NHL Lockout? I hadn't noticed

I saw a headline a few weeks ago week about the National Hockey League. The headline noted that the NHL lockout continued and the All-Start Game had been cancelled. NHL lockout? What lockout? I hadn't noticed. I looked at the NHL site and there was no information about a lockout or strike. Though there was an eerie lack of TV info on the schedule and all the stats were from the 2003-2004 season. I checked out some of the team sites, Detroit and Pittsburgh and nothing about the lockout.

I am not a huge sports fan but I listen to ESPN Sports Talk Radio. Occasionally I hear broadcaster talk about the four major professional sports. Hmmm... four major sports. That would be Major League Baseball, The National Football League, the National Basketball Association and NASCAR. Imagine my surprise when the broadcaster enumerated the Big Four: Baseball, Football, Basketball and Hockey. Hockey—this is not Canada, eh.

Since when has hockey been a major sport in the United States?

I discovered that Hockey has a few fans. My brother is a huge Wings fan. (Detroit RedWings). My brother-in-law is a Minnesota Wild fan. (Wild, whatever happened to the North Stars?) Finally my good friend and fellow blogger Scott is a big Penguins fan.

I think I need to check up on them because not all fans are taking it well. For example Wings fans,  Detroit is a hockey town. Red Wing fans are among the most die-hard in the league. Yesterday, a bunch of Wings fans were so hockey-deprived that they had to start a brawl at a Detroit Pistons basketball game.

Fans were throwing beer, ice and even a chair at players from the opposing Indian Pacers. Players charged into the stands punching fans as they went and fans went onto the floor to fight with players. I think the NHL needs to end the lockout while they still can.

If other pro sports (like basketball) add fighting, hockey will be redundant.