There’s no other word to describe the Olympic hockey competition this year. USA had its biggest upset in 30 years, both medal games came down to the final minute and Canada exacted its revenge to win a remarkable gold medal game that concluded a hockey tournament that was a Who’s Who of former and current NHL all stars.
Better have enjoyed it this year because this may be the last time we see it.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has been telling everyone who will listen that this has been a spectacular Olympic games for hockey, but rumors persist and he alluded to the fact that this may be the last time the NHL postpones its season every four years for national pride.
And he’s absolutely right.
Forget about injuries or continuity or prolonged seasons, this is all about revenue and intrigue. Deciding to allow NHL players to play in the Olympics in 1988 was supposed to generate more revenue in the long run. While it shut down the season, it would put hockey front and center in the North American spotlight, bringing maximum exposure and allowing the NHL to showcase some of their best players and make them household names.
That’s hard to do when curling, speed skating and snowboarding are featured ahead of it.
No matter what country you hail from, USA beating Canada in the preliminary rounds was one of those memorable “Did you see that?!” Olympic moments. It was the talk of the day on radio, filled inches on newspapers and showed why hockey is one of dominating story lines of every Olympic games.
But what it couldn’t do was garner the attention of NBC, who passed over the game on its premier network for … (wait for it) … ice dancing. Yes, ice dancing. Instead, those hoping to watch the game had to channel surf until landing on MSNBC to watch one of the greatest upsets of the games.
It was the Internet Age equivalent of the Miracle on Ice 1980 USA upset against Russia being tape delayed. This game should have been showcased on free television for everyone to see and find easily, not relegated to secondary network that usually has its airwaves filled with the likes of Chris Matthews or Keith Olberman.
But here’s the kicker: NBC wasn’t wrong for putting it on MSNBC either. Their job isn’t to make Bettman’s job easier or bring fans to a struggling sport. It’s to bring the audience what they want and hockey just isn’t as popular of an Olympic event right now as ice dancing.
So NBC was right not to air the game on its primary network. The NHL will be right in not stopping their season in Sochi in 2014.
And we are the ones who will miss out.
