Not sure if any of you folks give a damn about pro hockey. I hope at least a few do. I know there are many Canucks lurking here, and I'm a dual citizen living in Canada. As a progressive and a hockey fanatic I have often been accused of having a contradictory nature. I refer people to Walt Whitman. Enough said about that.
Anyway, the hockey lock-out has fans in the North East and all across Canada suffering from withdrawl. I was glued to the TV during the world juniors and am missing my game bigtime since then.
My progressive, idealistic and patently absurd proposal to fix hockey is on the flip.
I won't waste bandwidth here with the whole proposal. It's lengthy. I have posted the introduction. If you are interested, you can read the whole thing or download a PDF at my site, set up specifically to hawk this proposal. It's non-commercial. Just me burning my own cash to try to save the game I love using good, old-fashioned prairie cooperation. The idea could have implications for pro sport as a whole if fans and players got their act together.
http://www.ownourgame.com/
A Proposal for the Formation of an
International Cooperative Hockey League
and
Independent Cooperative Hockey Teams
Introduction
The 2004/2005 National Hockey League season is now all but officially cancelled. Some hockey insiders are suggesting the 2005/2006 season is also a non-starter, given the distance between the players and the owners. It appears no solution is on the horizon, or we would see at the very least some discussion. In a circumstance like this, we need to think outside the box. We are committed to the game of hockey and we want to see hockey reborn on the other side of this ridiculous impasse. We think the best way to get rid of an impasse such as this is to eliminate one of the parties, in this case, the owners. The owners must go and be replaced by...the players and fans!
This document outlines in high-level form a strategy whereby players and fans can take back control of the game of hockey played at its highest level. We suggest here that the players take the lead in forming a new hockey league; a league with no owners except the players themselves. We also suggest the fans follow the lead of the players and, with their assistance, become owners of hockey teams. This can be accomplished on both counts through the use of the cooperative business model.
The cooperative business model (Co-op) has its roots in the 19th century in England when farmers banded together to offer mutual support to each other in getting their product to market. Today Co-ops are a familiar sight to many players who grew up on the Canadian and American prairies, and many European players will be familiar with the Co-op model as well. Co-ops are a legitimate business model and a strategy that ensures all profit stays with the producers of the product. It is also a highly democratic business model, since the owners (in this case the players and fans) have a vote in the workings and strategies of the business.
This suggestion is not as radical as it sounds, since the operational models for the league and teams would remain very much like they are today, but it is not without sacrifice. The initial start-up period will be difficult, and developing player solidarity will be a challenge. However, we feel the long-term health of hockey at the highest level is well served by a model that puts players and fans in the drivers seat. If successful, this strategy will have profound implications for professional sport around the world. The alternative is eventual capitulation to NHL ownership demands.
Continued on my site...
http://www.ownourgame.com/