Archive for the ‘Lockout News’ Category

Whatever, at least it's not a picture of Fehr or Bettman.

UPDATE: Holy crap. Because he, apparently, really, really wanted to talk to Sarah Silverman, Guy Serota has been removed from the process. Seriously.

#CBA Serota removed from mediation assignment because of Twitter flap earlier today, FMCS announced, to dispel any “cloud” over process

— Katie Strang (@KatieStrangESPN) November 26, 2012

Because these negotiations weren’t already a total joke. This is what has become of the sport we love, people, even when we finally get a mediator we don’t entirely get a mediator. Because of Twitter. The internet is a scary beast, folks. I mean, this probably won’t have any real affect on the negotiations, as Serota will likely be replaced by someone who doesn’t feel the need to share his deep ruminations about the band Paramore, but seriously, guys.

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For the first time in as long as I can remember, something approaching sanity has occurred in the NHL labor negotiations. According to all of Twitter (so it must be true), the NHL and NHLPA have hired a federal mediator to help them find common ground and let us watch some hockey. This is potentially good news as having literally anyone not named Gary Bettman or Don Fehr taking the reins in negotiations is almost certainly a good thing. Unfortunately for all of us, Fehr and Bettman are still very much involved. Still, any news that doesn’t involve news of the two sides being far apart is good news, I think. Read the rest of this entry »

Uh, yeah. Never mind. Sorry, guys.

Well, we knew this was coming.

According to our moral barometer, Darren Dreger, the NHL is set to cancel games through December 14th as well as cancelling All-Star Weekend in Columbus. No, I’m serious, look.

Cancellation of games through December 14 expected within the hour . NHL will also cancel the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) November 23, 2012

And, as Dreger so declared it to be, within the hour it was cancelled indeed.

NHL announces cancellation of 2012-13 regular-season schedule through Dec. 14th and 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend. Details: bit.ly/T2V5YY

— NHL (@NHL) November 23, 2012

Honestly, at this point I can’t even get mad about this shit anymore. It’s just another in a long series of fan face-punching from Gary Bettman and the NHL. Yes, cancelling games makes a certain amount of sense considering all that’s going on and having and, even with a shortened season, an All-Star game after a month of games doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The cancellation will see the loss of 96 regular-season games and we’re getting pretty close to the moment where salvaging any season is just kind of pointless.

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I am getting so tired of posting pictures of you people.

Bill Daly and Steve Fehr went on The Fan 590 today to talk lockout and, of course, it brought no news and was just kind of depressing. Daly made it clear that the NHL is not scared by the notion of decertification (yeah, okay, whatever Bill) and that it is not a valid path to a deal getting done. Fehr, on the other hand, let us know that the players are not prepared to make any new proposals and that the idea that the two sides are “a billion dollars apart,” as Bettman claimed is entirely false. It was not super fun to listen to. The end of the lockout is not in sight, my friends. Not at all.

One somewhat hopeful note, I guess, is that Fehr said that he doesn’t see any reason for talks to break off completely nor is there any point in setting a deadline. Of course, he then condescendingly brought up all the deadlines that Bettman has created in the past so who knows? Fehr refused to address the notion of decertification but, I mean, they’ve got to be at least talking about it, right? Maybe?

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