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| Burning Issues? |
The burning issues from Minnesota and from Houston are such
that it feels more like a quarter full - it is early in the season though. Not being 'expert' nor paid employee,
I do wonder about the situation with Wild and Aeros at the moment.
The Wild and the Aeros appear in a slump -
reading between the lines of bloggers and their responders,
the problems, maybe, lie with these issues:
Minnesota:
Lack of direction? Causing player fatalism?
Lack of real talent? Perhaps not really, just not well applied.
Player frustration when facing faster and better opponents? Seems to be.Lack of motivation? Cannot tell.
Lack of inspiration? Maybe, early injuries and strange moves by management could have caused this!
Confusion over rules and regulations? Pretty sure, that it IS for players and officials alike!Houston:
Lack of direction? Not here, new coaches seem to have direction.Lack of real talent? Well, maybe not in abundance, but there IS some!
Player frustration when facing faster and better opponents? Sometimes, yes!
Lack of motivation? Does not seem to be.
Lack of inspiration? Not here, with new coaching staff!
Confusion over rules and regulations? As above, yes!Real support from up North?
That has been a question in the last season and seems to continue despite the new staff!Of course, esteemed readers, as always feel free to address the issues and make your suggestions.
If you are optimists, or pessimists or realists - do express yourselves!
3 comments:
As to the Wild, I cannot comment as I do not follow them that closely.
As to the Aeros, there definitely has to be a lot of frustration for the players to have a season start off like this one has. (Same as us in the big construction work, bemoaning how our competitors are currently taking work 15 to 20-% below cost, at some point that has to end, or we have to join them in their idiocracy, thus also risking going out of business by having work.) A former boss of mine always said, "If we are going to go out of business, it will be with our feet propped up on our desk reading the newspaper, NOT by working ourselves to death for no profit."
Support from Yankee Land up North -- I honestly do not think the Wild truly support the Aeros, but I could be totally wrong.
As I have often stated, I go to the games for the camaraderie in the stands and to watch the boys play, and hope they win. But I will not lose sleep if they do not win.
I think that is why certain Aeros followers do not like my opinions, that and I could care less for an NHL team here in Houston. Could I afford a full 40-game season tickets to the NHL for comparable seats; yes easily. But I refuse to spend that kind of money just on entertainment, I can spend a lot of enchanted, blissful time at all the museums, The Alley, Jones Hall and Hobby Center for a lot less cash than NHL season tickets.
In addition, I think some of the comments about the prior ownership of the Aeros to be plain stupid, just living in the past. Reminds me of Al Bundy on the old TV show "Married with Children," telling everyone, "I once scored four touchdowns in a single game."
Some people need to get over it, and smell some reality. The Aeros are a farm team, the odds are many of the players for the Aeros will not have a major career in hockey, hopefully some will. It is for those rare gems, that I am thankful for being able to see play. I am thankful for even our less than stellar players. That is what being a fan of the number 2 on the totem pole is about, in my opinion. Just enjoying the game and the friendships made in the stands.
It is just a game.
Yes, some will never move on up, they will keep playing at AHL levels and be happy they can.
Others will go lower, and still be happy because they CAN still play hockey.
And I do enjoy seeing those games, I don't care if 'some' call it crappy hockey, especially 'some' that may not even have strapped on hockey skates!
And yes, the thought that there may be an NHL treasure in the making right here - is uplifting - rare - but uplifting!
There are only so many slots open, and every year new and better talent comes up and pushes in!
I agree, there are many forms of joy... not just hockey!
To Bobby R:
Variety is the spice of life, in particular when it involves being a connoiseur of the Arts or an egalitarian Hockey fan (at any level).
Houston offers hockey fans the wonderful opportunity to experience live hockey at the state-of-the-art Toyota Arena. Unfortunately, many Houstonians fail to avail themselves of this great opportunity, while more than a few who do, are attracted by the violence of the game, and not by the sheer athletic skills and "team competition" of this unique sport. Further, only a handful of fans truly understand the rules and historical tradition of the sport.
While the entreprenurial days of Chuck Watson and the Aeros early Turner Cup and Calder Cup milestones are in the distant past, the 2008-9 team nearly did it, one more time.....it was certainly a pleasure to see Kevin Constantine pull his talent together, within a reliable system, to make that run.
The Aeros will always play at a "minor level" in Houston (and may never again field the talent level on that 2008-9 roster); therefore, serious hockey fans should just relax (as you have said) and enjoy the game.
Go Aeros!
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