Ways to improve the all star game.
 

The NHL all star game was a couple of days ago, and as usual it turned into a game of shinny with a ridiculous score. Since then every sports station in my market has been discussing how to improve the NHL all star game (actually, this discussion takes place after the all star game in every sport). There is talk of taking the voting away from the fans, and making the game 'worth' something.

What I want to know is why? Who cares if all star games suck? Do people have a realistic expectation that the players are going to go all out? Are leagues really dumb enough to think that someone who hates a sport will a good all star game and instantly fall in love?

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

Only one in living memory that was good was a few years ago Iverson and Mutumbo teamed up with some intense defense and led a comeback against the West. The Sixers ended up trading for Dikembe and going to the NBA Finals.

But ya, ASG's generally suck. Read Simmons's article on the NBA ASG weekend , which is supposed to be pretty surreal.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

An All-Star game is supposed to be a game in which the fans vote the players they want to see most in a game amongst their peers. There is nothing in some hidden rulebook that says you must vote who you think the best player in the league is.

Everybody knows Shaq isn't the best center in the league, but people want to see him there. So, he got there.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

Jagr not making the team was shocking. Not because of the season he was having (although it was decent), but because fans didn't vote him in.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

The NHL can start by not having the game on Wednesday night. I didn't even realize this was All-Star midweek untill it was too late.

Oh yeah, having one every year would probably be a good idea as well.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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The NHL can start by not having the game on Wednesday night. I didn't even realize this was All-Star midweek untill it was too late.

Oh yeah, having one every year would probably be a good idea as well.

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The NHL is trying out mid-week because it can't compete with football at this time of year. It also means that they don't lose a weekend, where the NHL gate is traditionally strongest. It's actually not a bad time for it - during the sports graveyard that is the week after the NFL Championship games.

What can improve the NHL all-star game? Nothing. It's an All-Star game. No one wants to get hurt and hockey is a physical contest.

Boot, Jagr has had one great season in the last 4 - tell me why you think the fans should vote him in.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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The NHL is trying out mid-week because it can't compete with football at this time of year

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Awesome. I'll keep this in mind tomorrow when I'm watching tapes of last weeks NFL games.

Can a sports league be run any worse?

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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Jagr not making the team was shocking. Not because of the season he was having (although it was decent), but because fans didn't vote him in.

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To my understanding I thought he made it but decided not to go becasue of a minor shoulder injury.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

I actually thought this years NHL all star game was cool. Amazing score line.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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The NHL is trying out mid-week because it can't compete with football at this time of year

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Awesome. I'll keep this in mind tomorrow when I'm watching tapes of last weeks NFL games.

Can a sports league be run any worse?

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The NHL gets most of its viewers on Saturday night games, and nobody gives a crap about the all-star game.

EDIT: And, NBC broadcasts Saturday afternoon, and I think that's the only game they play weekly. It would be foolish to cancel their only national broadcasts in the US.

The game was good this year, though. For having no defense, anywya.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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The NHL is trying out mid-week because it can't compete with football at this time of year

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Awesome. I'll keep this in mind tomorrow when I'm watching tapes of last weeks NFL games.

Can a sports league be run any worse?

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It's not all the NHL's fault is it? I mean certainly the fact that Hockey isn't that popular and there aren't many household names anymore has to have something to do with the financial woes.

Cody

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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The NHL is trying out mid-week because it can't compete with football at this time of year

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Awesome. I'll keep this in mind tomorrow when I'm watching tapes of last weeks NFL games.

Can a sports league be run any worse?

