When we talk about making college hockey more popular, the first
thing I asked myself was: do I really want it to be more popular.  The
answer is yes and no.  I like the fact that when I want to go to the final
four, I can without a problem, but I hate the fact that the only way I can
follow the sport is through this list and the web (not to knock the list,
it's great.  I'm knocking local NY television and newspapers).
        The idea of a Big 10 conference is intriguing.  One side of me is
saying that to break the tradition of college hockey would be almost
sacreligious (sp?), but the other side is seeing Michigan play Minnesota and
Wisconson a few times a year, and loving it.  It would definately make the
sport more popular by bringing in more money and advertising.  It would
leave many questions, though, such as what to do come tourney time, and the
best teams all have bad records.
        If we really want to make the sport more popular, I think the key is
to get involved.  If everyone on this list wrote not only to ESPN and SI
(which both disgusted me with their tourney coverage, or lack thereof), but
to local papers and news stations also, maybe we can get more news coverage.
I think that's the key to becoming more popular.  This year, at my high
school, I ran a college hockey pool, much like our hockey-l one.  When I
asked people if they wanted to do it, most people said, "Is there really
college hockey?"  With this attitude, the sport will never become popular,
but media coverage could change that.  (In case anyone's wondering, I got
about 25 people to do the pool, but most because it was only one buck.)
        Comments and suggestions are welcome, but please, this is my first
hockey-l post, and I don't want to get flamed quite yet ;-)
                                -Josh Kleinbaum
 
 
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  [   ]  [   ]   |    Josh Kleinbaum       [log in to unmask]
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   |  \  /  |    | http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~akleinb/josh.html
   | \ \/ / |    |
   | |\  /| |    |  See the home page of The Greeley Tribune at
   | | \/ | |    |    http://www.fas.harvard?~akleinb/tribune
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  [___]  [___]   |             MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
    GO BLUE!     |           1996 HOCKEY CHAMPIONS!!!!!
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