OT: Blackhawks

[Honey Bear]

Hey guys...

Not a bulls fan, but I am a die-hard Hawks fan.
Since the Hawks forum on RealGM is completely dead, I thought I'd post this in here. Who else is enjoying this historic run by the Hawks? It's kind of hard to fathom (even in a shortened season) that they still haven't lost yet.

[blackhawks2013]

Oh yeah babyyyyyyyyy die hard

[RedBulls23]

I support Chicago sport teams so im happy for Blackhawk fans and the team. I hope they win it.

But I can't get into hockey. I tried watching a couple of games buy it's too fast pace to just pick up. I just don't understand what's going on. Obviously other than when the puck goes into the goal lol.

[Al Swearengen]

Judging by the reaction we got when I posted about the NHL season starting, expect a lot of snarky comments about how irrelevant hockey is.

Although, I'm sure a lot of these people will become diehard bandwagoners when it becomes clearer and clearer that another Hawks' Cup is looking inevitable.

[DuckIII]

Judging by the reaction we got when I posted about the NHL season starting, expect a lot of snarky comments about how irrelevant hockey is.

Its not going to get that far because we have a Blackhawks board at realgm and moderators are directed to move threads like this to the appropriate forum.

[Honey Bear]

Judging by the reaction we got when I posted about the NHL season starting, expect a lot of snarky comments about how irrelevant hockey is.

Its not going to get that far because we have a Blackhawks board at realgm and moderators are directed to move threads like this to the appropriate forum.

Aww.. come on Duck. You and I both know nobody visits that board. That's why I made it in the Bulls forum. Regardless of snarky comments towards Hockey, I'd accept that compared to a dead forum with few responses.

[Midway Bully]

I drop by here and there, but you aren't going to find much at all here. You're better off going to secondcityhockey, the committed Indian or the Blackhawks team forums. Perhaps you can redirect some folks here, god knows I've tried.

Who knows, the Bears forum seemed pretty dead for a while too, but guys started posting, and it's decent now.

[Hangtime84]

I drop by here and there, but you aren't going to find much at all here. You're better off going to secondcityhockey, the committed Indian or the Blackhawks team forums. Perhaps you can redirect some folks here, god knows I've tried.

Who knows, the Bears forum seemed pretty dead for a while too, but guys started posting, and it's decent now.

yeah these things grow with time.

[TNBT]

Yeah, you're right that the board is pretty quiet here. I'm honestly not that sure of what else I can do to try and get more people posting here. I mean I know that hockey is largely less-popular than the other 3 major sports, but when you have a team like the Blackhawks to root for, I'm amazed that more Chicago sports fans aren't on board. As for the streak, you're damn right I'm enjoying it. This may be a dumb question, but have EA Sports made an NHL 2013 game? I have 2012 but I want to update. I wasn't sure if they actually made a game this year though, or if I will have to wait for 2014. All I know is that I'm going to be stuck in front of the TV for hours on end, playing game after game with this current Blackhawks lineup... and maybe Pirri tossed into the lineup as well.

[Honey Bear]

Yeah, you're right that the board is pretty quiet here. I'm honestly not that sure of what else I can do to try and get more people posting here. I mean I know that hockey is largely less-popular than the other 3 major sports, but when you have a team like the Blackhawks to root for, I'm amazed that more Chicago sports fans aren't on board. As for the streak, you're damn right I'm enjoying it. This may be a dumb question, but have EA Sports made an NHL 2013 game? I have 2012 but I want to update. I wasn't sure if they actually made a game this year though, or if I will have to wait for 2014. All I know is that I'm going to be stuck in front of the TV for hours on end, playing game after game with this current Blackhawks lineup... and maybe Pirri tossed into the lineup as well.

Ah, understandable. I guess the lack of popularity of Hockey probably has a lot to do with it, though a surprising statistic, the Blackhawks have had the largest fan base increase in North American sports since 2005 (423%) which is crazy.

http://www.redeyechicago.com/sports/red ... otogallery

Yep, NHL 13 did come out earlier this year. I passed on buying it this year because of the lockout, but I'll definitely be getting 2014.

[TNBT]

Yeah... I don't get why hockey is so less popular than the other sports. I mean I love all 4 sports, but hockey has everything you could want -- hitting, fast paced action, fights, high energy. It's all the physicality of football but faster. As for the EA Sports game, I'll have to keep an eye out for it. At the moment though, I'm probably better off waiting for 2014 like you said.

[Midway Bully]

Most people I've talked to get turned off quickly by the pace of it, and some just cant see the puck, even on a 60 inch screen!

As with every sport, you gotta give it time. I used to be prejudiced against hockey and soccer, and had the same stereotypes in my mind that other folks did. Once I watched both sports more and more, the more fantastic they get. That's why I get annoyed over which sport is better or "manlier" debates.

