Back in Action

FINALLY! An agreement has been made, and the NHL, after 113 days, is finally out of the lockout. Being a huge fan as well as a hockey player, this could not excite me more; and all the drama during the lockout days I want to just put behind me. However, when looking back on it, it's hard to just forget  about what happened. 

The lockout occurred because  a new agreement could not be reached between the player's union and the owners of the league's franchises before the NHL's collective bargaining agreement. In simpler language, the owners of the teams wanted more of the money the players were getting. However, the players were not willing to give that up to the owners, some more issues that were being discussed can be viewed here. 

One may think this is ridiculous and is a topic that isn't even worth discussing, that either the players should get the money they deserve for being the ones to play the game, or that the owners should get the money. It could go either way, hence why it was so controversial and discussed for 113 days. 

However, it was also an issue that seemed to reflect on the focus of professional sports now a days; to play for the money, not for the love of the sport. This was something that I'm sure the players as well as the owners were scared the fans would pick up on, and therefore lose some loyalty and respect they originally had towards the NHL; which would ultimately cause a lack of interest in supporting it, and result in a decrease in the NHL's revenue. The players even started putting out videos on youtube describing their love for the game, and how they wanted to get out their just as much as the fans wanted to watch them; but it wasn't their fault. 

However, many of the fans commented back in an outrage saying things like, "You know it's pretty sad that these guys say they love the game but when it comes to money they seem to love that more."  Basically saying that if the players really loved the game, they wouldn't care about the money. 

Although many of the fans, including me, are more than happy that the NHL has finally returned; I'm sure none of us will forget the issues and materialistic viewpoints the owners and players seemed to share. What do you think? Do you think money and success are things that overshadow the love of the game in our country? Do you really think that fans are people the players value as much as they say they do? To what extent do you think this issue of power and money consistent in other aspects of our lives? Comment below.