I am not getting my hopes too high but I am optimistic that we will be sitting in the PNC Arena soon! This whole lockout has been frustrating. I follow mostly sports writers and hockey players on twitter so I am reminded everyday of what we are all missing. I have also suffered all the highs and lows of the negotiations. Most days I side with the players but I don't think that they, no matter how long they hold out, will get the better end of any deal. It bothers me when people complain about greedy overpaid athletes wanting more money because I don't think this is the same situation.
*The owners have locked out the players - the players have not refused to play.
*The owners made contracts and agreed to terms they never had any intentions of following through with.
*The owners won't open their books so the Players Association can see how they are losing money every year like they claim.
*The owners promised fans lower ticket prices after the last lockout in 2004-2005 and that never happened.
*The players have only a limited number of years to compete at the NHL level and they put their bodies at risk everyday and have lasting effects from some injuries. I think they earn their pay and deserve the best health care.
*Not every player makes millions of dollars but most owners are billionaires.
For these reasons I side with the NHLPA.
For selfish reasons I just want a deal done. I don't think I realized how much hockey consumes our winters. We are either at a Hurricanes game or watching Center Ice on TV at home, reading articles and keeping up with other teams. Not to mention because we have season tickets we sit next to the same people every home game and I miss my friends (yes I mean you, E).
So NHL and NHLPA, please just get it done.
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