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Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

solovsfett said:
As ATHLETIC DIRECTOR his job is to oversee ALL sports, and he shouldn't be playing favorites but he does.

as for Pat Richter, yes, Barry was an all-american player and that helped but I'd like to think that after being a VP at Oscar Mayer he had a better understanding of how to run the AD than Barry Alvarez has ever had.
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Pat Richter's a good man, and he deserves to be able to enjoy his retirement, so my "Bring Back Richter" sentiment in my signature is more in jest than anything. But we could all probably go on for another page and a half and still have material left over to justify hating the guy.

But then, sad reality kicks in when we realize how much money the football program makes (despite the fact that they'll never be a true national power) compared to how much money hockey makes (despite the overall quality of the program, the issues leading to our attendance problems aside). I suppose the economics justify it, although then it becomes a chicken and egg scenario, doesn't it? Is the hockey team not bringing in money because it's being pushed to the backburner, or is it being pushed to the backburner because it's not bringing in money?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
Pat Richter's a good man, and he deserves to be able to enjoy his retirement, so my "Bring Back Richter" sentiment in my signature is more in jest than anything. But we could all probably go on for another page and a half and still have material left over to justify hating the guy.

But then, sad reality kicks in when we realize how much money the football program makes (despite the fact that they'll never be a true national power) compared to how much money hockey makes (despite the overall quality of the program, the issues leading to our attendance problems aside). I suppose the economics justify it, although then it becomes a chicken and egg scenario, doesn't it? Is the hockey team not bringing in money because it's being pushed to the backburner, or is it being pushed to the backburner because it's not bringing in money?
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That applies to all spectator sports. If I lived in Australia, I'm sure I'd be a huge Australian rules football fan, and a huge cricket fan. (I've learned about those sports anyway for my own interest, but I'm not a "fan" like I am of hockey or baseball.) I wouldn't know much of anything about hockey. It's all about a person's surroundings. If we had tons of casual fans being jacked up about a sensationalized, over-hyped weekend hockey series, it would be much "bigger." If a team's games are big cultural events, it draws more people, more people get into it, the experience is bigger, and it becomes more prominent. I'm from the DC area, where lacrosse is a bigger sport in our communities, but is still a fringe game compared to other stuff. I've gotten more into the Chesapeake Bayhawks (the MLL franchise in Annapolis, MD), who draw 9-10K per game. They get almost no coverage if you don't look for it. The big goal for MLL is growth, and getting it so that all their players can make lacrosse their full time job. How does that growth happen? It needs to be perceived as "important" and "prominent" in the minds of sports fans, which mainly comes from other fans and the media considering it "important" and "prominent."

That's one of the reasons I feel happy about seeing the main (not the men's hockey) Wisconsin Badgers social media accounts let everyone know what's going on with the team. When a casual fan sees that picture of the team around the Broadmoor Trophy, they'll think "oh, our hockey team is relevant and means business," rather than "Football football football Barry Alavarez football screw Bielema something something Nebraska and Ohio State are our rivals [I cringed typing that, even tongue-in-cheek] something basketball oh and I think we have a modestly popular hockey team that does stuff." (Nothing against football and basketball; I'm a season ticket holder for both.)
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

burd said:
Nobody has met Gurth. He's a figment-a ghost. He exists through the images he creates and that playful humor he spreads.

Too bad too, because I'll bet he would be a great guy if he did exist.
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I've been to his house to pick up tickets, so if he does not exist someone put the tickets where they were supposed to be, that's a little eerie, eh? If he's got that kind of power, why can't he drop a bus on top of BA while he's walking from his car to the office? He did use his power at the end of last year pretty effectively in the whca playoffs. Good job Gurt.

That letter is very pathetic. Maybe BA diverted money out of the printing fund to pay for the rings.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Barry Alvarez is not the problem, he is just the face of the athletic department.

What REALLY matters is who replaces Frazer as running the day to day operations of the hockey program.

