The biggest star to comment yet?
Roenick calls for action in TV rant
TSN.ca Staff with files
11/18/2004
Philadelphia Flyers centre Jeremy Roenick, to no surprise, pulled no punches on Wednesday as he was given the chance to rant on the NHL lockout on Fox Sports' popular Best Damn Sports Show Period.
Given 30 seconds to vent his feelings, the veteran forward openly demanded that NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman head back to the bargaining table to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
"Gary Bettman, you should be banging on Bob Goodenow's door, demanding to negotiate right now," he said.
"Get into a room, lock the door, and don't come out until there's a deal."
Roenick also addressed the NHL's waning popularity in the United States, made worse with no season and no exposure.
"People don't care right now," he added. "People are watching football; they're watching basketball. They don't care that hockey's not on TV right now. But...Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman, you should care about two things: the fans and the state of the game. And if you don't get this deal done soon, you're going to lose them both."
Roenick added that he didn't believe there would be a season.
"(The players) are mad because of the lack of negotiations," he said. "Nobody has talked. And I don't understand why nobody has talked...They're mad at Gary Bettman, because Gary Bettman is really putting on a hardball stance right now, and he's being tough, and you don't act tough like that to hockey players."
The comments came just hours after the NHLPA met with more than 60 player agents in Chicago to provide updates and additional information on the union's stance.
Both the league and the Players' Association haven't met since Sept. 9.
7/11/01-1/23/03.
"This is America! And in America, if something sucks, you're supposed to be able to get your money back."-Stan Marsh
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