Life, the Universe and Everything Sports

Hockey may be the most exciting sport on the planet. It combines the grace of skating and the skill of target shooting with bone-breaking hits and regular fistfights.

Hockey is America's new pasttime, though Canadians are probably wondering what took us so long to come around. With expansion bids in Winnipeg, Kansas City, and Las Vegas, and some fringe interest in San Diego, Seattle, Milwaukee, and Quebec City, hockey is the most rapidly expanding sport in North America.

Winnipeg had the Jets, who relocated to Phoenix and bacame the Coyotes; the American cities all had successful and wildly popular IHL teams.

Picture this: San Diego adopts the minor league team's name and becomes the Gulls. IHL alums Ray Whitney and Corey Stillman are lured back to SoCal, where both played at 19, with Gulls legend Lindy Ruff to coach.

Las Vegas, a gambling mecca, turns hockey into a huge moneymaker, as it signs the flashy Stars such as Jarome Iginla (if the Flames ever let him get away).

KC picks up Keith Tkachuk from the nearby Blues, adding a recognizable face to the new franchise.

I'd love to see it. Baseball has fallen from the throne- now hockey is king.

To the_great_LT,

First off - I have added you to my faves. Secondly, finally a blog stating the virtues of the greatest sport IMO. I just do not understand why Americans do not follow hockey. Wait, that is a generalization I should not use. There are many Americans who love hockey. But out of the Big 4 hockey is last. I mean there are areas in the U.S. where softball has a larger following. I'm a bit bias because as you can tell i'm Canadian. It's in our blood. But seriously it is a great sport. My second favourite sport is the NFL. I love it. What a great product. I will even go as far as admitting that the NHL and NFL for me are neck and neck. Some people will say hockey is not big in the States because Canadians invented it. Did you know that Canadians invented Basketball? That's all I wanted to say.

Chili

chilibeans71 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 4, 2006	Posted on: July 2, 2008 11:11 pm Score: 93 Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome To the_great_LT, First off - I have added you to my faves. Secondly, finally a blog stating the virtues of the greatest sport IMO. I just do not understand why Americans do not follow hockey. Wait, that is a generalization I should not use. There are many Americans who love hockey. But out of the Big 4 hockey is last. I mean there are areas in the U.S. where softball has a larger following. I'm a bit bias because as you can tell i'm Canadian. It's in our blood. But seriously it is a great sport. My second favourite sport is the NFL. I love it. What a great product. I will even go as far as admitting that the NHL and NFL for me are neck and neck. Some people will say hockey is not big in the States because Canadians invented it. Did you know that Canadians invented Basketball? That's all I wanted to say. Chili [ Reply to Comment ]
the_great_LT Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 10, 2006	Posted on: July 6, 2008 2:49 am Score: 89 RE: Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome chili: I went to the Gulls games as a small kid and grew up idolizing such minor-league greats as Len Hachborn, Dmitri Kvartalnov and Trevor Koenig. When I found out there was a bigger stage with better players, I fell in love with the NHL, and I am as big a hockey zealot as any Canadian (actually, I'm a Canuck by blood), but in southern California, nobody cares. Unfortunately. Anyways, I can't wait to see a franchise back in SoCal (other than the Ducks or Kings)... holding out hope for the old Gulls to make a comeback. I'll always be a devotee of hockey. LT [ Reply to Comment ]
DawnieBrat Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Dec 24, 2006	Posted on: July 6, 2008 7:42 am Score: 93 Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome Unless you've been to a live game, you truly can't appreciate the sport. But after that, how can you not love it? The suspense of a power play that's lined up or better yet, a short-handed goal. A forward skating and juking through the d-line and with one beautiful flick of the wrist "Score!" or a defenseman giving up his body for a stop or an out-of-this-world stop by the goalie where you're asking "How the heck did he stop that?!". And just when you didn't think it could get any better, they step it up a notch with the playoffs. Now that's something special. [ Reply to Comment ]

the_great_LT

Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome

Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome

RE: Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome

Hockey Is the New Baseball- It's Awesome