The fact of the matter is that UW has the resources to have a winning Football team, championship level Hockey programs, and successful basketball teams if they want to.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Joe Pavelski, Craig Smith, Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Suter and Jake Gardiner have all been named to the U.S. Men's National Team Orientation Camp.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Chuck Schwartz said:
Joe Pavelski, Craig Smith, Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Suter and Jake Gardiner have all been named to the U.S. Men's National Team Orientation Camp.
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I could see at least four of them on the Olympic team (Pavs, Stepan, McD and Suter).
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
I could see at least four of them on the Olympic team (Pavs, Stepan, McD and Suter).
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That seems to be the general consensus. Suter and McDonagh appear to be locks. Pavelski and Stepan have great chances, depending on how they decide to go with the roster.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Almington said:
What REALLY matters is who replaces Frazer as running the day to day operations of the hockey program.
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All I keep hearing in my head is Cosell saying "Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!" in that wonderful accent of his.

This could be a lucky break as BA might actually hire someone who has experience with a big time hockey program who actually knows what he is doing.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Almington said:
The fact of the matter is that UW has the resources to have a winning Football team, championship level Hockey programs, and successful basketball teams if they want to.
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Okay, I've only started following Wisconsin athletics in the last couple of years, so I don't have as good an idea of this as you guys, but hasn't that happened already? Just a quick look at the 2005-06 school year says "yes."

Edit: While we're talking about multiple successful programs, I've got to say I really like "On Wisconsin" with Brian Posick. It's a nice round-up of all the sports teams at the university. If a Badger is excelling in golf, he or she will get recognition on that show, just like the more popular sports.
 
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Gurtholfin said:
This is the actual letter that I received today from the athletic department asking me to re-up my tickets. Soak this in Badger Hockey fans...

Lette_zps9842fc96.jpg


It's not even on letterhead. It's on copy paper. It's not signed by anyone in particular.


I work in advertising/marketing and am responsible with how our company is presented to our customers and people who we'd like to be our
customers.

I'd fire me if I ever sent out this travesty or represented our company in this low-class fashion.

This is what your athletic department thinks of hockey. Couldn't even
bother with letterhead. I'm sure no one's surprised.
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Wow,
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
But then, sad reality kicks in when we realize how much money the football program makes (despite the fact that they'll never be a true national power) compared to how much money hockey makes (despite the overall quality of the program, the issues leading to our attendance problems aside). I suppose the economics justify it, although then it becomes a chicken and egg scenario, doesn't it? Is the hockey team not bringing in money because it's being pushed to the backburner, or is it being pushed to the backburner because it's not bringing in money?
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Wisconsin isn't the only school where hockey competes with other sports for fans and dollars. Sure, BA and football are big, and the BB team has been very good, but Grand Forks has bowling tournaments. Nothing to sneeze at.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

burd said:
Wisconsin isn't the only school where hockey competes with other sports for fans and dollars. Sure, BA and football are big, and the BB team has been very good, but Grand Forks has bowling tournaments. Nothing to sneeze at.
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I ACHOO in the general direction of ND. It was a runny one too with a lot of spray. Some probably even fell in rodentsota for good measure, my lungs aren't as strong as they used to be. Take that.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Chuck, great article on the Badger invites to the US Olympic tryout. I think there will be 4 UW players on the roster, with a chance for a 5th in Garnider being added as an alternate. His playing style could be useful against some of the teams. I think C. Smith is another 4 years out, but he has performed very well the last two years in international competition. Either way, it looks like it will be one of the strongest USA teams ever.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Timothy A said:
I ACHOO in the general direction of ND. It was a runny one too with a lot of spray. Some probably even fell in rodentsota for good measure, my lungs aren't as strong as they used to be. Take that.
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Badger fans are so loathsome and uncivilized. This upcoming year will be like that honeymoon period after the exterminators leave.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Former Badger Tony Granato named assistant coach for team USA in 2014 Olympics.

http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/072313aab.html
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVI: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Tolerate The BTHC

Sounds like they want to bring back the red/white game this year. Although, I doubt anyone will see the twist coming...
 
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