Comments on: Can Billionaires Buy Big Wins? http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/ A Haven for the Hockey Malnourished Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:35:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Thunderweenie http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93387 Thunderweenie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:16:11 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93387 BTW, I had never heard of Hockey Weekend in America, likely because I live in Canada. But it sounds great! Promote hockey at the grassroots level, I say--forget whether the Nashville/Kansas City/Las Vegas Predators will be successful or not. Growing the game and growing the NHL are not necessarily the same thing. You guys and gals at OFB have also done more to promote genuine hockey interest in the US than the NHL has done in a decade and a half. BTW, I had never heard of Hockey Weekend in America, likely because I live in Canada. But it sounds great! Promote hockey at the grassroots level, I say–forget whether the Nashville/Kansas City/Las Vegas Predators will be successful or not. Growing the game and growing the NHL are not necessarily the same thing.

You guys and gals at OFB have also done more to promote genuine hockey interest in the US than the NHL has done in a decade and a half.

]]> By: MulletMan http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93285 MulletMan Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:54:03 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93285 We might have to swap cars also though. I've heard that mustangs don't like the snow that much :( We might have to swap cars also though. I’ve heard that mustangs don’t like the snow that much :(

]]> By: Thunderweenie http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93240 Thunderweenie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:20:42 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93240 Depends where you live, MulletMan, but given that we have yet more snow in the forecast for later this week, you may want to choose wisely... Depends where you live, MulletMan, but given that we have yet more snow in the forecast for later this week, you may want to choose wisely…

]]> By: haveyouseenlucky http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93225 haveyouseenlucky Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:10:06 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93225 Eeeexcellent! (Sorry, that's all I got) Why on earth would they do the analysis for only one season? Unless they were just doing the analysis to 'prove' a point they already had in mind... Eeeexcellent!

(Sorry, that’s all I got)

Why on earth would they do the analysis for only one season? Unless they were just doing the analysis to ‘prove’ a point they already had in mind…

]]> By: MulletMan http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93209 MulletMan Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:57:24 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93209 Thunder, why don't we just swap homes for the winter...works for me. Then I can also watch more OHL games, spend less money, and regularly visit the local Tim Hortons. Thunder,
why don’t we just swap homes for the winter…works for me. Then I can also watch more OHL games, spend less money, and regularly visit the local Tim Hortons.

]]> By: Thunderweenie http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93141 Thunderweenie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:42:10 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-93141 Sadie, you make a fair point about Detroit's record this year, and I'm not denying for a moment that the Wings are for real. Buuuuut.....from my back-of-the-beer-coaster calculations, the Wings were a jaw-dropping 22-4-6 in their conference last year. And as you pointed out yourself, they've got 15 intra-Conference games all piled into their 23 games remaining this season. So while their record against Central teams and their final point total won't necessarily be as lopsided this year as they were last year (one never knows), I wouldn't be surprised if it edges that way. My point is that they don't exactly exist in the League's toughest division, and their point total has to be read in that context. And DCSC and Chanuck...you wouldn't miss snow if you had been out there shoveling the damned stuff with me at 6:45 this morning!!!! And yes, there's a layer of ice under there, too! Say, you guys have a couch I could crash on for the next three or four months? :-) Sadie, you make a fair point about Detroit’s record this year, and I’m not denying for a moment that the Wings are for real. Buuuuut…..from my back-of-the-beer-coaster calculations, the Wings were a jaw-dropping 22-4-6 in their conference last year. And as you pointed out yourself, they’ve got 15 intra-Conference games all piled into their 23 games remaining this season. So while their record against Central teams and their final point total won’t necessarily be as lopsided this year as they were last year (one never knows), I wouldn’t be surprised if it edges that way.

My point is that they don’t exactly exist in the League’s toughest division, and their point total has to be read in that context.

And DCSC and Chanuck…you wouldn’t miss snow if you had been out there shoveling the damned stuff with me at 6:45 this morning!!!! And yes, there’s a layer of ice under there, too! Say, you guys have a couch I could crash on for the next three or four months? :-)

]]> By: chanuck http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92982 chanuck Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:07:53 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92982 I would rather have snow any day over ice. Hell I just want snow. I miss Snow. I would rather have snow any day over ice. Hell I just want snow. I miss Snow.

]]> By: DC Sports Chick http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92942 DC Sports Chick Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:21:08 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92942 Thanks for the compliment, Thunderweenie! Granted, our winter weather isn't usually that bad, but if you saw the ice storm we had yesterday, you might reconsider :-) Thanks for the compliment, Thunderweenie!

Granted, our winter weather isn’t usually that bad, but if you saw the ice storm we had yesterday, you might reconsider :-)

]]> By: Sadie http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92844 Sadie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:06:26 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92844 Thunderweenie, what do you mean by pointing out the "luxury" of the Wings playing Central Divsion teams? Setting aside for a moment the fact that playing teams that mostly won't make the playoffs for pretty much the entire month of March may not be the best preparation for the first round, the Wings really haven't benefited from their division in terms of points this season. They're 14-0-2 against the Northwest, 14-3-0 against the Pacific, and 6-2-1 against the Eastern Conference, but only 7-8-2 against Central. Thunderweenie, what do you mean by pointing out the “luxury” of the Wings playing Central Divsion teams? Setting aside for a moment the fact that playing teams that mostly won’t make the playoffs for pretty much the entire month of March may not be the best preparation for the first round, the Wings really haven’t benefited from their division in terms of points this season. They’re 14-0-2 against the Northwest, 14-3-0 against the Pacific, and 6-2-1 against the Eastern Conference, but only 7-8-2 against Central.

