Why don't people (especially Americans) like hockey?

[Greenevol]

Re: Why don't people (especially Americans) like hockey?

I don't doubt that. I guess the follow-up question, similar to soccer, is how many of the best American athletes will be playing hockey? The US produces lots of good hockey players, but few elite ones, and no generational ones. The most talented US-born players I've ever seen were LaFontaine and Leetch, and that was a while ago.

Maybe Modano or Chelios. Brett Hull? Great hall of famers, but they're really not the generational talents like the Crosby/Orr/Gretzky,etc. I don't know if any of them would be among the top 25 players of all time.

Certainly a guy like that would help grow the game here.

Back to the original question, I think when people say "Americans don't like hockey", it really sells a large group of people short.

[13whitebread]

Re: Why don't people (especially Americans) like hockey?

I think bettman has ruined the league IMPO. A commissioner that comes out and the whole league boos him. Why does he come out? I think with all the lock outs people in general cannot count on hockey being there and most people cannot afford to go to a hockey game it is one the most expensive sports to spectate. And of course it cost a lot to play these are the reasons most people are away from hockey.

[Cletus]

Re: Why don't people (especially Americans) like hockey?

The major reason hockey isn't big in America is because the media doesn't get behind it. I hate ESPN, but they've done a lot for sports, especially NCAA Basketball. The NFL wouldn't be huge if it weren't for television. Hockey hasn't had the big NHL game to draw people in like NCAA Basketball had with the 1979 game. The biggest hockey game to non hockey fan Americans is the 1980 USA vs. USSR game, and people know it for everything but hockey reasons. Most Americans don't even know who the US beat for the gold medal that year.