The Sports Life

OLN Nabs NHL Hockey Rights--ESPN Passes

The Outdoor Life Network has broken into the NHL hockey broadcast market. Rights to show 58 regular season games and some playoff were obtained by cable giant Comcast for $200 million US. ESPN, who has carried NHL hockey for 20 years declined to match the offer from Comcast.

I think this is a good move for OLN as NHL hockey looks to make a fresh start after a long lockout wiped out the entire 2004/05 season. The changes made to level the competitive playing field on and off the ice will generate a lot of interest from hockey fans and OLN will cash in on this.

The rules have been modified somewhat in an attempt to make the game faster and more entertaining to new and borderline hockey fans in the US. The new $39 million team salary cap will eliminate the past disparities in total salaries paid for each team. Some team payrolls were over $70 million while poorer market teams barely cracked the $20 million mark. This gave big market teams a distinct advantage when it came to attracting the more expensive star players.

Revenue sharing was another important ingredient in the new labor deal which came out of the lockout. The new system requires the top ten revenue generating teams to share some of their earnings with the bottom ten teams in the 30 team league.

The new NHL is poised to become a major player in the professional sports market once again and ESPN will be sitting on the sidelines.

For more info go to http://ordinaryjoe.ca/blog/

For articles of interest to ordinary people, surf Ordinary Joe

MORE ARTICLES:

Wine: A worthy teammate for football
Football and beer go together like baseball and hotdogs, but what about football and wine? Traditionally, wine has been benched on Sundays. But if you prefer to serve your guests something a step up from a can of suds, a nice glass of Cabernet Sauvignon on a chilly, fall afternoon can score a touchdown with your friends.

A Firm Step With Soccer Cleats
In modern soccer, performance is a key factor for professionals. This performance depends not only on his mental and physical shape, but also on good footwear. An essential part of the footwear is the soccer cleat, also known as studs. The soccer shoes are specially equipped with cleats that prevent players from slipping and assist in rapid changes of direction.

The Power Of Youth Basketball Coaching - A Personal Review.
If you really want to make a difference in the lives of youngsters, one must try coaching youth basketball. Well I gave it a shot, and boy am I excited about the whole thing. There are several places that will teach you how to coach youth basketball, from charities to workshops to who knows what else. My experience with youth basketball coaching begins for over a year now, and there has never been a more fulfilling experience in my life thus far. However don?t take my word alone for it, cause you should give youth basketball coaching a try to believe it.

The Phat 5" of College Basketball Kentucky, N. Carolina, UCLA, Kansas, and Duke Surpass the 9,100 All-Time Combined Wins Total on "Phat 5 Tu
Top 5 college basketball programs of All-Time will collectively surpass the 9,500 win total during the 2009-10 season and the 10,000 win total during the 2013-14 season. "The Phat 5" are the Top 5 in All-Time winning percentage.

Discount Basketball Shoes
Professional athletes know that the right basketball shoes can make or break their game. That's why they're careful in choosing the best quality shoes that provide optimum performance on the court.

Joe Abunassar's Impact Basketball 2008 Summer Pro-Training Camp for All Ages, Get the Same Training as the NBA's Best
Train along the side of Future All-Stars, such as Kevin Love, Chase Budinger, and many others, that have announced eligibility for the 2008 NBA Draft

Football Fans Get Decorating Ideas for NFL Logo Bedding
Football's extreme popularity would explain the increasing array of NFL football bedding and home décor. For those football fanatics who eat, breathe and even sleep football, Tony Brobst, the president of Image Bedding, has some home decorating tips.

Chicago Bears Tickets Mean Football With The Champions
Why get Chicago Bears tickets? Because they are the current NFC champions of course! The Bears, however, are not overnight superstars. They have been around since 1919, and have raked up an impressive number of Super Bowl and NFL championship wins. No wonder the Chicago Bears have become synonymous with great football for some many fans.

United National Football League Seeking Franchise Owners
The United National Football League is actively seeking potential franchise owners for the 22 franchise teams that will form the foundation of the league's initial season, set to kick-off in January 2009.