Forced to entertain

Posted by admin on Feb 3, 2009 in Sports | 0 comments

For as long as I can remember, I have always tried to enjoy the National Hockey League’s All-Star weekends, and to be honest, the annual events are often entertaining to watch. It is an opportunity for fans to watch star players from different teams, who on any other night are bitter enemies, get along and play goofy, yet moderately competitive games.

However, in the wake of the most recent All-Star weekend on Jan. 24-25, I think I am finally starting to pull back the veil and realize the game for what they really are: one big cheesy event.

Yes, the games in the skills competition are kind of cool. The hardest shot competition, the breakaway challenge and the fastest skater competition are enjoyable, and the Sunday evening game is fun enough to watch; however, all in all, it just seems to be a really forced get-together. The whole thing comes across as an awkward family reunion. There are a few guys who know each other, but most players try to make friendly conversation with gentlemen they have never met. Perhaps the NHL should consider making the All-Star weekend just a single day thing.

As hard as the NHL might try to argue against it, the vast majority of players do not seem to want to be there. Just by looking at the faces of most of the players, it becomes an obvious reality. When the NHL starts to force these guys to go, threatening a one-game suspension if the player chooses to withdraw from the weekend extravaganza – as happened in the Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk situation of two weeks ago – something is clearly not working. Is an overhaul needed, or does the NHL just need to admit defeat? Something certainly has to give.