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Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
1) Are you going to continue to watch the playoffs or are you going to pack in in and wait for the start of the offseason activities?
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About the same an usual. Not watching religiously but will keep an eye on things and likely catch the end of the finals. Won't go out of my way to watch, but will if its on.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
2) How likely are you next year to dedicate a lot of time to watching Flames hockey?
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Very. Flames are my team. There is no joy without heartbreak. I've experienced too much heartbreak in sports to go out broken. Its the good times that stick with me, the great memories, not the crappy ones. The little guy is just getting into sports now. Watching him jump and run around for Flames goals made md happier than actually winning the games.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
3) Would you consider yourself a die hard flames fan, a interested flames fan, a casual flames fan?
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Die hard. Keeping in mind that this board is made up of the outliers of the bell curve of Flames Fans. There certainly are more die hards here than me. But they are my team through thick and thin.
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Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
4) What would it take for you to switch team allegiances?
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Excellent question. If the off ice leadership (owner, president, GM, etc) stopped caring. Of they knowingly made poor decisions, if they weren't trying to improve, and if they took it out on the fans and myself.
If employees were being mistreated and no corrective actions being taken.
If they thought themselves better than the community rather than a contributer to the community.
Note. None of these things deal with the game itself and results on the ice. Its the leadership and integrity off ice.
You can consistently lose, so long as you're trying to improve.
We can say we've been hooking our wagon to Monahan/Gaudreau but changes in goaltending when it wasnt working were made. Same with coaching. Same with secondary players. It may not be the direction you or I would have taken, but the standard is attempting to improve. Which they have been doing, regardless of results.
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch
5) Do you think that the on ice product that is provided by the NHL a) Its great hockey don't change a thing b) Its not a great product, I watch it because there's not a lot out there or I feel obligated c) I'm thinking of being done with the NHL.
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D) It's a great product that can be improved upon. I think the NHL needs to do away with 'game management' and give referees more training on what is a penalty. Penalties should be standardized. By that I mean a penalty in the 1st period of a game in November is the same as a penalty in overtime in the playoffs. Whistles don't go in pockets.
If linesmen can get their calls right 98 times out of 100, then referees should too.
Maybe this means a 3rd referee off ice, or maybe one on the ice one off the ice? Maybe it doesn't mean a change at all?
Consistency in the rules is what I want.
I'm also not opposed to the NHL making public a methodologies for referee evaluations, and letting TSN, SN, etc score the officials. I'm surprised this isn't done in baseball in a more formal way.
Also when it comes to discipline I wouldn't be opposed to having a panel decide suspensions etc. Ideally, including people with training in determining punishments like criminal attorneys or judges. I like the idea of having people removed from 'hockey' with input. I'd rather the punishment or suspension given by someone who is an expert on rules, given the guidelines, and any suspention history, determine a suspension for Marchand than be biased because he's a jerk, conversely I don't want Ovetchkin to get a slap on the wrist because he's Ovi. Same standard for all.