Oct. 11, 2012.
In the future, I expect to look back at this date as the moment I finally stopped caring about the NHL.
Today, the NHL regular season was supposed to start. Eight teams were supposed to hit the ice to kick off another year.
But, alas, hockey fans such as myself are left with nothing after NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the 29 NHL owners (remember, the Phoenix Coyotes are still owned by the league) chose to lock the players out when the collective bargaining agreement expired. Rather than continuing to negotiate and let the season carry on under the old CBA, this small group chose to shut the league down.
At first, there was talk the lockout would be brief. There might be pre-season games lost, but in the end, no one really cares about the pre-season.
But as the start of the regular season approached, fans started having flashbacks to 2004. As the lockout approaches the month-long mark, it seems as though we won't be seeing any NHL hockey this year. And you know what? I'm OK with that.
I may change my tune in November or December, but for now, I'm OK with no hockey. I can watch MLB playoffs, I can watch the NFL. In two weeks, the NBA will open its regular season. Plenty of sports on TV to watch.
Beyond sports, I can read, I can play video games (about the only way I know of to get the Maple Leafs to hoist the Stanley Cup) or any number of other things. There's lots to do.
So, Mr. Bettman, Mr. Fehr. I don't need your league. And the longer you stay away this time, the more people you will discover who feel just like I do.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
On writing endings...
Frustrating novelist, thy name is Stephen King.
The master of the macabre, one of the most prolific writers of the last (insert crazy length of time here), has written some classic works of fiction.They may not be Shakespeare or Mark Twain or Tolkien, but there's no denying they're popular and considered must-reads by many.
So why is it he seems to struggle with endings?
I spent about a year and a half reading his masterwork, the Dark Tower saga. Seven books, a few thousand pages. And I got to the end and couldn't believe my eyes. It was just like a punch to the gut. I was shocked that after I had spent a year and a half reading these seven books that I would be left with what I discovered on the last page. (Note: don't think this means I'm discouraging you from reading the books. On the contrary, they should be must-reads for anyone who enjoyed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, or any other fantasy stories.)
(Image created by Michael Whalen) http://www.darktowercompendium.com/fottergrafs-dt7.html
Just last week, I finally finished the uncut version of The Stand, considered by some to be King's best work. Again, an engrossing tale, although it did take me a little while to get into the story.
But again, I got to the end and found it wanting.
I'm not going to spoil the details of either story, but suffice it to say, the endings could have used some work.
In his defence (for now, anyway), these are the only two Stephen King books I've read. But it makes me nervous as I delve into some of his other work. And I plan to read a number of his books as I explore the connections between The Dark Tower series and other books (Salem's Lot, The Stand, etc.).
I don't limit my criticism to King, either. I read Stieg Larsson's trilogy – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc. – and loved it. But the ending of the final book was a little rushed and went out with a whimper rather than a bang. Does this mean the time I spent reading the three books was wasted? Not at all, but I would have appreciated a little more of a payoff in the end.
Perhaps my disappointment is the result of watching so many movies/TV in my life. I've grown to expect a certain concreteness to an ending. Obviously, there will be times when an 'ending' leaves room for a return to the universe (See X-men: The Last Stand for an example) and that's fine. If a film makes hundreds of millions of dollars, it will almost always spawn at least one sequel.
But I feel I, as a reader, deserve more after investing hours and hours in a hefty tome. Am I on the fringe with this opinion? Should I simply accept that sometimes a story has a *blah* ending?
Perhaps I should, but I still prefer closure from a story.
Stephen King's official website
The Dark Tower official website
The master of the macabre, one of the most prolific writers of the last (insert crazy length of time here), has written some classic works of fiction.They may not be Shakespeare or Mark Twain or Tolkien, but there's no denying they're popular and considered must-reads by many.
So why is it he seems to struggle with endings?
I spent about a year and a half reading his masterwork, the Dark Tower saga. Seven books, a few thousand pages. And I got to the end and couldn't believe my eyes. It was just like a punch to the gut. I was shocked that after I had spent a year and a half reading these seven books that I would be left with what I discovered on the last page. (Note: don't think this means I'm discouraging you from reading the books. On the contrary, they should be must-reads for anyone who enjoyed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, or any other fantasy stories.)
(Image created by Michael Whalen) http://www.darktowercompendium.com/fottergrafs-dt7.htmlJust last week, I finally finished the uncut version of The Stand, considered by some to be King's best work. Again, an engrossing tale, although it did take me a little while to get into the story.
But again, I got to the end and found it wanting.
I'm not going to spoil the details of either story, but suffice it to say, the endings could have used some work.
In his defence (for now, anyway), these are the only two Stephen King books I've read. But it makes me nervous as I delve into some of his other work. And I plan to read a number of his books as I explore the connections between The Dark Tower series and other books (Salem's Lot, The Stand, etc.).
I don't limit my criticism to King, either. I read Stieg Larsson's trilogy – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, etc. – and loved it. But the ending of the final book was a little rushed and went out with a whimper rather than a bang. Does this mean the time I spent reading the three books was wasted? Not at all, but I would have appreciated a little more of a payoff in the end.
Perhaps my disappointment is the result of watching so many movies/TV in my life. I've grown to expect a certain concreteness to an ending. Obviously, there will be times when an 'ending' leaves room for a return to the universe (See X-men: The Last Stand for an example) and that's fine. If a film makes hundreds of millions of dollars, it will almost always spawn at least one sequel.
But I feel I, as a reader, deserve more after investing hours and hours in a hefty tome. Am I on the fringe with this opinion? Should I simply accept that sometimes a story has a *blah* ending?
Perhaps I should, but I still prefer closure from a story.
Stephen King's official website
The Dark Tower official website
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