Cruel Mother Nature

Oh Mother Nature.  You are a cruel one.  This time, perhaps, you have gone too far.

Today, I awoke to an incredibly warm and sunny day.  Sunny is not unusual, but to be so warm in January only gives us pause to consider.

I heard some people blame this on global warming.  Ah, if only it were that simple.  If only I could find some scientific theory that really accounts for it.  No my friends, this is Mother Nature playing with us.  This is Mother Nature having another laugh at our expense (I was going to write last laugh, but no, this won't be the last time).

All the snow was gone from my front and back yard, revealing all the leaves I wasn't able to pick up before the blanket of snow forgave my lack of gardening ambition.  It was such a cruel reminder that I was shamed into going out and picking up those leaves (in all honesty, these aren't your ordinary leaves, these are more like pods, pods from hell) that littered my yard.  Now, I have a yard waste bag full of leaves that will have to inhabit my garage until the spring.  Oh Mother Nature, why?

Of course, I appreciate the warm day.  I appreciate the chance to have a beer on the deck (maybe fire up that barbeque again).  I appreciate the opportunity to fill my system with vitamin D.  I just fear that you Mother Nature are going to make us pay for this.

Now What?

 

 

So, a deal is done.  Does that mean we forgive and forget?  The answer to this question is no.  I am not proposing we boycott the games, or even turn off the television, or give up the season tickets you've had since you were a child.  I am talking about making some kind of stand.

What that means for people going to the game is a boycott on the merchandise and concessions.  Wouldn't it really hurt them more if they didn't sell any popcorn, or beer, or jerseys?  Wouldn't you be sending an important message that you love hockey, but you don't have to support the marketing, the merchandising, or the price gouging.

Yes, we will be hurting some of the little people by this action, but I don't see a way around it.  Sorry concession stand worker.  We've got to stand up for ourselves and not just meekly go back and suck it up.  We have to show them that we've been the ones hurt in this.  We're the ones that need some kind of compensation.

I don't know what part of merchandising and food sales are included in "hockey related revenue" but I suspect this action will have an effect on both sides. I still side with the players on this deal, but they need to know they are not innocent.

No shirts, no pucks, no family sized cokes, no programs.

Time to take a stand.

Ego and Greed

 

So, after all this time, there is finally movement.  I guess the whole point was to wait until there was no time left to finally get a deal done.  Are these negotiators like high school students waiting until the last minute to do their essays?

Nothing is certain yet, but there seems to be more optimism than at any time this year.  At the very least, sports commentators finally have something to talk about.  Until now, there really hasn't been a lot to report on.   They've talked to every possible person they could.  They've talked to players, to owners, to fans, to the dentists of the players, and even the dog walkers of the players.  If nothing else, I hope this stops.

If it takes a couple of days to get this deal done, then, most likely. they'll talk to all these people again to get their reactions, and fill up air time.

Should it have taken this long?  No, of course not.  Did I think it would take this long.  Yes.  Congratulations ego, greed, and strategy.  You ruined the season for all of us.