A Classic Indeed

There is no doubt in my mind that yesterday’s Winter Classic was a huge success for the NHL. Personally, I was extremely excited to watch the game (I spent more time watching it than the Florida-Michigan bowl game) even though it featured two teams that I didn’t even care about (two teams that I actually don’t like, being a Ranger fan). Even the game itself turned out to be extremely exciting, with who else but Sidney Crosby winning the shootout for his Penguins. The 71,000 that packed Ralph Wilson Stadium proved that hockey is not yet dead in America. The high TV ratings that the Classic drew–more people tuned in to see the NHL play outdoors than any other regular-season game in more than a decade–proved that hockey is not yet dead in America. The Winter Classic lived up to its name and was one of the most successful ideas in NHL history. As long as the NHL doesn’t overuse the idea of outdoor games, every time one is held, the NHL will reap the benefits. All I can hope is that next year I can be sitting in Yankee Stadium on New Years Day, watching the Rangers take on the Islanders. That would be classier than Don Cherry’s suits.