Say it ain't so...

      The country is preparing to brace itself for the impact of another election. Politicians are spending millions upon millions of dollars trashing each other,  the national and worldwide economies are in a seemingly constant state of uncertainty, but the most troubling thing is the fact that absolutely no one is talking about the greatest impending national tragedy since 2004. We are staring down the barrel of a gun, and nobody seems to care.  I would venture to guess that most of you aren't even remotely aware of the true danger the United States is facing.

        For the first time in almost a decade, the NHL season may be a total loss.... again.  Now I know some of you are already offended.  In the back of your mind (possibly in the front of your mind, wherever you generally keep your thoughts) you are thinking "how can he possibly compare the NHL lockout (that I was probably unaware of anyway) with the importance of an election?".  Or perhaps you are concerned with my characterization of the potential loss of the upcoming NHL season as a "tragedy".  Especially in the wake of such a terrible thing as the Aurora Theater shootings. You ask "How can the word "tragedy" be used so lightly?" I understand your concerns, my response tis simple.  Shut up, I don't care what you think, this is serious business.

        People around here (Denver) seem to have already forgotten that prior to 1996 Denver was a professional sports waste land, who's only claim to fame was most Super Bowl losses. I was 12 years old when the Avalanche came to Denver, and sports haven't been the same since.  There is no greater sport than hockey, any other conclusion is absolutely illogical.  It combines the strategy of baseball, the brute force of football, the scoring system of soccer (with a rule prohibiting flopping), the endurance of marathon running, and the boxing of  uh... boxing, the incomprehensible rules of Cricket, and adds to them a tempo and speed that is beyond comparison.  Oh and they put it all on freaking ice.  No sport compares to Hockey, no sport ever will, and I'm not sure if it will survive another missed season. ESPN dropped hockey like a bad habit after the last lock out, as did almost half of its fans.

     The big dispute this time? Revenue sharing, the league want's 10% more than they already get, which seems a little ridiculous to me.  Especially considering that there is a good chance that if they don't resolve this they might be arguing over 10% of zero dollars. Gary Bettman bent over the NHLPA last time, beat them like red-headed step children and is just itching to do it again.  The man is a terror, and a joke.  Let the players play so I can teach my kids the joys of hockey fandom.  So the "I remember when" stories I tell about hockey are about old players, not an old league.   Don't leave us with nothing but the boredom of baseball, the thuggery of the NBA, and the nothing but big hits NFL, and a slew of painfully boring sports (golf, tennis, croquet, etc...) Just give me my hockey... and no one has to get hurt...

If you are seriously upset with my comparisons, you fail to grasp the concept of both sensationalism, and sarcasm.  I weep for you (more sarcasm).