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Re: CWHL expands to Alberta
I guess I am. I've known all the kinds of narcissism that come from people wanting control but I never got the impression that was the case here. I always figured the league's shortcomings stemmed from the powers that be just wanting to please too many people and being in over their head as a result. I've worked with both kinds but admittedly I only have my perception from way out here so I could be way off; the league just seems to hapless and disorganized to have a control-hungry directorate.
Agreed, it was basically a lame publicity stunt to bring one particular player to the spotlight but it at least got talk I suppose. Could have been worse, they could have had a televised "war room" and shots of all the players waiting to be picked.
That is indeed amateur in more ways than one but I guess I've become used to this kind of bs with the various organizations I've been involved with. It's a sad commentary on the state of 'amateur' sport when I've become such a cynic that my first reaction isn't "that sucks" but is instead "you should have known better."
I think what happens here is the same thing that happens everywhere, especially with egos. You'll have the ones who tell it like it is and the way it should be, and the ones who tell it the way they wish it would be. I'd have a tough time believing that certain players ignored all the advice they were getting, I imagine they simply weren't smart with who they chose to listen to.
I think its the third time that they've mis-managed the post-Olympic boom but some teams (the ones with the Olympians) have at least been able to salvage something every now and then. I think we have the same mindset, just go about explaining it in different ways I suppose (then again I'm far away from the problems and frustrations). There's no reason that every one of these games shouldn't be packed with young hockey players but they're obviously falling into the same problem that every women's league falls into (that it's an alternative to the big boys) and forgetting who their target is. It's as if they think they have the young girls as 'in the seat' when it's definitely not the case. They've got it to a point, but nowhere near good enough.
It was always a pipe dream to try and team up with the NHL, trying to affiliate with an individual NHL team could work in a certain capacity but I doubt the CWHL would be overly pleased with what that is. Helping out 1000 girls is definitely better, but if a team thought that helping the league operate (not in paying players, but at least operating with a professional mentality) could provide a good PR boost as well they'd do it. But that would require butts in the seats.
Since the Olympics let the pros in the need for a 'centralized' men's national team died away, that's why the women's NT is the only one that still does it. Most of the money used for centralization comes from sponsors who expect the team to win gold and the rest comes through Olympic funding for centralization. Winsport and OTP don't care about the grassroots in an Olympic year, they're paying for results. The U.S. may be the only real competition but so long as all the money being made available is being provided to win that game against them you've got to do what it takes to beat them.
Originally posted by brokentwigg
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1.) If you are going to have a draft, have a proper draft!! Don't have one for what the league envisions as "historic". There was nothing historic about this draft and it was totally publicity geared. It was a submitted list of players...no recruiting was done by the league whatsoever. Yes, they have a "Director of Scouting" now who hasn't been to a college game in 3+ years!! You want to talk legitimacy??
2.) Don't confirm something to the players that has not been confirmed! Players were told that there would be salaries and even that GM's and Coaches were told that they were going to get paid. They were told that the "money is coming" and yes, that is a direct quote! Guess what, nothing came and as I told one Coach, I hope he got it in writing!
The problem with the CWHL was that a few players took a position of control and undermined the process of "legitimacy"!! There were meetings whereby the financial status of the league was explained and it was dire, and someone player, no names mentioned, decides to ask for 15k for a dressing room. The problem back then was that some egos were hurt because they were told what should be done, and they did not like it!!
The time that they could have capitalized on the 2010 Olympics is long gone!! They also were misguided in the fact that they figured 15,000 fans at the Olympics would transcend into record crowds at their games. We get more people watching my kids HL games!! What they should do...and this is an easy business decision..is stop wasting money on those beautiful season's passes...and allow everyone in for free!!!! Sponsors do not care about the 20 people in the stands who paid $5!! They care about how many people are there PERIOD. And if that means having free admission to get people in, then that is what you should do.
No matter what the CWHL leadership says...NO, I repeat NO NHL affiliation is on the way! There are NHL teams in trouble financially and there are no fewer than 4 teams with "For Sale" signs on them. They have their own financial issues to deal with nevermind throw a $1 million at the CWHL. As Brian Burke stated, they would rather throw money at 1000 female players at the amateur level than to financially support one hundred women with a paycheck!!! So, we will continue to hear the CWHL preach about "dialogue" with the NHL...and it is just that..nothing more!
One last thing...why do we even have "centralization"?? The National Women's team is the only HC entity that does this. It cannot be because the Women's side is overly competitive because it is not. It's the same thing over and over..Canada vs. US. Take the money that would be saved from axing centralization and put it back into the women's game at the grassroots level.
But I really can't figure out what it all has do do with Spassky or Fischer.
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