The current political tension between the U.S. and Canada has the attention of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.
    • Lootboblin@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 days ago

      My problem with him is that NHL just blocks the whole Russia-Ukraine war discussion and when somebody asks him about it (or other NHL suits) he just tries to dodge it or talks about difficult political situation and doesn’t have balls to use word: WAR. Ovechkin who still has Putin’s pic in his IG thumbnail is a god to them and NHL wants Russia back to NT games. Politics and sports go together even these days and Putin has used athletes in his propaganda for decades. (4 Nations also had a strong political vibe.). NHL just doesn’t want to talk about it and their (or Caps fans) only defense is that politics shouldn’t be mixed with sports.

    • streetfestival@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      6 days ago

      I’m not certain these are the same type of ads you’re talking about, but I want to chime in on the too many #$@%ing ads topic. My hockey watching is pretty much limited to Leafs playoff games, although I watch a lot of NBA, MLB, and CFL games - so I know sports broadcasts. Anyway, the ads along the sideboards that ‘fly in’ on NHL TV broadcasts are ridiculous, imo, in how much of a ‘suppression of visual distraction’ (mental effort) it takes to follow the puck and game as a viewer

      • Sturgist@lemmy.ca
        1·
        5 days ago

        First off, fuck the Leafs. Canucks forever!

        Now we’ve got done with that. I’ve moved to the UK, I watch literally one game a year live. I pirate cast it, as I’m not paying extortionate money for channels I’d watch once. I stay up til ~1am for puck drop for a single Canucks game during the playoffs. Always on or around my birthday, usually pretty lucky and there’s actually a game on my birthday. Well…early the day after in my timezone anyway. Also luckily, I don’t think I’ve ever had those ads! Who knew not paying for watching the game would make it a way better experience?