As a lifelong hockey fan, this ongoing garbage between the players and owners is absolutely maddening.
The level of talent and quality of product in the NHL is the highest it has been in years. And as a Boston Bruins fan, after years of absolute pain and agony, the Bs have become one of the flagship franchises in the sport.
But, here we sit. We sit and watch as both sides haggle over how to divide a pie worth $300 billion. Actually I should correct that. We sit and watch as they refuse to haggle over how to divide a pie worth $300 billion.
As is always the case when you have a dispute that impacts so many, there are equally as many opinions. As well, people are drawing a line and taking sides.
What surprises me is how many people seem to fault the players for this mess. The comments I hear are baffling: why should we feel sorry for them, they make millions; everybody has to take a pay cut in their lives; if they say they just want to play, then why don't they play. There are many more.
I might be in the minority, but I think anyone who faults the players in this scenario is offering up a lazy and uneducated position.
But I also think simply blaming one side or the other for this garbage is missing the point and is wholly unproductive. Although I firmly believe the owners have gotten us to this ridiculous stalemate, it's clear that both sides are going to have to co-operate to solve this matter. If there is blame to be placed, it will be for extending the lockout and both will equally share in that.
Unfortunately, I have zero faith in either side budging on their position and it seems likely that another season will be gone. I can't believe that could happen again but when you have little men guided by their big egos running the show, this is the kind of crap that takes place.
Since it appears unlikely these jokers will work towards a deal, I think it's time to bring in outside help.
The first name that crossed my mind was Batman but he's off faking his own death. Maybe Stephen Harper could do it. He's a big hockey fan and it's not as though he is doing much in Ottawa these days.
But seriously, it's time that the NHL and NHLPA give an honest look at bringing in some kind of mediator before this lockout gets to the point of no return.
I'm not experienced in labour negotiations, but it seems simple to me: each side presents their proposal to the mediator or whatever you want to call the person; said person takes the proposals and comes up with a solution. Obviously both sides won't agree with the first proposal by the mediator, but if things work the way we hope, it should provide some kind of framework to get moving towards a deal.
With a third party in the middle they can continue working towards a deal and who knows, they might actually get a deal done.
I suppose I'm being naïve, but what they are doing right now clearly isn't working. Since it is still relatively early, the time to start thinking of other ideas is now because as we have seen in the past, the longer this drags on, the more each side will dig its heels in and the season will be gone.
As I said, I really cannot believe both sides would allow this to happen again. But as I have learned in this job, nothing - not even blatant stupidity - is surprising anymore.