[TNBT]

I get what you mean about getting used to the game. When I first started really getting into hockey about 8 years ago, I'd watch games and I had no idea where the puck was and who was who. Watch it a while and you start to be able to keep up with and follow the play, and you get a better idea of who the players are, and therefore can usually work out where they're supposed to be and why they are where they are, and do what they do.

I honestly can't back you on the soccer thing though bro. I've tried watching it, tried playing it... just can't get into it. I know it takes skill and is difficult, as well as requiring great fitness, but I'm just not feeling it. I think the issues for me are that even though it's not much more low scoring than hockey, the pace is usually quite a bit slower, and the main thing is I can't stand all the diving. If the guys playing the game actually acted like real men and played hard and pushed through packs and stuff, then I'd give it a shot. Nothing pisses me off more though than watching soccer and every 10 seconds someone dives on the ground and rolls around like they've been shot, when there clearly was minimal (if any) contact from the other player. It's essentially a sport where cheating is rewarded. They have rules in the NBA now to stop flopping, and it's time they do that in soccer too. They possibly have to some extent, but it's still a game full of pussies and cheats. I must admit that I do tend to watch most games when Australia is playing, and have a look when Man Utd is playing, but I don't particularly care much about either team.

[molepharmer]

Definitely a shame that the Blackhawk forum doesn't get more views. I find myself turning off from the Bull's games and watching more Blackhawks when both games are on at the same time.

How about those moves Hossa put on the two Columbus defenders when he was against the boards ? Made 'em look silly.

[Midway Bully]

I get what you mean about getting used to the game. When I first started really getting into hockey about 8 years ago, I'd watch games and I had no idea where the puck was and who was who. Watch it a while and you start to be able to keep up with and follow the play, and you get a better idea of who the players are, and therefore can usually work out where they're supposed to be and why they are where they are, and do what they do.

I honestly can't back you on the soccer thing though bro. I've tried watching it, tried playing it... just can't get into it. I know it takes skill and is difficult, as well as requiring great fitness, but I'm just not feeling it. I think the issues for me are that even though it's not much more low scoring than hockey, the pace is usually quite a bit slower, and the main thing is I can't stand all the diving. If the guys playing the game actually acted like real men and played hard and pushed through packs and stuff, then I'd give it a shot. Nothing pisses me off more though than watching soccer and every 10 seconds someone dives on the ground and rolls around like they've been shot, when there clearly was minimal (if any) contact from the other player. It's essentially a sport where cheating is rewarded. They have rules in the NBA now to stop flopping, and it's time they do that in soccer too. They possibly have to some extent, but it's still a game full of pussies and cheats. I must admit that I do tend to watch most games when Australia is playing, and have a look when Man Utd is playing, but I don't particularly care much about either team.

Yeah I get you on that, but I think there's been much more of an effort to catch divers past couple of years. It's gotten to a point where if a player has built a reputation for diving, even clear cut fouls aren't given to that player. Its still a problem, though. I mostly stick to watching the English Premier League, where this sort of stuff is being cracked down on harder then the other leagues. The MLS is extremely strict about diving here in the USA, so you don't see diving at all in any game most weeks. They review video after the game to look for flopping, and You'd get a hefty fine if you flopped.

[Gmoney3]

Yeah... I don't get why hockey is so less popular than the other sports. I mean I love all 4 sports, but hockey has everything you could want -- hitting, fast paced action, fights, high energy. It's all the physicality of football but faster. As for the EA Sports game, I'll have to keep an eye out for it. At the moment though, I'm probably better off waiting for 2014 like you said.

I think there is 2 huge factors. One the NHL commissioner has been terrible. Hockey in the early 90s was getting great fanfare. There was even articles on whether the NHL was taking over the NBA as the more popular winter sport. The league has totally tarnished that image with terrible lockouts including a year long lockout and very weird tv deals for the longest times. Look at Chicago the senior Wirtz pretty much totally destroyed the franchise here and finally his son is cleaning up the place a bit and now hockey is becoming a big part of town again.

The other factor is hockey is an expensive sport to play, its estimated the average family spends 100,000 dollars over a youth career that starts at age 6 and ends in high school on playing hockey as a kid. Because of the cost of hockey not alot of kids play organized. Therefore when kids are forming there strongest opinions on what they like they generally become fans of basketball, baseball, and football moreso than hockey because they know the game better. The kids have played organized bball, etc and know what is going on in the game much more. There is generally a relationship between what sport you play and are good at, and what sport you watch the most. The only friends I have that watch golf or bowling are avid golfers and bowlers, i dont know anyone who watches those sports that dont play the sport.

Hockey is a sport that much less youth play (cost being the biggest factor) and therefore less kids become lifelong fans.