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Hey, nice job cutting up my post - did you actually read the whole thing? - All-Star ratings are miniscule, and the league doesn't want to lose a weekend's worth of gate receipts (and perhaps more) to a contest which is barely watched anyway.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

All NHL ratings are minuscule. They way they can change that is to showcase their sport. Putting the all star game on this weekend when there is no NFL competition would give them the greatest chance to attract casual fans from other sports. If they're putting a weekends gate receipts ahead of growing the sport that is incredibly foolish and shortsighted. The NHL has dug themselves a massive hole, and they are barely on TV anymore. They should be trying much harder to showcase their young talent.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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All NHL ratings are minuscule. They way they can change that is to showcase their sport. Putting the all star game on this weekend when there is no NFL competition would give them the greatest chance to attract casual fans from other sports. If they're putting a weekends gate receipts ahead of growing the sport that is incredibly foolish and shortsighted. The NHL has dug themselves a massive hole, and they are barely on TV anymore. They should be trying much harder to showcase their young talent.

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NHL has had weekend all star games every year since the late 80s, and it didn't work. The point of the OP was that all star games are what they are, and that leagues have to just let fans enjoy the games.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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All NHL ratings are minuscule. They way they can change that is to showcase their sport. Putting the all star game on this weekend when there is no NFL competition would give them the greatest chance to attract casual fans from other sports. If they're putting a weekends gate receipts ahead of growing the sport that is incredibly foolish and shortsighted. The NHL has dug themselves a massive hole, and they are barely on TV anymore. They should be trying much harder to showcase their young talent.

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NHL has had weekend all star games every year since the late 80s, and it didn't work. The point of the OP was that all star games are what they are, and that leagues have to just let fans enjoy the games.

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They were usually competing with NFL or NBA All-Star Game or something else though.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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All NHL ratings are minuscule. They way they can change that is to showcase their sport. Putting the all star game on this weekend when there is no NFL competition would give them the greatest chance to attract casual fans from other sports. If they're putting a weekends gate receipts ahead of growing the sport that is incredibly foolish and shortsighted. The NHL has dug themselves a massive hole, and they are barely on TV anymore. They should be trying much harder to showcase their young talent.

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NHL has had weekend all star games every year since the late 80s, and it didn't work. The point of the OP was that all star games are what they are, and that leagues have to just let fans enjoy the games.

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They were usually competing with NFL or NBA All-Star Game or something else though.

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Some of the time. They went up against the Superbowl one year. That's market research at it's finest.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

I actually thought the All Star game was decent. Much better than I expected, in fact. Did you watch the Young Stars game? THAT WAS HORRIBLE!

At least in the All Star games, the players were skating and trying to play the game. I don't know how it could have been any better really (maybe if the Young Stars goalies played in the All Star game, they were actually trying it seemed whereas the only players not trying in the All Star game were the goalies). It's understandable though since you don't want to risk a injury on an insignificant save.

The Skills Competition was a disaster.... it wasn't ran well at all. The wrong cameras were being played, the announcers were talking about what they were going to have for dinner, and they couldn't even get the speed skating timed right (yeah, let's have McDonald win due to human error [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]).

Overall, VERY pleased with All Star game, VERY disappointed with Skills Competition and Young Stars game.

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

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I actually thought the All Star game was decent. Much better than I expected, in fact. Did you watch the Young Stars game? THAT WAS HORRIBLE!

At least in the All Star games, the players were skating and trying to play the game. I don't know how it could have been any better really (maybe if the Young Stars goalies played in the All Star game, they were actually trying it seemed whereas the only players not trying in the All Star game were the goalies). It's understandable though since you don't want to risk a injury on an insignificant save.

The Skills Competition was a disaster.... it wasn't ran well at all. The wrong cameras were being played, the announcers were talking about what they were going to have for dinner, and they couldn't even get the speed skating timed right (yeah, let's have McDonald win due to human error [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]).

Overall, VERY pleased with All Star game, VERY disappointed with Skills Competition and Young Stars game.

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I was very disappointed at the skills competition as well. It really sucked because that is usually my favourite part of the all star game (for the NBA too).

Re: Ways to improve the all star game.
 

I think MLB should have a whiffle ball game during the all star break. I'd love to see what kind of absurd break some of the pitchers could put on the ball.