Adding MHO to the current thread:
 
There seems to be a fear of a Catch-22 out there.  The media won't cover
college hockey because their audience isn't interested in it, and folks aren't
interested in college hockey because the news media is not covering it.
 
That statement sounds pretty accurate to me - so what do you do about it?
 
Most of us don't have any influence with the media (excepting maybe color-man
Mike M.), so we cannot affect the one side of the equation.  However, we CAN
influence the other - public opinion!  I believe anyone can be an effective
salesman - even those of us in the technical fields - if we truly believe in
our products.  Anyone taking the time to read about College Hockey on the
Internet certainly fits that description.  SO PUSH THE PRODUCT!
 
How many folks thought that professional hockey had the proverbial snowball's
chance in sunny Florida?  As much as I wanted it, I admit I didn't think it
would fly, either.  So, when it was announced, I started taking some actions.
Maybe some of those (described in brief below) can be used to convert a few
folks to college hockey, and if a lot of people convert a few folks each, we
have a groundswell on our hands!
 
1) Consider Talk Radio.  I used to call our local Sportsradio station at least
   once a week during season from the time the Lightning franchise was rumored
   until midway through the first season.  At first, I was one of the few folks
   who discussed hockey.  Now, I don't take the time anymore - there are a lot
   of people talking hockey!
2) Write Letters to the Editor.  I've written a few letters about the Lightning
   to various print media.  A couple actually got published in the sports pages
   of national media, and one was quoted extensively in our local paper.  It
   gets a few columns of ink, and maybe someone will read it and get interested.
3) Bring a friend.  I helped organize a season ticket club at my place of
   employment that has 8 seats at the Thunderdome.  Whenever possible, we
   invite friends that have not been to a hockey game and might enjoy it - that
   list is shrinking, as folks get exposed to the game.  One of our seat-
   neighbors occasionally gets free tickets from a vendor.  If he already has
   tickets for that night, those tickets are donated to co-workers -- the only
   restriction is that at least one of those recipients must be attending their
   first game.
4) Throw a hockey-watching party at home or your favorite establishment (for
   those rare times when a game is actually on TV), or organize an excursion to
   the local rink to watch it live.  I know some teams sell out, but a lot of
   others seem to have plenty of seats to go around!
 
Now, we're drawing 20,000+ per game, and there's a second team down in Miami.
(Before someone brings it up - no, I'm not trying to claim credit!  However,
I can name a few folks that I've converted, and a couple that they've converted.
When a lot of folks start doing things like that - something gets accomplished!)
 
(Sorry - the above section uses the "I" pronoun more than I like - the point
is, ANYONE can do these types of things!  Eventually, it'll start catching on!
The NC$$ Final 4 in that other winter sport (with the tall guys and the round
orange ball) didn't reach its current Cecil B. DeMille proportions overnight!
 
One final thought to all of those who are complaining, either publicly or
privately, about the lack of coverage/interest in college hockey -- Name one
thing that you've done to change the situation.  It doesn't have to be a big
thing, but it does have to be something.  If you can't list AT LEAST one small
thing, go out and do something about it before you complain about the situation
again.
 
All, of course, is MHO - your milage may vary.
 
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 |    Andrew T. Kuligowski                 email:                    |
 |    Dunedin,  FL                         [log in to unmask]    |
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