A farewell to hockey

A farewell
to hockey

   There are a few days till
   the deadline as this ode is penned,
   But no reason to think
   the negotiating stalemate will end.

   Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow
   both swear they are right,
   And so we'll learn exactly how
   long they can fight.

   A salary cap is the main point
   of contention:
   The anion is against it,
   with no dissension.

   The league has overexpanded
   and owners overpaid,
   All since the last collective
   bargaining agreement was made.

   So, at least at the start,
   this season's shut down,
   And there will be sadness
   in every Canadian town.

   American hockey writers
   will be quickly reassigned,
   And for the casual fan--out
   of sight, out of mind.

   There's no side to take
   because both sides are wrong
   For pelting us with rhetoric
   and the same old, sad song.

   A summer of negotiations
   was such only in name,
   The inability to move forward
   a disgrace to the game.

   If hope runs out
   before this is read,
   The time has come
   to watch football instead.

   There will be none
   of that on-ice magic,
   For this fall will pass
   without Jagr and Sakic.

   Pack up the sticks,
   sheathe the blades of the skates:
   There was a time for hope,
   but now it's too late.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Sporting News Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning