SHEFFIELD, UK – Firstly, sorry for not getting an article to you last weekend. I do hope that it did not cause too much distress, to the point of ruining your weekend.
After reading some of the online forums about the alleged ‘horrific’ comments made by the Newcastle announcer, and the website article on the Edinburgh website with comments from David Simms, I’ve got to wonder what has happened to the fan base of today. In re-building fan bases, have we attracted people who are completely over-sensitive, and are unable to engage in old fashioned banter?
Banter is normally found as honest humour which can be kept within the family audiences that the clubs advertised to new fans, yet when banter takes place, some fans take it upon themselves to take the moral high ground and look to be offended. WHAT ON EARTH IS UP WITH YOU PEOPLE!
I honestly believe that some fans need to take a long hard look in the mirror and look at the reason why you are so easily offended, and address whatever problem that it is. It sounds harsh, but there is no need for people to LOOK to be offended. There is a massive difference between someone directly offending someone, and that someone looking to be offended, and it appears that the latter is proving more common in the arenas and rinks up and down the UK.
For example, look at David Simms comments on the Capitals website. The amount of fans, who were complaining online was unbelievable. This has all happened because David Simms used the words “Tight Jocks”. I have been to Murrayfield a few times over the years, and I have heard worse language and abuse from people who should know better – and that just from the Capitals match night staff. Did I rush online and complain to the first person that would be willing to listen to me complaining? Not at all, because although as a society we should never put up with foul and abusive language, it was as though some of these people were looking forward to delivering this abuse, it was though they had their five minutes of fame, and you felt sorry for them. All I will say is that I’m glad that they did not know about my Welsh roots, as some of the comments made to some of my friends who have come up from
I am not saying that all
What is to be made of all this? Hockey fans need to ditch the cheap point scoring. It seriously achieves nothing, and no-one is innocent from this. You can guarantee that each fan base has an element of this. Although my example above is only on one club, I personally believe that a lot of clubs who are perceived to be smaller, will hand out their version of a ‘friendly welcome’ when the ‘bigger clubs’ come to town. What is even worse is some of the excuses that people come out with, to justify their abuse. When they are young folk who come out with this, you tend to expect this, and just hand down years of experience of acting like an adult. It is when it is the adults (and for some reason, the vastly older fan base in Scotland) you know there is something wrong with that fan base – and out of nothing else but mere manners and respect for the fans (not the club they support) maybe the home fan bases should deal with this aspect, before searching for anything that will offend them.
%22Drive for 5%22 campaign (Photo Paul Lynch)
However, it could be a disaster for the club, and fans might end up not bothering with any games for the rest of the season. This would be a massive disaster for the club, who have brought in some talented individuals, who are consistently up there with the high point scorers in the league and do deserve a big crowd to watch them. Of course me personally I hope that they don’t have that much a successful weekend on the ice (especially on the Sunday) but off the ice, I really do hope the crowds flock into the Metro Radio Arena, and not only they like what they see, but they are more than willing to keep following the Vipers when they make Whitley Bay their temporary residence for the duration of the season. The reality of this failing, is it could lead to this being the final season of EIHL hockey in Newcastle, and for that reason alone, the good people of Newcastle need to get to the Metro Radio Arena and support the Vipers ‘Drive For 5’
One way in which teams can ensure numbers through the door is entertainment, and not just on-ice. You simply cannot rely upon the on-ice product to bring the punters through the door, they need to ensure that their off-ice entertainment ensures that people come back for more. Clubs need to ensure that games, competitions or even up and coming bands are arranged for every game to ensure that the 15 minutes between periods is not boring for the paying fans. A night at the hockey is now a package, and clubs seriously need to think about this. Ice hockey is lucky in the aspect that they attract people who are willing to do hours and hours of work for free. Varied reasons as to why this takes place but one’s things for sure – clubs need to take advantage of hockey’s ‘gofers’ and put on a show for the public that gives them value for money.
Thanks to my editor’s note at the bottom of my last article, I cannot go without mentioning the league champions who are currently in the bottom two of the league. Things have been going from bad to worse with the South Yorkshire club, both on the ice and off the ice, with the mistaken publication of Randy Dagenais’s release from the club. An example of where when it goes wrong, it goes horribly wrong. It is clear that Dave Matsos wants to make changes to his roster, with him clearly not being happy with what is being produced on the ice. Time is running out for the league champions to make a decent defence of their title, even to the point that it is still not totally out of the equation for them to defend their title.
Randy Dagenais (Copyright Sheffield Steelers)
You must think I’m slightly deranged thinking that they still can defend their title; however here is why I do think you cannot write them off yet. One of the main reasons for this is that all clubs are dropping points against each over, on a frequent basis. As much as Nottingham and
What was not considered by the Aussies was Sir Ian Botham’s contribution, and Sheffield need a few ‘Beefy’s’ if Sheffield are to cross the finishing line first. Lets not kid ourselves here; it would be an almighty miracle to see Sheffield become league champions again, and hand on heart I really do not see them doing so, but whilst ever clubs are still dropping points, it gives the Steelers a small window of opportunity to pull themselves back into the race.
The first ‘Beefy’ that they have found, is that of Matt Hubbauer. Already he has hit double figures in the goal stakes after only 11 games. Hubbauer should be up there with the ‘finds of the season’ as he has already had a massive impact upon a team at an all time low on confidence. Will he be up there for Elite League MVP? There is nothing to stop him, if he continues to light the lamp as frequently as he’s doing so. Will it be the last change in Sheffield? Truth be told I don’t think it will be, and with further evidence that they tried bringing in Joe Dustin to bolster the defence. It is certainly a situation worth keeping an eye on, as if the Sheffield Steelers have any thoughts of winning the league, or even giving themselves the best chance of defending their crown, they will probably need to bring in a couple more ‘Beefy’s’
The semi-finals of the Challenge Cup have been finalised, with Belfast facing Cardiff, and Sheffield taking on their rivals the Nottingham Panthers. Both fixtures have the potential to be classic encounters. I do not believe that you can pick a clear favourite from either of these ties, what you can guarantee is that there will be nothing to separate these teams to the bitter end. If you can make it, make sure you go and support your local team, because the ‘7th man’ in the stands could get them across the finishing line and into a cup final.
I have got to tell you all something, and that is I’m looking forward to next week and getting on the plane to Italy. Sheffield, as league champions in 2009 will represent the Elite League in their quest to make the Finals of the Continental Cup. Now we’re close to the weekend, I think it is only fair that I give my prediction as to how it will all go. I believe it will go one or two ways either Sheffield will get through to the finals in Grenoble, or they will get destroyed piece by piece. I honestly do not believe that there is any middle ground which the Steelers can find themselves in, so expect some entertainment if you are going across.I’m not going to lie and not say that I hope a trip to France in January ends up in the calendar for the Elite League club, but if that it to happen, they are going to have to play the best 180 minutes of hockey they’ve played all season. I look forward to seeing as many Sheffield fans in Bolzano over the weekend, and hopefully bearing witness to a magical weekend of European hockey for the Sheffield Steelers.
As it stands, ProHockeyNews is hoping to give you full coverage from Bolzano, so keep checking out the main page for further updates.
Until next week
Big Dave
Contact the author Dave.Grant@prohockeynews.com
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