minnesota will visit Green Bay Sunday, November 1st. If those two games alone don't grab one's attention then either that person doesn't have a pulse or doesn't care for football.
Favre has been treated like a "rock star". And make no doubt about it, this is a status he has earned.
#
Ok, sure he waffled, and of course the story grew a little tiresome, and naturally he did not want to participate in two-a-days at training camp.
Whether you like Favre, or not, there is no disputing that the Vikings intrigue has skyrocketed. There
is no doubt that they are a much more interesting team with the 39-year-old 3-time MVP at quarterback than either Sage Rosenfels or Tavaris Jackson.
The Vikings host the Packers Monday, October 5th and Minnesota will visit Green Bay Sunday, November 1st. If those two games alone don't grab one's attention then either that person doesn't have a pulse or doesn't care for football.
Favre has been treated like a "rock star". And make no doubt about it, this is a status he has earned.
#
It seems everyone and their dogs (pardon the pun) have an opinion about Michael Vick signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. Reaction has been mixed and certainly filled with emotion.
Some people believe Vick has paid his debt to society and deserves a second chance, but on the other hand, there is a belief that his crime was so heinous that the NFL should never have welcomed him back.
I certainly agree that his illegal actions, which involved the promotion of dogfights and torturing dogs was horrific, but I am in the group that he is entitled to a second and final chance. I think the anti Vick group should be more disturbed that he only served 18 months of a 23-month sentence in jail. Perhaps, he did indeed deserve more time in prison. Nonetheless, the legal system has freed him. He deserves an
opportunity going forward to make a living and make a positive impact while doing community service.
opportunity going forward to make a living and make a positive impact while doing community service.
Vick, a three-time Pro Bowl pick during six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, insists he is a changed man. He claims to have accepted responsibility for his involvement in the illegal dog fighting operation that he helped finance. If he is true to his word, then maybe there will be a day in the near future when Vick can call himself a dog’s best friend.
From the quote rack:
Michael Vick has been signed to play with the Philadelphia Eagles. When asked how he felt about playing for the Eagles, Vick said "Eagles"? I thought they said "Beagles"!
Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)
Convicted felon Michael Vick was interviewed on “60 Minutes”, Sunday night. We’d like Vick to remember that is 420 in tortured dog minutes.
Vick is a veteran who has a lot to teach young NFL players; how to smile for a mug shot, whether the top bunk in the cell is the most comfy, how to pick up the soap without actually bending over.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
Headline after Y.E. Yang’s appearance out of nowhere to win the PGA. “Hidden dragon. Ouching Tiger.”
So Michael Phelps has been arrested for a DUI, been implicated in smoking marijuana, and has been cited for driving without a license. At this point fish are starting to refer to odd behavior as being a “Phelps out of water.”
GM has announced plans to sell a new $4000 car. Don’t they already have that? It’s a $10,000 car one hour after you drive it off the lot.
The IOC rejected baseball’s application to return as an Olympic sport. Which means that Canadian fans of amateur baseball will just have to settle for the Blue Jays.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
The Cubs fan that threw the beer on Shane Victorino has apologized and hopes Cubs fans can forgive him. He then went off to the bar to join his new buddy, Steve Bartman.
200,000 Florida bats are displaced after a UF bat house collapse. I thought the Marlins were having another Fire Sale.
A soap opera actress-turned-high school drama teacher, Lisa Glide, has been sentenced to five years probation over a sexual tryst with an underage male student. The boy in the case called her 'The Gliding Light'.
T.O. missed Buffalo Bills practice this week with a sore toe. He sprained it toeing the line.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Did you hear about the two European men who thought they had bought airline tickets to Sydney, Australia, and ended up landing in Sydney, N.S.? This reminds me of the time I bought tickets for a CFL game and ended up watching the Toronto Argonauts.
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix
So Brett Favre has unretired. Ya know, the last time a guy made this many comebacks was wearing a hockey mask and carrying a machete.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel says he is worried about his players "falling in love with mediocrity." He should let romance bloom. For those guys it would be marrying up.
Theo Fleury, who has not played in the NHL for several years after violating the league's substance abuse policy, is looking to make a comeback. And word is that Glen Sather is already preparing a jersey with an "AA" on it.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York
Exciting news... Theo Flurey is coming out of retirement to play in the NHL & Rosie O''Donnell is dieting to become part of the Lingerie Football League.
Wii is planning a curling version of its game it hopes will capture the nostalgic fans who still want to play while smoking & drinking.
Wii is planning a curling version of its game it hopes will capture the nostalgic fans who still want to play while smoking & drinking.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
And in case you missed it:
If it works out, brace yourself for aging heavyweight Eleanor Holyfield.
Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald, on 44-year-old British boxer Rob Newbiggin, who has a 3-12 career record, undergoing a sex change because he believes he can earn more as a female fighter.
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com
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Posted by: Loki on August 21 2009 11:21 AM
This is far from apples to apples...