NHL Network Should Pay Tribute to Teams of the Past
August 13, 2010 10 Comments
I’ve pretty much been using the blog lately for floating ideas, so I assume one more won’t hurt since we’re all waiting for a schedule next Monday, and you’d better be here for all the news on that.
Anyway, MLB Network is producing a documentary on Sunday on the 1994 Montreal Expos. As many of you may know, the ’94 Expos were the class of baseball, considered by many to be a World Series favorite. However, the strike killed the World Series, the team was dismantled and never came close again to matching that success. Ownership troubles and the lack of a new stadium caused the team to move a decade later to Washington.
Here’s part of MLB Network’s press release on the special, which airs this Sunday at 10:00 PM ET:
The 1994 Montreal Expos are the featured subject in the latest edition of Major League Baseball Productions’ Triumph and Tragedy, airing on MLB Network this Sunday at 10:00 p.m. ET. With a roster including Moises Alou, Marquis Grissom, Pedro Martinez, Larry Walker and John Wetteland, the 1994 Montreal Expos were poised for a Postseason appearance before the season was cut short by the players’ strike in August. Triumph and Tragedy covers the ups and downs of that year and the next decade, including a season cut short, key players traded and the eventual relocation of the franchise to Washington, D.C. in 2004.
Narrated by MLB Network host Matt Vasgersian, the episode includes stories and new and archival interviews – some being seen and told for the first time on television – with manager Felipe Alou; the players listed above; former Expos players Gary Carter, Greg Harris, Ken Macha, Steve Rogers, Rusty Staub and others; former club executives, coaches, broadcasters and reporters who covered the team.
That sounds awesome, frankly, and inspiring for another idea: why not do an NHL Network documentary focusing on teams like the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets? It could be educational to younger fans and give the nostalgia freaks a chance to hear Brass Bonanza and see those awesome uniforms again. I only remember seeing the Whalers and Jets play on TV once each, against the Devils, and the Nordiques were gone before I became fully aware of the sport.
Look, there’s no real proof against the claim that NHL Network viewers want casual, non-controversial talk on the network. But surely, the NHL must be able to see past all the bitterness and anger after the move to show that the memories – and the ability to sell merchandise of – these teams is quite good. If you aired a documentary on the Whale, Jets and ‘Diques, it’d only make them more marketable. Plus, who knows, you might need people to become familiar with these clubs again someday, might as well start now.
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Steve, this is an excellent idea. Run a series of documentaries and then show vintage games around them.
I like this idea as well.
I agree, good idea. It would also be great to profile teams like the Colorado Rockies, California Golden Seals and Atlanta Flames.
I like this idea but it will never happen, the NHL seems intent on forgetting these teams ever existed. I still don’t think the Whalers jersey has ever been seen as a hertiage jersey in the NHL videogame series. I remember watching the last game of the Jets (playoff game 6 loss v Detroit on Fox), it was a sad day and was when the NHL really sold its soul for the southern pie in the sky idea that never happened. If you want to see the Whalers though, there is a Whalers v Bruins classic series from 1991 show on the NHL Network airing this weekend.
Mike: The reason you’ve never seen the Whalers logo or jersey affiliated with any NHL stuff is that for years, the NHL didn’t hold the trademark rights to the logo. However, the trademark expired not that long ago, so you can probably expect to start seeing more of the Whale in video games and on store shelves soon enough.
http://ctsportslaw.com/2009/10/22/hartford-whalers-trademark-who-owns-the-rights/
>> it was a sad day and was when the NHL really sold its soul for the southern pie in the sky idea that never happened.
Yes that idea has been a huge success hasn’t it?
If the NHL would fire bettman and bring back the Whalers ,Nords and Jets hockey would be a much better sport for TV more interesting rivalries with the Whalers and Sabres, Bruins and Rangers and Nords with said teams and jets would bring back rivalries with Flames and Oilers
I agree. Don’t forget Nordiques vs the Habs. They had some good brawls!
This is an interesting idea. They could also profile long gone teams like the New York Americans and the original Ottawa Senators. By the way, someone has to say it. Hartford, Quebec, and Winnipeg never belonged in the NHL in the first place.
But teams like the Coyotes, Thrashers and Panthers do belong in the NHL today? No way.