Today, more games were canceled. This time, it’s through January 14, 2013. … I’m past the point of no return. I really tried. I thought there would be a season already. I was tricked into believing the faulty leadership would actually do the right thing. That they couldn’t take for granted the most loyal fans in all of sports. Oh, how I was sadly mistaken.

I am devastated. It’s extremely difficult to write this. I think there are many disgruntled hockey fans who wish things could be different. That the league we grew up on had brains and common sense. They have proven that they don’t care about us. That we’ll always come crawling back. Well, guess what. I won’t. Not until there’s new people in charge who are in touch with our sport and pledge to do the right thing moving forward. Everything about it is backward. I can’t support this hypocritical league anymore until something’s done. If there isn’t a significant change, I won’t punish myself. I am never watching another Ranger game until that moment. If it takes the stooge that runs it to croak, I don’t care. I’m that furious.

I don’t really wish death or injury on anyone. I just want the guys who we cheer for to hold out as long as humanly possible until a change is made. I don’t care if hockey bottoms out. They need to stick together and get Scrooge out of there. If that means the rest of this pointless season, fine. If it means until 2014, I am okay with that. I just know that I can no longer deal with it. Even if the Rangers won a Cup, I couldn’t watch them be handed that remarkable trophy by the Christmas Grinch. It would be too bitter.

I love hockey as much as anyone. I have followed it since I was 10 when the Rangers were on WWOR with Marv Albert calling games. All I knew as a kid was baseball, basketball and football. But it was the sport on the ice that caught my eye. Watching the players out there gliding and flying at full speed captivated me as I’m sure it has you. We the fans root for our teams made up by our favorite players, who train year round and sacrifice family and friends to lay it on the line. Unless we played, we can’t relate to them. So, I don’t want to hear how so and so is overpaid and hasn’t worked for it. That’s a lie. We don’t cheer for guys in suits who mostly are out of touch with reality. It’s a minority who ruined it. Let’s not forget facts. The same ones who sign the paychecks and raise prices through the nose. We pay for it. Cost certainty was a lie.

They’ve lied about a lot of things. That’s what they do. They think we are computerized robots who don’t have feelings. What about all the employees who go the extra mile to make us happy? What must their lives be like without jobs? Do you actually believe management cares? I am a player guy because they’re the product. Without them, we wouldn’t even bother. They were locked out for a second time in eight years. It’s unthinkable that this could happen. What other professional sport does this? They’re behind MLB, NFL, NBA, PGA, NCAA and the Triple Crown. Clearly, the powers to be don’t get it. They have no respect for any of the history that’s made our sport so special. How do you think all-timers like Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr, Esposito, Messier and Yzerman feel? Look what they’ve done. It’s a mockery. We’re the laughingstock.

I hate feeling this way. Like it will never end. I’m empty. I can’t speak for my co-blogger Hasan or Brian or passionate fans such as @vivianmtl @garts2point2 @njdlove @broadwayblue @scottyhockey @luvkane88 @thenyrblog @dougs_ag6 @mrsdubinsky @brielleisawk @sharxgirl @chrissylee86  +Anne Laurie @avalangelist @gettothecioppa @howie9416 @offseids etc.
I’m done. I give up. They have killed me. It takes a lot to accomplish the impossible. Congratulations.

I’m not going away. Make no mistake, there’s so much more hockey out there to enjoy. I can’t wait for the WJC2013 to officially begin on 12/27. And college hockey is great. The KHL doesn’t treat its players or fans this way. The AHL is around. So are all junior leagues which boast tomorrow’s future stars. Go to see a local high school team or whatever. Don’t let them win. Maybe I am. But I’m never going to stop being a hockey fan because it will always be a big part of me. I love all of you and will continue to deliver posts on H-O-C-K-E-Y.

Signed,

Derek Felix Section 411 New York Rangers