In HOCKEY-L Mike Machnik writes:
> Unfortunately, TSN's yearbook also has a feature (FEATURE) article on GOONS.
> Not only do they do things like rating the pro goons in different categories,
> but they stoop so low as to give hints to young players, in a separate but
> related article, on how to become a goon!  Let me quote the first paragraph
> from that: "Do you have an aspiring goon playing midget hockey?  Here are
> a few tips - some of which are even acceptable in today's society - on the
> martial arts, compiled from current and future pros..."
>
> It's attitudes like this that threaten to send hockey back to the dark
> ages.  Don't they realize many of the readers of the yearbook are going to
> be kids?  Everyone knows the game is physical and sometimes even in college
> where there is supposedly no fighting, altercations do occur - but why
> glorify it?
>
> Too bad they have to try to cater to fans of this trash and not real fans,
> as if they needed this to sell magazines.  Still, their college section
> is much better than expected.
>
>
> - mike
>
 
In the interest of free speech and equal time I'm forwarding the
following opposing point of view (not mine):
 
-----START OF RESPONSE-------
 
From Ronald Z. Greedy:
 
  Mr Machnik,
   As head of programming for MCSN (Marginal Coverage Sports Network)
I have to firmly disagree with your point of view concerning goonism.
It is doing anything but sending hockey back to the dark ages. Revenue
is the biggest and best measure of how anything is doing.  Revenue
on our hockey coverage is UP so I don't thing you have anything to worry
about.
 
   See, it works like this.  Normally we fit in a hockey game when regular
features like "Car Crushing Monster Trucks" are not available to us.
Normally we show "MegaPro-Wrestle-Mania"  before  "Car Crushing Monster
Trucks"  When we have to stick in the hockey game we worry about losing
viewers who just finished watching the "MegaPro-Wrestle-Mania-Grudge-Death-
Cage match". I mean, its a pretty hard act to follow.
 
  We find though that if we carefully pick the games we show
based on teams with the most total penalty minutes (and game misconducts)
that week we can retain these viewers.   Increased viewership not only means
that we can charge more for the commercials helping us to continue providing
quality service to our viewer, but also think of all the extra exposure the
sport of hockey is getting.  The same goes for ticket sales.
   So you see Mike, goonism is actually helping hockey (and me...I can smell
that promotion already..)
 
        Ronald Z. Greedy
        Head of Programming for Marginal Coverage Sports Network
        MCSN-"not available in your area"
 
P.S:       look for our new program this fall:
           MegaPro-Car-Crushing-Monster-Trucks-Super-Goon-Grudge-Death-
           -Cage-Match-On-ICE
 
 
------END OF RESPONSE-------
 
Well I just thought that we ought to consider both sides of the issue
here not to fall behind the Soviet-Disunion in the democratic process.
 
(Note: just in case you hadn't noticed  :-) X 10 applies to this whole article.)
 
David Wojtowicz
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