Now I'm generally a very pro-labor guy, but not when the union's
demands risk destroying their company. I line up with the owners on
this one, and I believe the players are severely miscalculating
here, especially the lesser-paid ones. 90% of the players won't be
hurt by the owners' salary control proposals. It's just the top
10% "superstars". And I can't believe the lower-paid players will
sacrifice a year or two of income to allow their rich teammates a
few more bucks.

Besides, the NHL is the last remaining of the four major sports
leagues to lack some sort of salary control or revenue sharing. It
also lags far behind the other three in total income, mainly because
of the lack of a good national TV contract. The NFL has a salary cap
and all sorts of revenue sharing, and I certainly don't see them
teetering on the brink of collapse, nor do I see their players
pulling out the food stamp booklet at the Kroger. This capitalist
can tolerate a little socialism in a sports league when the point is
supposed to be a level playing field and an equal chance at
achieving victory. I like the football model and think it would work
well for hockey.

Regardless, I'm aggravated because I won't get my hockey fix this
fall. Let the owners hire replacements, for all I care. I've never
been into celebrity worship and support the overall team rather than
specific players anyway. Or when the Admirals come down here to play
on October 16, just stick them in Preds jerseys and let them stay.