Hartley Miller's Slap-Shots Sept. 15th Edition

By Hartley Miller

    
The British Columbia Hockey League has embarked on a new season, and while the on ice product may be decent, the same can't be said for some of the off-ice decisions that were made by the “powers to be”.

The BCHL just started a glorified 60 game exhibition schedule. Of course, I may sound a little cynical, but I am sorry I won't get interested until the playoffs begin. Yes, 16 of the 17 franchises will qualify for the post-season. In other words, teams in the BCHL will play six months of hockey to eliminate either Quesnel or Williams Lake from the playoffs. (Goody! Goody! gum drops that sure is exciting).

League officials insist that finances steer this idea because all teams need playoff revenue. In theory, this sounds like a good proposition, but some teams will end up with just two home playoff dates. Yes, they are important, but is it worth the cost of the other 30 home games?

It does not matter how the BCHL spins it, but with only one of 17 teams missing the playoffs the regular season means little. So, why should I or any other hockey fan be enthused until March?

Not only is the league brass trying to pull a fast one on the fans (with an embellished exhibition schedule), they are still trying to charge a payment to its loyal fan base. Yes, indeed they certainly have the nerve.

Do you remember the fan zone? You know the part of the website that the BCHL has the audacity to charge a fee. The Fan Zone offers access to game previews, recaps and league write-ups. Hockey fans are also able to listen live to games, and follow the scores with regular updates of games in progress. In other words, the Fan Zone has content not available on the regular BCHL web site.

Great idea, and a super concept, but the league, for the second straight season, will charge a fee of $17 for this privilege. This thought lacks class and value and isn't about the money, rather it’s the principle. Just call it another P.R. blunder.
 
This is yet another example of the BCHL continuing to “shoot itself” in the foot. Rhetoric from league officials insists this move is revenue generated. However, it's short sighted thinking. It is quite obvious that the Spruce Kings think this is a farce, especially since you can hear their road games for free, on their website. How’s that for thumbing your nose up to the league?

Imagine you are an advertiser, and the Spruce Kings get an average of 300 paid hits on the Fan Zone. Take away the fee, and conservatively that 300 hits turns into 3000. Wouldn’t the advertiser be better served without a fee? Gee, one may actually be able to charge more for your product because more people will be on the site. I’m not a marketing genius, I’m just an everyday ordinary Canadian, but it is not hard to figure out which method better serves the league.

Oh by the way, (try to contain your hysterics) the league requests you sign up for the Fan Zone during business hours (Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm). So, if it’s Friday night at 7 and you want to hear a game, and you haven’t gone through the hassle of paying, you are out of luck. Oh well, if it’s just a regular season game, it wasn’t worth paying for anyway.

From the quote rack:

"Good thing, the police were getting exhausted.''

Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg, on the start of the NFL season.

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"What part of Trojan did you not understand?"

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle, with a personal question to former USC Trojans quarterback (and now Arizona Cardinal) Matt Leinart, who got a Southern California basketball player pregnant.

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"First, there was Matt Leinart and his ballrom dance classes at USC. Now, there is Chad Johnson taking ballroom dance classes to help his end zone celebrations.  I'd say an early favorite for Comeback Player of the Year has to be Glenn Miller"

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California 
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"How's this for a good news story? Cleveland Indians' Kevin Kouzmanoff, a recent call-up, hits a grand slam on his first pitch he saw in the majors! Wow! Wouldn't that be like, com-parable to a "first date, first video" with Paris Hilton"?

Toronto comedian Frenchie McFarlane  (www.frenchiemcfarlane.bravehost.com) 

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"Yeah -- it's called Evander Holyfield."

Ian Hamilton of the Regina Leader-Post, on former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson stating that boxing has left a bad taste in his mouth. 

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"Personally, I would have named them Phil and Sergio. Sergio, roll over and play dead! No, Phil, you can't have another liver snack!"

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel on Tiger Woods and his wife naming their dogs Yogi and Taz.

And in case you missed it:

Tiger Woods’ covered 20 rounds over 47 days during his five straight wins on the PGA Tour. He
posted a 67.3 scoring average, good for 86-under par. Tiger pocketed US$5.7 million, which works out to a mere $121,627 a day.

And how was your week?

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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