This and that…
I’m pretty sure the NHL schedule maker thought the Anaheim
Ducks were opening the season in London, Ontario, not London, England. I mean,
surely, that was the only way one could make sense of a game in London on a
Sunday and Detroit the following Wednesday, right? In reality, the Ducks did
end up playing five games in eight days on two continents. Wow, if they didn’t
have Stanley Cup hangover going into that stretch, it’s undoubtedly hit all of
the Ducks by now. And you thought Brian Burke was mad at Kevin Lowe.
*****
I was flipping around the dial the other night, back and
forth between hockey and baseball, and it dawned on me that there may not be any
better studio host than Ernie Johnson. In a business in which egos can tend to
take over entire sets, he seems always to defer graciously to the people around
him, making them – and the product – better in the process. And it doesn’t seem
to matter the sport; give him a show and some athletes to integrate into it, and
Johnson does it knowledgeably and seamlessly, with a healthy dose of humor and
entertainment along the way. I was just as sold on his baseball knowledge as I
have been with basketball, golf, etc.
*****
Speaking of TV, I was watching the ‘Canes recent blowout of
Toronto and came away even more impressed with how far Versus has come in its
production of NHL games. For all the flak the network has taken for its
programming history and relative lack of reach, to me it has become a vibrant
and eminently productive media partner for the league, especially if you
remember the early days. From a look in the inaugural year of 2005-06 that
included a set that appeared to be constructed in some producer’s garage, the
telecasts have grown into productions that say “major event” in every element,
from technical to talent. Wherever the NHL goes with its TV contract(s) moving
forward, I believe it’s time we gave Versus some credit for doing its part to
grow the sport.
*****
And kudos to you fans who made Philips Arena rock again
during the home opener. As this franchise has grown, so has the fan base, both
in numbers and in the electricity they bring to games. I had never felt this
building vibrate the way it did for games one and two of the playoff series
against the Rangers last year, but that same feel permeated the Thrashers nest
for the opener. Here’s hoping that electricity flows all season long.
*****
