Pardon me.  May I stand on that Soapbox for a moment?  Thank you.

 

Ok.  As everyone who knows me is aware, I may be the BIGGEST cheerleader for the new NHL there is.  I’m sorry, I just am.  I’m a believer; I drank the Kool-aide.  It’s Cherry and it mixes well with Vodka.  But that being said, I’m very happy to see the NHL making strides in marketing its BRAND and the sport itself.

 

There is some discontent over the Reebok store that was just built, and while I completely agree with many of the detractions that I’ve heard, I can’t help but still be happy.  THERE’S A STORE… IN MANHATTAN… FOR THE NHL!!!  That in itself is one of the biggest accomplishments I can think of for the sport.  Why you ask?  Because it’s not in TORONTO.  It’s in Manhattan.  SOUTH of that imaginary line that divides, “REAL” hockey fans from the rest of the continent.  This is a bonus people!!!  It may not be perfect, but it’s a “Skate in the Door,” just as Mike Bossy has his business group going out here on Long Island.  It’s a way of bringing the league to a wider audience.

 

Let it be all the things that we die-hards don’t care about.  That’s perfect!  Let it attract those who don’t have a freakin’ clue.  That’s the demographic it is trying to reach.  WE already KNOW where to buy our stuff and what its worth.   They can market the damn HELL out of Sidney Crosby until he’s 40 for all I care.  It’s PERFECT!  We haven’t had a poster child for this sport since Mario.  Sidney is a great ambassador.  He’s articulate, good looking, talented and intelligent.  You couldn’t ask for a better spokesperson.

 

But they have many.  Look at the new commercials on the NHL channel powered by NeuLion.  Check them out!  I spent about an hour last night going through all the videos with my jaw on the keyboard.  “This is the NHL??? When did they get an ad agency that knows what its doing?”  They are GREAT commercials.  I almost cried!

 

So for all of us die-hards, please be patient as the NHL attempts to connect with the rest of the world.  Understand that while we may think it is trite and ridiculous, those who are not familiar may find it at least a tad INTERESTING.  Perhaps interesting enough to purchase a ticket and come to a game, or watch one on TV… (Unless they live on Long Island and they will never be able to find the Islanders on Cablevision as who the HECK knows what the hell channel 14 is…sorry...)

 

I look forward to NBC picking up the games in the winter and hope that the numbers improve.  I’m glad that the NHL channel is finally available in the US as that was something Canada held over our TV viewing heads for years.  I’m terribly excited for the internet coverage we are now receiving for all 30 teams.  If you haven’t checked them out, you should.  You will get to know, intimately, the rest of the league in the sport that you love.

 

Let me get my pom-poms, but I just love this.