Many sports fans greeted the news of the cancellation of the 2004-05 NHL season with a yawn of indifference. As someone who has been passionate about hockey (and the Blackhawks, God knows why) since I was 4 years old, I was left feeling a combination of anger and nausea.
I’m angry because we were led to believe that an 11th-hour settlement might be reached and the season and playoffs would be salvaged. Why give the fans a glimmer of hope? The season should have been canceled before Christmas, not with the playoffs in the near future.
I feel nauseous because I’ve finally realized that neither the players nor the owners care a bit about the fans. Because of their collective stupidity and greed, hockey fans will be denied the thrill of watching the Stanley Cup being skated around the ice this spring . . . though chances are good that the trophy ceremony would not have taken place anywhere near the United Center.
Gary Bettman has to go. His love for and knowledge of hockey are nonexistent. Whenever the NHL resumes play (if ever), it cannot be guided by a man who doesn’t know the Stanley Cup from a protective cup.
