happinessnancy1

2011Stanley Cup Playoffs

Apparently, hockey enthusiasts, NHL's GaryBettman and NBC 's Dick Ebersol thinks that's precisely what you did, or shouldhave been performing, yesterday.

Viewing the NHL at 1:00 p.m. on theSaturday in May. Even the most die-hard hockey enthusiasts might have a hardtime viewing at this time slot.

The geniuses at both the NHL and NBC madethe decision that displaying Game 4 between the Boston Bruins and Tampa BayLightning in the middle of May on Saturday afternoon was a good idea forhockey.

This really is not the very first time thisspring that this precise situation has occurred.

I'm sure the 3 goal comeback through theLightning would have done absolutely nothing to show new fans how thrilling theNHL can be.

FOX Sports, which frequently shows baseballvideo games on Saturday afternoons in the summer, waited until primetime lastevening to show a useless interleague battle in between the Yankees and Mets.

John M. Heller/Getty Images

The brand new Television agreement isn'tthat great whenever you consider the duration with the deal and also the lackof exposure the league will continue to become crippled by.

Sure, I understand that significant hockeyenthusiasts had been glued to their TV's yesterday (or were they?) watchingGame four and will watch hockey wherever or nevertheless they should.

Nevertheless, as being a significant hockeyfan, I wish to see the activity develop. I'm continuously defending the NHL andthe decisions they make to my buddies.

The NHL has the very best playoff productof any of the four major sports activities and viewing NBC use yesterday??￥s game as being a prelude to thePreakness was, well, horse-spit.

Decisions like yesterday's and moreimportantly, the new Tv agreement leaves me wondering if this is it when itcomes to recognition for your NHL.

Numerous boasted that the new Televisionoffer was great for the NHL.

Yes, the money was significantly more, butwhen you appear into the crystal ball, a lot more could have already been had.

In my mind, the NHL blew it. Pure andsimple. Television offers require foresight by smart people and again the NHL'scommissioner, Gary Bettman, proved he's not that person.

Donald Fehr (left) and Bud Selig

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The NHL has failed to marketplace the bestcrop of players because the Gretzky era. The Bruins are an Original Six group,and the Bolts possess a few superstars flying around the ice.

I know someplace within the league'soffice, some intelligence exists. Final June, the NHL had the foresight toextend their labor agreement by one season.