[TNBT]

I get what you mean about getting used to the game. When I first started really getting into hockey about 8 years ago, I'd watch games and I had no idea where the puck was and who was who. Watch it a while and you start to be able to keep up with and follow the play, and you get a better idea of who the players are, and therefore can usually work out where they're supposed to be and why they are where they are, and do what they do.

I honestly can't back you on the soccer thing though bro. I've tried watching it, tried playing it... just can't get into it. I know it takes skill and is difficult, as well as requiring great fitness, but I'm just not feeling it. I think the issues for me are that even though it's not much more low scoring than hockey, the pace is usually quite a bit slower, and the main thing is I can't stand all the diving. If the guys playing the game actually acted like real men and played hard and pushed through packs and stuff, then I'd give it a shot. Nothing pisses me off more though than watching soccer and every 10 seconds someone dives on the ground and rolls around like they've been shot, when there clearly was minimal (if any) contact from the other player. It's essentially a sport where cheating is rewarded. They have rules in the NBA now to stop flopping, and it's time they do that in soccer too. They possibly have to some extent, but it's still a game full of pussies and cheats. I must admit that I do tend to watch most games when Australia is playing, and have a look when Man Utd is playing, but I don't particularly care much about either team.

Yeah I get you on that, but I think there's been much more of an effort to catch divers past couple of years. It's gotten to a point where if a player has built a reputation for diving, even clear cut fouls aren't given to that player. Its still a problem, though. I mostly stick to watching the English Premier League, where this sort of stuff is being cracked down on harder then the other leagues. The MLS is extremely strict about diving here in the USA, so you don't see diving at all in any game most weeks. They review video after the game to look for flopping, and You'd get a hefty fine if you flopped.

Yeah, I had heard something about trying to crack down on flopping, but it just seems like I see way too much of it still. I think the problem for me is that soccer fans, players and former players, pretty much everyone who is involved in the game and its officiating, are former soccer players themselves, and don't actually realize what a flop is. By that I mean that people running the leagues are often former players who are used to playing a soft sport. Even if they eliminated all of what they consider flops, its likely that there will still be players hitting the ground from contact much easier than in any other sports. After all, it seems that the attitude in soccer is dive whenever you can without making it too obvious and getting penalized for it. If the attitude was keep your feet for as long as you can, such as in most other sports, then I think the game would be a lot more watchable.

When it comes to soccer though, my ability to take it seriously took a big hit in the World Cup years ago when we (Australia) were playing really well against Italy and right at the end, one of the Italian players took the most pathetic dive I have ever seen and drew a penalty against us where they scored and won the game. That Italian team are the most pathetic, piss-weak, sorry excuses for men I have ever seen.

[TNBT]

Yeah... I don't get why hockey is so less popular than the other sports. I mean I love all 4 sports, but hockey has everything you could want -- hitting, fast paced action, fights, high energy. It's all the physicality of football but faster. As for the EA Sports game, I'll have to keep an eye out for it. At the moment though, I'm probably better off waiting for 2014 like you said.

I think there is 2 huge factors. One the NHL commissioner has been terrible. Hockey in the early 90s was getting great fanfare. There was even articles on whether the NHL was taking over the NBA as the more popular winter sport. The league has totally tarnished that image with terrible lockouts including a year long lockout and very weird tv deals for the longest times. Look at Chicago the senior Wirtz pretty much totally destroyed the franchise here and finally his son is cleaning up the place a bit and now hockey is becoming a big part of town again.

The other factor is hockey is an expensive sport to play, its estimated the average family spends 100,000 dollars over a youth career that starts at age 6 and ends in high school on playing hockey as a kid. Because of the cost of hockey not alot of kids play organized. Therefore when kids are forming there strongest opinions on what they like they generally become fans of basketball, baseball, and football moreso than hockey because they know the game better. The kids have played organized bball, etc and know what is going on in the game much more. There is generally a relationship between what sport you play and are good at, and what sport you watch the most. The only friends I have that watch golf or bowling are avid golfers and bowlers, i dont know anyone who watches those sports that dont play the sport.

Hockey is a sport that much less youth play (cost being the biggest factor) and therefore less kids become lifelong fans.

I agree with you there. It certainly is an expensive sport to play when you consider skates, pads, helmets, uniforms, gloves, sticks, team and league fees, etc. This no doubt has an impact as you said, as a lot of kids can't afford to play the game, and as such they're less likely to become fans of the sport. However, American football can also be expensive as well, and yet that seems to get plenty of players and support. I've just started on a new team here in town, and between everything I need, it has cost a lot. For example, it has cost us all $370 for pads and helmets, then we have boots, gloves, uniforms, league registration, team fees, etc on top of that. I honestly don't think it will work out any cheaper than when I used to play hockey.