Renew! Renew!
The Oilers have started their aggressive campaign to get season seat holders to renew their tickets. We were reminded about every five minutes on the big screen at last night's game. Shawn Horcoff, Jarret Stoll and Paul Coffey personally feel that you should renew your seats. From the bottom of their hearts. It's extremely poor timing to start the campaign now. That being said, no amount of losses or injuries would prevent my season ticket partner from renewing our tickets. Deadline for renewal is March 14th.
The adorable Jan Hejda and the Macedonian machine, Steve Staios suffered shoulder and knee injuries respectively against the Lightning, which has opened the door for yet another prospect. The Oilers have called up Bryan Young from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Young is the Oilers' last available signed professional blueliner. He's no Tom Gilbert, but Bryan Young still has an appealing boyish charm to him. Sebastien Bisaillon is rumoured to be called up soon as well. And just because we spent an entire weekend making it, here's a tribute video for a former Oilers d-man.
Kyle Brodziak played in his first regular season NHL game of the season last night and spent 15:15 on the ice, with 11 seconds PP time and 35 seconds short-handed. Squee!
"We need some magical healing, or we have to see a witch doctor or something." - Jason Smith
Comments
on a happier note...after all these years paul coffey is still hot (even though he always looks constipated).
Wow.
Forgive me for being a total a-hole on this, but are you crazy? When did blind faith and absolute subservience become a pre-requisite for "true fandom?" They increased tickets by 21%, dismantled the entire roster to the point where they are lower than St. Louis in the standings, started dropping hints about how we have to buy them a new stadium, and you say renew no matter what? Would you respond that way if Telus behaved so poorly? Or Futureshop? If you want to do that, I guess it's your choice. Just don't complain when they keep gouging you, and keep offloading talent. You'll be getting the team and service you deserve.
On the other hand, if Telus got to the finals of the Telecommunications Cup against, I dunno, some French company, would you and 17,000 other people show up screaming and cheering for that event where the two telephone guys see who can string up the most cable? Jesus, I wouldn't and my dad does string up cable for Telus.
I'd say there's an emotional investment inherent in our sports teams that is not present in our telecommunication companies or retailers. I don't disagree that you're allowed to stop supporting the Oilers if you disagree with their management decisions, mind. However, as diehardness goes, "I choose not to go to Oiler games because they will likely lose" is not high up.
Now, whether diehardness is good is a discussion for another day.
Agreed. But if the reason for losing is poor management, or if the organization feeds you a bunch of b.s., I think it's pretty reasonable to protest either through words or through your wallet. Otherwise, what incentive exists that will drive the organization to correct itself? Pride? Huh. Hasn't changed much in Chicago or Boston.
I do want to apologize to Shell for suggesting he/she was crazy, though. Bad form on my part. I'm frustrated with the concept of "through thick and thin", but I shouldnt have attacked the person making the argument. Sorry. :)
Everyvbody else: It's not about bailing on the team because they suck. It's about the lack of respect this franchise has for fans. Oh sure, they mouth all the right platitudes when the annual season ticket whip-around rolls by, but there's no question in my mind that the Oilers take the fans for granted. You can see it in the way the media simpers and deflects tough, legitimate questions about the team's operations and direction. You can see it in, as Grabia pointed out, their jacking up of ticket prices and demolition of a team that, not 12 months ago, was a playoff contender.Mot of all though, you can just sense the contempt oozing from guys like Cal Nichol and even K-Lowe. And I can't really say I'd blame them. They've got a golden goose here in a a customer base that will bend over and grab ankles at the drop of a copper and blue chapeau. Suckers.
Exactly.
I don't think that you can blame k-lo for the "demolition of a team that, not 12 months ago was a playoff contender". Lets direct our anger towards the man who blew it all apart, CFP. And Spacek leaving didn't help any either. Don't think that K-lo or the EIG don't want a winning team. Either way, thier the hometown team and I cheer for them first.
Why would I think that K-Lowe and the EIG want a winning team? Their actions (ie: letting the entire season slide by without addressing the gaping hole on the blueline; letting the PP stink it up under Simpson; playing Lupul despite the abcense of any improvement, grit, desire; playing Greene despite the abscence of any ability; and, of course, trading away their heart and soul) indicate otherwise. Indeed, I would go as far as to argue that winning is irrelevant: turning a profit for the EIG is priority number one.