I am torn over the critical CBA talks scheduled this week in New York City.
Like most living, breathing Canadians I desperately want a NHL season. I will have little trouble breaking my habit of PVRing Vegas and Nashville to watch the Predators and the Blue Jackets (I told you I was desperate).
Yet, there exists an inner conflict: If the recent conversations are responsible for a new collective bargaining agreement and end to the lockout, thus allowing for play to start by Dec. 1 or (heaven forbid) earlier, I will feel taken advantage of.
From the start, expert after expert (after Doug MacLean) predicted the NHL would be back on the ice around U.S. Thanksgiving. If so, it paints a picture of a choreographed dance by the two parties, who stepped perfectly in tune with each other for 50-plus days in following the routine right down to the timing of an agreement.
Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr may end up intimidating contestants on Dancing With The Stars. It smells worse than the first time you open the hockey bag after a summer zipped up in the garage. I am not saying the two sides colluded in the much-speculated agreement date, but I simply point out the process was far simpler than it played out.
The players will get hurt more than the owners in losing a third of their salary. Fans and businesses suffered needlessly. Yes, I will be smiling if Bettman announces the NHL is back at some point over the next 10 days, and I will watch games beyond my obligations at Sportsnet, but I will also harbour a tiny bit of bitterness.
Sport is the best of reality shows on earth; yet this is shaping up to be far too scripted.