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Posts Tagged ‘ovechkin’

3 Tips for the NHL to Maximize Olympics

28 Feb

The final act of the Vancouver Olympics captivated a continent.  In a thrilling contest, perhaps the best game  possible on the biggest stage in sport, Canada’s hockey team withstood the challenge of the surprising Team USA.  Despite a last-minute regulation USA goal, Sydney Crosby’s overtime tally sealed the gold medal for the  red-and-white.

And the buzz was off the charts across the US.  The ratings haven’t come in yet, but, this will probably rank as one of the most-viewed hockey games in years, especially in the United States.

So how can the National Hockey League reap the benefits of this renewed interest in the “coolest game?”

1. Push Ryan Miller – Despite dominating the NHL this season, Ryan Miller has not been a household name.  However, that has all changed.  The tournament’s MVP is now one of the most well-known hockey players in the world.  His performance in Vancouver was a textbook definition of how a goaltender can put a team on his back.  Whenever they can, the NHL should make sure Miller and his Sabres get major exposure.

2. Grassroots Initiatives – The window will only stay open so long without immediate and impactful action in the United States.  The time is NOW to increase community-level initiatives to get kids on the ice and develop the players who can win gold in future games.  Make no doubt, there were kids watching today who want to play this game.  Take advantage of their interest – and the interest of parents to fund the not-cheap venture!

3. Globalize the League – NHL players come from dozens of nations and made up a significant percentage of  Olympic rosters.  The NHL must continue to brand itself as the ONLY hockey league top-flight players should want to play in.  Over the years, Russia’s KHL has become an attractive alternative to Eastern Block players, which hurts the NHL’s credibility (albeit incrementally).  Why not run an all-out international exhibition tour during the preseason this coming Fall?  Let Ovechkin play a game in Russia.  Bring a contest to Sweden.  Show hockey fans and players what the NHL is all about.

Those are my suggestions – what else can the NHL do to maximize this wave?

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Posted in Pop Culture, Sports

 

Sports Buzz – The Six Fan Demandments

24 Jun

Back in the 1980s, Hulk Hogan preached about the “demandments” of being a so-called “Real American:”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMkC67sEEs8&hl=en&fs=1&]

I think, as sports fans, it’s our turn to put demandments on our favorite teams. These are the core values we attach to our fandom. We should hold them accountable to these standards, from ownership to the players:

Demandment #1 – Have a Chance to Win Today

Is there anything worse than going to a game or watching one on TV that your team has ZERO chance of winning? Think about all the teams facing Johan Santana mid-summer. Brutal, right?

We demand that our teams have a fighting chance every single game. Yes, they may lose…but if they have “lost” before taking the field, what’s the point in rooting for them?

Demandment #2 – Sniff Contention

Only one team wins a championship, we understand. It’s REALLY hard to be better than the rest of the teams in your league/division/conference, let alone the best in your sport. However, you’ve got to at LEAST be considered a long-shot dark horse for much of the season.

We demand that our teams be in the thick of the fight for the majority of the season. Sure, they may hit a late-season swoon, but you can never take away those fun months of possibilities.

Demandment #3 – Have a Superstar

A team needs to have a minimum of one “superstar” attraction. Kobe Bryant, Albert Pujols, Alex Ovechkin. These are players in the prime of their career that are strongly affiliated with their teams. They are players of national relevance, keeping their teams on the first part of “Sportscenter” most nights.

We demand our teams have a showcase player that is part of the national sports conversation. Perfect example: LeBron James. Even when the Cavs were terrible, he was a top story.

Demandment #4 – Have a Plucky Underdog

Call them the “heart and soul” of the squad, if you will, but this player needs to stretch limited talent into maximum impact. They can’t be the best player on the team, just the one doing the most with the least. Brian Roberts had heart surgery as a kid. God Shamgod had a great name and not much else. There are millions of these stories out there.

We demand a player to root for, to cheer for, to experience the game through…a reflection of ourselves on the playing surface. While we all want to be the superstar, we can empathize more with the 25th man on the 25-man roster.

Demandment #5 – Have Quirky Personalities

Anyone remember Randy Myers? One of the greatest closers of the 1990s. What a strange dude, though. He kept live-action grenades in his locker. Blackjack MacDowell flipped the bird to fans. Popeye Jones had REALLY big ears. Caron Butler chews straws from McDonald’s. GIVE US MORE OF THAT!

We demand players that are oddball whackjobs. They bring color and depth to the public persona of the team. They bring normalcy by being so abnormal. And we love it.

Demandment #6 – Stadium Seating

Enjoying a team is more than just the on-court action…it involves the atmosphere you see them in. A stadium should be special, unique and…home. A home not just for the players, but for the fanbase, as well.

We demand a stadium experience, from construction to attendants to food to entertainment, that brings us closer to the team, that makes us feel like we are as much a part of their success as anyone else. Make the stadium a second home to us and we will never leave you.

See, sports teams, it’s not that hard. Give us those six things and you’ve got a fanbase forever. We WANT to cheer you. We WANT to love you. And we’re willing to invest time, energy and money in you if you make sure we’re taken care of.

Follow The Six Fan Demandments and we’re on your side.

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Posted in Buzz, Sports