Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site philabs.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!mcnc!philabs!dpb From: dpb@philabs.UUCP (Paul Benjamin) Newsgroups: net.sport.hockey Subject: Re: Re: Offence vs. Defence Message-ID: <315@philabs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 6-May-85 15:48:17 EDT Article-I.D.: philabs.315 Posted: Mon May 6 15:48:17 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 7-May-85 12:31:59 EDT References: <1537@dciem.UUCP> Distribution: na Organization: Philips Labs, Briarcliff Manor, NY Lines: 44 *** REPLACE THIS OPINION WITH YOUR DRIVEL*** Jeff Richardson writes: > ... it's hard to get excited about a goal when the other team will > probably come right back and get another one, and because games that are > that high scoring usually contain so much defensive ineptitude that it's > sickening to the educated hockey fan. It's much more exciting when teams > have to earn their goals. I'll take a 2-1 game anytime. > The best and most exciting games of the playoffs so far have been the > defensive ones like Montreal-Boston and Washington-Islanders. > ... > I'll admit that they've done a lot for the game. Offence appeals most to > novice, uninitiated fans and therefore will take more people off the streets > and put them in arenas or in front of their TV sets, which is probably > good for the game, but true hockey fans appreciate a classic defensive > struggle. Well, I've been a hockey fan for over a quarter of a century, and I find the Oilers great to watch. I appreciate either an offensive game or a defensive game. The important point is the talent that is on display. High scores do not imply lousy defense. They can simply indicate outstanding offensive talent on the ice, as is the case with the Oilers. If all games were extremely low-scoring, that would get boring, too (see soccer). No one is saying that all games should be high-scoring, only that it is great that a team whose strength is in offensive capability can also be champion, and be interesting. Also, I am one of those fans who gets sick and tired of watching a great skater start to zip around a defenseman who has very little in the way of hockey skills, and seeing the defender grab or trip or do whatever else he can to compensate for his lack of speed and agility. This happens in every hockey game I have seen in years, and is directly attributable to the owners. They don't care that skating and stick-handling skills are being beaten by bullying and violence. This is the true concession to the uninitiated fans - make hockey a fighting sport instead of a finesse sport, because it sells tickets. This is one more reason that it is a pleasure to watch a team with so many SKATERS win the championship. The Oilers have their fair share of "enforcers", too. This is unfortunately inevitable in today's game. But they do more pure skating than the other teams. I know I'm dreaming, but I keep on hoping that the owners will get the message...