After ESPN2's instructional presentation of Sunday's
Avalanche-Blackhawks game as part of its "NHL Rules!"
programming, Chris Zelkovich of the TORONTO STAR writes,
"If, after almost a decade of broadcasting NHL games, ESPN
feels this type of Dick-and-Jane approach is still
necessary, it doesn't say much for hockey's future in the
U.S." Zelkovich notes ESPN2 announcers Bill Clement and
Darren Pang "conducted mini-seminars on strategy and
technical stuff" during the game and answered some of the
10,000 questions posted on ESPN.com by users during the live
broadcast. But the show did feature some "highlights for
more sophisticated fans." ESPN Coordinating Hockey Producer
Larry Kristiansen called the experimental presentation a
"success": "We accomplished what we set out to do."
Kristiansen said that ABC "may incorporate some
instructional aspects" of the program when it begins its NHL
coverage with the 2000 All-Star game. Kristiansen: "I know
from my circle of friends that most Americans are football
and basketball fans and that hockey is something they're
interested in but don't necessarily understand." Zelkovich:
"The truth is that a lot of Americans don't understand
hockey and even more of them have no interest." While
Zelkovich gives ESPN credit for "trying something different
to sell the game," he notes that Fox tried "just about
everything but instructional videos" for its NHL coverage.
Zelkovich: "One has to wonder what chance ABC has of
improving on Fox's low ratings" (TORONTO STAR, 1/11).
