Calgary vs. San Jose in the Western Conference final . . . two teams 9 out of 10 US viewers couldn't identify as hockey teams . . . and playing in western time zones to boot.  A major yawn (literally, for folks in the east) except for die-hard hockey fans (who should love this series) . . . from ESPN/ABC's point of view, not the stuff of broadening the hockey audience on TV.

Tampa Bay vs. Toronto (humor me for a moment) . . . a team that is making noises of leaving town despite the two best seasons in its pitiful history against the team everyone loves to hate (not usually a ratings winner).  How do you talk this one up . . . "tune in to watch Martin St. Louis dodge Bryan Marchment and Darcy Tucker?" . . . "tune in to hear Ron Francis' bones creak?" . . . "don't miss a single Brian Leetch turnover?" . . . "join us for a special John Tortorella sartorially-challenged moment?"

ESPN's hole card is . . . the Philadelphia Flyers? 

 

yeesh...

 

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Play hard, shake hands, drink beer.

"LA needs two hockey teams like Switzerland needs two navies" -- Norman Chad (from "My 10-Point Plan to Save Gary Bettman from Himself")

"Playoff hockey is the best two months in team sports . . . period."

-- Mitch Albom

It's only a nightmare because they've MADE it one by only ever showing a few teams.

ESPN was decent when I first started watching hockey...but then they dropped their weekly double-headers, and all of a sudden no one has ever heard of the west coast teams.

I thank God continuously for Center Ice...

ABC/ESPN sold their soul to the NBA, which might just be the most boring pro sport in North America these days . . . the Nets scored a whopping 56 points in a playoff game last night.  Once upon a time, Wilt Chamberlain almost averaged that over a whole season . . . by himself.  These days, pro basketball is a hideous product to watch.  Golf is exciting in comparison.

Not only ESPN's worst nightmare, but by the end of this round, it's entirely possible that Calgary may be the only Canadian team in the playoffs.  This of course would mean that TSN would suddenly switch to covering Ten Pin Bowling and that sycophant Ron MacLean on CBC would be on bad-mouthing the Flames yet again for not playing to the level which they need to, unlike the Maple Leafs, who can do no wrong in the Canadian media's eyes. 

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually rooting for Philly to win this round.

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Jarome's gonna let me have all da Red Wings, and we're gonna take care of 'em like wittle bunny rabbits... aren't we Jarome?

the NBA, which might just be the most boring pro sport in North America these days . . . (snip snip)  These days, pro basketball is a hideous product to watch. 

The two understatements of the year.  I used to LOVE the NBA, now I can't even have it on in the background while I'm doing other things because I have such a low opinion of it.  What was once a great team sport to watch has now degenerated into an endorsement and hype fest with no substance.

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Don't make me angry.... you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.....

"What was once a great team sport"

TEAM sport? The NBA used to be a TEAM sport??? Who'da thunk it?!