The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Yesterday was Day 14 of the NHL lockout, and with no end in sight, fans continue to take sides. In a recent web poll at www.sportsnet.ca, it is clear that while most people do not support the millionaire players, there are a lot of people who aren't ready to side with the rich owners either. With over 23,000 votes cast, 53% have sided with the owners, while only 9% are willing to back the players. The remaining voters side with neither the players or the owners. Some analysts predict that Canadians will go into a deep depression when the snow falls and the NHL rinks remain empty, with the loss of their national identity. Other predict a baby boom, as hockey fans will be forced to find other things to do on a Saturday night. Many sportswriters feel that the lockout will last at least all of the current season, and likely far into next season as well. Both the NFL and NBA use a salary cap system, and it has proven to work. Major League Baseball relies on a luxury tax system, and salaries continue to be astronomical, and the rich teams dominate year after year, with a few exceptions. The following are findings of a recent poll published in the September 27 edition of the Financial Post. It shows that Canada's business leaders support a salary cap for players in a new collective bargaining agreement with the National Hockey League. In a weekly survey of CEOs and business leaders conducted by COMPAS Inc. under the sponsorship of BDO Dunwoody and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, "business leaders advise both sides of the dispute to settle the disagreement by introducing salary caps and profit sharing." Among the survey's key findings: 72% of respondents "agree that hockey is part emotion and part business and salary caps are vital to maintain its economic viability." "those (surveyed) who favour salary caps outnumber those who do not by 3:1" The question: There appear to be two significant points of disagreement between the players and the owners. With respect to salary caps, which of the following opinions is closest to your own? Hockey is part emotion and part business and salary caps are vital to maintain its economic viability ? 72% The market's "invisible hand" is the best way to establish player salaries, good players should not be penalized financially ? 22% Do Not Know ? 7%
