Fox Sports just published an article that both saddens and angers me at the same time. The article, “NHL still isn’t must-see TV for Americans” by Ian O’Connor, muses on the fact that Americans just don’t care about ice hockey. He implies that American sports fans need more glamour and excitement to care. To him, it’s basically a product that is impossible to sell to American audiences.
“There aren’t enough transcending personalities to sell hockey to the average Joe bouncing between T.O.’s return to Philly and the Yankees’ disaster in Detroit. Sidney Crosby, boy wonder, is being pumped as the Next Gretzky, but it would sure help the league if the Next Gretzky after the Next Gretzky was born in New York, Chicago or L.A. instead of Nova Scotia.”
This bugs me. The percentage of American-born players have grown at a steady rate since the 1990s. And this is in all levels of hockey. Most hockey fans will appreciate talent regardless of what country a player comes from. It’s true we enjoy rooting for our hometown or home country heroes but that isn’t always plausible. If you’re a fan of the game, you’re a fan of the game. You don’t need all the glitz and glamour to make it exciting.
Look at baseball. Now that’s the most boring game to watch on tv. Sure it’s wonderful to play but to watch…ugh! American sports fans sure love their baseball but comparing the talent of baseball players to hockey players is like comparing a tortoise to a hare. There simply is no contest.
American sports fans need to recognize because of their ignorance of one of the world’s most spectacular team sports, they are missing out on truly wonderful athletes who possess amazing skill and aptitude. Not to mention a good fight or two. Now you can’t say that about baseball, can you?