The NHL Lockout happened in the hockey season of 2004-2005. A feud sprang up between the owners of the hockey team and the professional hockey players. The hockey players wanted to have a higher pay but the owners refused to pay. As a result, the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association) enforced the lockout. There was to be no NHL for the year 2004-2005. Lockouts can happen in any sport, for example, in 1998 a NBA lockout occurred.
Below is a discussion between two retired people about the NHL lockout. The view expressed by the two gentlemen, John and Sid, are two of the views that most hockey fans share.
John: How 'bout that Lockout? Whatd'ya make of that?
Sid: A bunch of hogwash is what it is! Bring the hockey game back before I cry! Give dem players more money if that's what they want. I don't care, just bring the game back.
John: Well now Sid lets not be to hasty...
Sid: Hasty!?!?!?!?! Don't tell me what to be and not to be. Bottom line is, there's no HOCKEY! If the players want more money give them more money, if the owners want more money then give them more money. But lets get hockey.
John: Well now, I think this lockout may teach people not to be so greedy. The NHL players are already way overpaid. Did you know that Jaromir Jagr and Peter Forsberg were both getting paid 11 million dollars before the lockout! Maybe the lockout will lower the players salaries. Although it is not totally the players fault. It was the owners of the teams who offered the moey in the first place
Sid: Ah yes, the price for hockey.
John: Might I add it is not even good hockey? So many politics are involved. The lockout itself is and example. How many suspensions, penalties and other stuff have taken away from the game of hockey? The players themselves have started to play as a job, they play for the money and not because they love the sport of hockey. Hockey has gotten mean and just plain dirty. This lockout will be good for the sport.
Sid: Hogwash, all hogwash. If people are willing to pay then they should be willing to play.
John: Could all that money not be used for something better, say to help the countries in need after the tsunami? I miss hockey just as much as you but something needed to be done about the outrageous salaries and then the players asking for more money. At least we can agree on that.
Sid: Well maybe your right. Anyway's the night is getting late.
John: Talk to you later.
Sid: Ya, bye.
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