]]> By: Drew http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92425 Drew Wed, 13 Feb 2008 04:46:41 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92425 For those who live in DC, and know the frustration of fighting for media and cultural competence against the Redskins or even the Wizards, I know deep down that it's fair to compare us against Tampa, Nashville, or Phoenix. Still, it stings to have twenty years invested in a team and still look, to the rest of the hockey world, like a johnny-come-lately. For those who live in DC, and know the frustration of fighting for media and cultural competence against the Redskins or even the Wizards, I know deep down that it’s fair to compare us against Tampa, Nashville, or Phoenix. Still, it stings to have twenty years invested in a team and still look, to the rest of the hockey world, like a johnny-come-lately.

]]> By: Thunderweenie http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92363 Thunderweenie Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:37:41 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92363 A few quick comments (you know I have to pop up sometime, right?): 1) DCSC, fun article. Your stuff is always worth reading. This blog just keeps getting better and better. 2) Money is funny in hockey--while you can't expect to win a championship on the cheap, you also can't buy one the way you can in baseball. In the recent era, the teams that have enjoyed success have been the ones who drafted and traded and signed well, not necessarily the ones who simply threw gobs of money around (see under: Toronto Maple Leafs). Money helps, but its not enough. 3) Detroit is a machine, sure, and they are one of those very teams that drafts and trades and signs well. However, they are also in a weak division, or at least a very mismatched one. The Central may not be as truly horrid as in years past (Columbus seems to have clawed out of the basement), but the Wings still have the luxury of playing 32 games per season against teams that are well, well below them in calibre. Something to bear in mind. 4) You think WASHINGTON doesn't feel like a southerly locale? As I write this from Toronto, we are under a "snowfall warning" (when the hell did you last get one of THOSE in DC?...), and we're expecting about 8 inches of the damned stuff tonight. Its 25 degrees F, with the wind making it feel like 14. And what's worse, you'll be breaking out the flip-flops before I've put away my boots. Guaranteed. A few quick comments (you know I have to pop up sometime, right?):

1) DCSC, fun article. Your stuff is always worth reading. This blog just keeps getting better and better.

2) Money is funny in hockey–while you can’t expect to win a championship on the cheap, you also can’t buy one the way you can in baseball. In the recent era, the teams that have enjoyed success have been the ones who drafted and traded and signed well, not necessarily the ones who simply threw gobs of money around (see under: Toronto Maple Leafs). Money helps, but its not enough.

3) Detroit is a machine, sure, and they are one of those very teams that drafts and trades and signs well. However, they are also in a weak division, or at least a very mismatched one. The Central may not be as truly horrid as in years past (Columbus seems to have clawed out of the basement), but the Wings still have the luxury of playing 32 games per season against teams that are well, well below them in calibre. Something to bear in mind.

4) You think WASHINGTON doesn’t feel like a southerly locale? As I write this from Toronto, we are under a “snowfall warning” (when the hell did you last get one of THOSE in DC?…), and we’re expecting about 8 inches of the damned stuff tonight. Its 25 degrees F, with the wind making it feel like 14.

And what’s worse, you’ll be breaking out the flip-flops before I’ve put away my boots. Guaranteed.

]]> By: grapejoos http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92108 grapejoos Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:15:51 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92108 A high payroll didn't guarantee anything even before the cap was in place (see: NY Rangers), and the same is true now. Detroit is obviously throwing these numbers off, and they're successful not because of money, but because they're one of the best-run organizations in pro sports (I hate them, but it's true). Developing good players in your own system is the key to winning, period. A high payroll didn’t guarantee anything even before the cap was in place (see: NY Rangers), and the same is true now. Detroit is obviously throwing these numbers off, and they’re successful not because of money, but because they’re one of the best-run organizations in pro sports (I hate them, but it’s true). Developing good players in your own system is the key to winning, period.

]]> By: quarter http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92103 quarter Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:09:29 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92103 This correlation obviously translates to football as well. See Dan Snyder. This correlation obviously translates to football as well. See Dan Snyder.

]]> By: Paul http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92086 Paul Tue, 12 Feb 2008 23:54:06 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92086 Having recently lived, played, and officiated in the "Southeastern District", I can assure you that the game, at least on a youth level, is growing and even thriving in some places. The fact that this doesn't correlate to ratings/attendance is that its the kids that are learning to love the game, not necessarily the parents. Additionally, a lot of the markets where the sport is gaining popularity are not all that close to NHL markets. Places like Birmingham, Baton Rouge, Memphis, Jackson, and even Huntsville are all hours away from NHL arenas. The sport is taking roots however, and while it will never supplant college football, it was surprising to me (a Boston native) the number of kids who are learning and loving the game despite parents who cannot even skate. Having recently lived, played, and officiated in the “Southeastern District”, I can assure you that the game, at least on a youth level, is growing and even thriving in some places. The fact that this doesn’t correlate to ratings/attendance is that its the kids that are learning to love the game, not necessarily the parents.

Additionally, a lot of the markets where the sport is gaining popularity are not all that close to NHL markets. Places like Birmingham, Baton Rouge, Memphis, Jackson, and even Huntsville are all hours away from NHL arenas.

The sport is taking roots however, and while it will never supplant college football, it was surprising to me (a Boston native) the number of kids who are learning and loving the game despite parents who cannot even skate.

]]> By: pepper http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92018 pepper Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:50:08 +0000 http://www.onfrozenblog.com/2008/02/12/can-billionaires-buy-big-wins/#comment-92018 Wow, a correlation of 2.5 points? Sounds like another case of conclude first, collect data later. Wow, a correlation of 2.5 points? Sounds like another case of conclude first, collect data later.

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