Issue date: 11/6/08 Section: Sports

So who even cares about hockey anyways?

In this part of the country, quite a few people. But to the casual sports fan around the nation, this is a reasonable question to ask.

There are five major professional team sports in North America -baseball, basketball, football, hockey and soccer. Each of which has their own professional sports league containing the most elite athletes.

Although the exact gross income of the NBA is unknown, the league continues to flourish and gain fans around the world.

The MLS, which has only been around for 12 years, is adding teams each year and attracting more and more international stars, like David Beckham of the Los Angeles Galaxy.

After the 2007 MLB season, league commissioner Bud Selig, announced professional baseball had just completed its healthiest financial year in history, netting $6.075 billion gross revenue.

With gross earnings of just over $6.3 billion in 2007, the NFL has become known as the financial powerhouse in professional sports.

Pop-quiz.

What do all four of these sports leagues have in common with spelling, dominos, card games and eating food?

They all have a television deal with the "world-wide leader in sports" ESPN. And although it is a self-proclaimed title, it is an incredibly accurate one.

So why would the NHL, once in the top four for gross earnings in professional sports, not have a deal with such a large network? Especially a network the caliber of ESPN that has the power to control what sports fans pay attention to.

After the NHL lockout in 2004, league commissioner Gary Bettman was unable to convince ESPN that his sport would be back in the spotlight soon. Due to Bettman's lack of productivity, ESPN refused to resign with the NHL and hasn't since.

The sad thing was that most sports fans, including myself, didn't even care. For everyone who loves to watch sports, the cancellation of a season is an awful prospect to even imagine.

Although the league took a few years to get back on its feet, the NHL is as talented of a league and as exciting of play as it ever has before. Young players like Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin are just as talented as Lebron James at their own craft, and Crosby is only 21.

I have been an avid sports fan since I was a little kid and have always loved the unpredictability and incredible moments that are professional sports.

Hockey, until I recently gave it a chance, was never really a sport I followed because there was barely any coverage.

Somehow my Minnesota roommates, the same ones who think the Vikings could beat the Packers even though they've lost the last seven times in a row (eight after Sunday), convinced me to give the sport a chance.

At first it was hard to follow the puck, but the more I watched the easier it became.

After seeing a few games I started to realize how incredible of a sport hockey actually is. It is a truly skilled sport when it comes to hand-eye coordination.

Players posses the ability to dodge between competitors and manipulate the puck in any direction, all while being on ice. Think about that. What could you do on ice skates?

Watching a talented NHL player with the puck at his stick is as impressive as watching Kobe Bryant drive through the lane or LaDainian Tomlinson weave past defenders.

The most intriguing part of hockey is that it combines the grace of a skilled soccer striker or NBA point guard with the physicality of hits from the NFL.

Not to mention hockey is the only sport where fighting is a considerable part of the game, and often celebrated.

How Bettman, considered to be the worst commissioner in all professional sports (by far), continues to prevent getting his sport the exposure it deserves is beyond me, but he needs to act soon. Until he does, the sport will remain on the "NHL Network" and "Versus" and continue its demise.

Trust me though sports fans, as a former "hater" on the NHL, I promise you will be impressed with what you see. So quick, before Bettman becomes what the "Big-Bang" was to the dinosaurs, try to support a sport in a dismal downward spin before it's too late.

Pellegrino is a sophomore print journalism major and copy editor of The Spectator.

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