NHL Lockout: Fan Protests Smaller Than Expected

A group of about 25 protesters yesterday gathered outside the NHL Store in N.Y. to protest the imminent lockout, "many holding signs critical" of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. The turnout for the protest was “short of what organizers had hoped” (L.A. TIMES, 9/16). One protestor had a sign with Bettman’s face “photoshopped on a picture" of The Count character from "Sesame Street," reading "One Two Three Lockouts” (NYPOST.com, 9/15).

Efforts to organize similar protests in Montreal, Boston and Tampa Bay "didn't appear to amount to anything" (SPORTS.YAHOO.COM, 9/15). A "small group -- 17 in all" -- gathered to protest in front of the Tampa Bay Times Forum (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/16).