As far as I am concerned, for hockey to do anything to make itself more
attractive to non-hockey people is wrong.  Hockey is a very sophisticated
sport, and it takes a great understanding of the game to properly enjoy the
game.  It is easy to see the appeal of the fantastic skating, the well-executed
and clean checking, and of course great goals and saves, but the truly fine
points in hockey are the subtleties that the casual fan cannot see.  I think
that the NHL has cheapened the game immeasurably by some of the changes it has
made to grasp a greater profit, such as selling out the traditional division
and conference names.  It was with great disappointment that I departed my
first game at Reunion Arena here in Dallas, for the fans did not cheer any of
the great passes, checks, or saves, but only the seven Dallas goals, and the
cameo appearance of Tom Landry on the overhead screen.  I think that the
NHL All-Star game has turned into the kind of travesty that shootouts would
cause, at any level, because if people are not drawn to hockey for the sake
of hockey, then they will quickly leave, and those who would have turned to
hockey eventually on their own would leave never to return because there were
"Not enough shootouts."  After reading innumerable articles in the Dallas
Morning News as to what icing is, and being asked by the person sitting next
to me how many quarters were in a hockey game, I am horribly opposed to
changing the face of the game to make it more marketable.
 
 
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Alex Relyea                        (214) 768-5725
SMU Box 2575                       [log in to unmask]
Dallas, TX 75275-2575              [log in to unmask]