One more hat tossed into the anti-shootout ring, please. I'll try to keep
this short.
 
1. I second Keith's Boo/Hiss.
 
2. Hockey needs both old and new fans. Shootouts seem guaranteed to annoy
a good percentage of the old fans, while providing little or no guarantee
of new fans. Many other less drastic measures could be employed to make
the game more marketable: 10 min OTs, lifting the "Gretzky rule," or even
a *REAL* point of emphasis on eliminating interference (by that, I mean
the refs don't back down when criticized by certain coaches).
 
3. I don't see the big deal with ties. 14% of the games? That's a
problem? God, 30+ guys ages 18-22 (roughly) work their butts off for 60
minutes and the crowd can't be happy for them if they've played equally
*** "Ah.  This is obviously some strange usage of the word 'safe' I wasn't
previously aware of."  -- Arthur Dent
 
[log in to unmask]
David M. Josselyn
Teaching Assistant
COM 107 - GRA 587
Newhouse School of Public Communication
Syracuse University
 
well (at least on the scoreboard...)?