Comments on: Protest Jerseys: Caps Fans Wear International Gear to Express Disgust with NHL, Capitals

By: Freyja Carmine

Freyja Carmine — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:25:00 +0000

better idea. give Morgan Freeman the capitals and all will be right with the world

By: Frank D

Frank D — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 01:42:00 +0000

Proposal – Give the Owners what they stated as their position for 6 months – No Concessions : no food, drink, souvenirs. Hit them in the pocket book.
I have 6 games (two 5 game packages truncated to 3 games) and will not spend a nickle inside, supporting the neighborhood establishments before and after to help them recover from the beating the NHL owners put on them.

By: Holy_Cal

Holy_Cal — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:45:00 +0000

Tuesday vs the Jets I’m wearing my red #21.

Protesting the league by wearing some soviet threads is pointless. A.) You probably already have a few Caps jerseys B.) It’s one thing to dislike [insert owners name] (acceptable answers are, but not limited to: Angelos, Lerner, Teddy, Snyder etc. etc.), but it’s another thing to protest the clubs we love, whether it be the O’s, Caps or Skins.

So, while Rock The Red might be some outlandish cash grab; not wearing your favourite player’s jersey isn’t the answer. If you wanna protest, don’t go to the games, don’t buy your $5 popcorn from the nice lady on the main concourse with extra butter. Instead, go to Chinatown, watch the game at the chophouse, go to Rosa Mexicana. Support the businesses who were actually hurt in the lockout.

By: Rhino40

Rhino40 — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:37:00 +0000

You are absolutely right, Peter. Unfortunately, this self-destructive cycle is likely to continue after the expiry of every CBA until: • The owners stop trying to make the players shoulder the entire burden when unintended consequences arise from economic structures that the owners themselves create, &bull, The owners re-take Labor Relations 101, and learn once and for all that lockouts are a last resort (to be used only after all attempts to negotiate in good faith have failed), rather than a ready-use "nuclear option" to be employed in all cases short of total capitulation by the NHLPA. • Owners set aside their egos and recognize that, without the fans, the business of NHL hockey is set on a long-term trajectory to failure, and • The NHL catches up to the other professional Leagues and names a Commissioner who takes responsibility for acting in the best interests of not just the franchise owners, but of hockey itself. Peter Hassett For NHL Commissioner!

By: Livia

Livia — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 03:33:00 +0000

Wearing a European team jersey is a fitting way to support
the players and not the NHL or the Capitals organization. Before the lockout, I
didn’t give the business side of pro hockey much thought, at least not enough
for it to disturb my irrational love for the Caps. My whole focus was on the
beauty of the game and all that was familiar about these particular players. But
now when I think of the Caps, it’s not Ovi or Backie who come to mind, but Ted
Leonsis and Gary Bettman. I have no wish to support the league or owners when
they have shown that they regard their players and fans with nothing but
contempt. It will take some getting used to, this loving hockey and hating the
league.

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:44:00 +0000

I totally agree. I read that thing and thought the season was done for sure.

The only thing that makes me feel gross about supporting the players is that the owners tank the public opinion battle on purpose. They don’t want our support in the lockout, they want our money afterwards, and being hated is just the price of doing business. So long as I support the PA they know I’ll be back. So the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of protest jerseys, for what it’s worth.

Edited to add: I was trying to reply to Peter and not myself.

By: NovaCath

NovaCath — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:40:00 +0000

I root for the players, not management or the owners. My protest is I will not wear a jersey at all and will wear whatever color I feel like. Since most of the games are after work, it will be what i wore to work that day. I will not buy any merchandise nor will I buy food or drink at VC. I will pay what I now owe for the tickets but not a penny more. My wallet is locked for anything else at VC. If I want to make charitable donations, I will do so on my own and will not participate in any requests for fans to donate food, clothing, or blood through the Capitals.

By: Dark Stranger

Dark Stranger — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 23:09:00 +0000

I will be joining in the fan protest this season. I was originally thinking of getting another Caps jersey but when the lockout happened and dragged on, I changed my mind. I went international instead. I decided to get a KHL jersey in honor of a non-NHL player instead. While following my favorite boys overseas, I also grew attached to one other young man in the KHL. So decided to get his jersey.

By: Peter Hassett

Peter Hassett — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:15:00 +0000

Yeah, that first offer that came out on the last day of dev camp was ABSURD and precipitated a lot of the conflict and tone problems that followed.

By: Annie

Annie — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:13:00 +0000

Yeah, basically. Labor politics can be remarkably nuanced, but not this time. Think about which party was trying to enrich itself at the expense of the other, and try and think of a game that exists on this planet that you love enough to allow yourself to be treated like a rube fresh off the turnip cart.

I’m rather proud that a PA finally matched the sophistication of the owners and didn’t accede to what were, objectively, some laughable initial offers.