Milwaukeehockey.com

Conflict of interest

February 18, 2008

For 7 of the last 11 years, the Admirals have scheduled a home game on the same day as the Daytona 500 (98-01, 05, 07-08). Possibly 8 of 12... I could not find a 96/97 Admirals schedule.

That's a shame. My two most passionate sports interests are hockey and auto racing, and for the most part, they coexist without too many conflicts. Local race tracks generally hold their seasons from April-September, which fits nicely with the hockey calendar. One event I always look forward to watching on TV is the Daytona 500. NASCAR's biggest event kicks off the season on a mid-February Sunday afternoon.

Honestly, if the scary winter storm the local news glamorized for the past 72 hours would have actually happened (10-16" - "Run for your lives!!"), I would have stayed home to watch the race. I've only missed one Admirals home game in the last seven years by choice... which was to go to a Predators game in Chicago.

If you look around the crowd at any given game, you'll see racing hats, shirts, and jackets in the crowd, and decals in the parking lot. The Admirals work hard not to compete with Packers games when making the schedule, even rescheduling the hockey games if Green Bay manages to make the playoffs. I wish the Admirals would recognize the number of NASCAR fans who fight with the decision of staying home on that particular Sunday afternoon and keep that date open. (psst... next year it's on February 15)

In 2001, I had to learn about the death of Dale Earnhardt on a muted TV screen in the concourse of the Bradley Center. I remember being in a daze for the rest of the game, wishing I was at home. Next year, I hope I will be.

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I know I usually use this space to complain. This season, there hasn't been a whole lot to be positive about, but I will applaud a few things this time...

- How about the turn-around by Cal O'Reilly lately? Shortly after Rich Peverley was promoted to the NHL, Cal stepped up his game and has been on a tear. Six goals and 21 assists in the last 14 games, which included a nine game scoring streak and an AHL Player of the Week Award. I mentioned in the mid-season report card that he was in a sophomore slump, but maybe he's kicked it to the curb.

- And Amen and Hallejuleh that the gloves have been dropped on a regular basis again! Another item I criticized earlier this season, but lately, the boys have not let themselves get bullied around. Alex, Kelsey, Nolan... well done! Hell, even Antti and Cal each got into a scrap! After only 11 fights in the first 28 games, the team has had 21 in the last 27, and they would have had more if Kelsey didn't break his nose last month.

- I gotta admit, I was mildly amused by the Valentine's Day visit by Roscoe's girlfriend. Who knew he was getting some action away from the BC? In case you missed it, they dusted off the spare Roscoe costume, and dressed it up with a skirt and a long blond wig. She could have used an Admirals jersey, but instead she wore a sweater.

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A couple more thoughts before I go...

Someone ought to advise the youth hockey groups that participate during intermission that they should not take it too seriously. Many groups waste a minute or two of their alloted time by making sure all the kids are in their proper position before letting them play. Even worse, some groups will sit a couple of players on the bench instead of playing 7-on-7. Let the kids have fun. No one is keeping score. Just drop the puck and let them enjoy their five minutes of ice time.

The cheer stick fad is not dying soon enough. I had to move from my seat on Sunday after enduring ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, ping, just over my right shoulder.

Those who use cheer sticks show a lack of respect for the people they sit near. In most cases, the blame lies on lazy parents who encourage their kids to use them, as it keeps them occupied, giving the parents an escape from, well... actually being parents! The cheer sticks ought to come with a ziplock bag of earplugs to be handed out to anyone within earshot.

Better yet, I encourage the use of your hands. The sound of natural applause is louder and more pleasant than the annoying ping. There is no need for plastic toys that will find their way to the area's landfills.

Ok... so I couldn't resist a complaint... but I still have the headache 12 hours later.

posted by Todd # 4:45 AM

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