imarocker
01-14-2005, 07:57 PM
want one?
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- A disgruntled hockey fan is taking his frustration over the NHL lockout to the streets.
"I need my hockey fix(ed)" reads the newest version of those now familiar magnetic car ribbons that express everything from national pride to cancer awareness.
Creator Doug Sitler got fed up watching millionaire players and owners squabble while the only ice time for fans this winter has been that spent scraping it off their windshields.
"Here's these two powerful big-money organizations fighting and the fans are left in the dark," he said.
The magnet is black with orange trim and lettering, like the National Hockey League logo. The slogan sends a dual message: fans miss hockey and they want the sport fixed.
"I thought why not express my frustrations using a pop culture phenomenon?" said Sitler, 36.
The fact that he sold more than 2,000 magnets soon after their introduction showed him there are a lot of like-minded fans.
Sitler was actually more flattered than annoyed when someone swiped the magnet off his own car. And it's been fun watching them pop up around town. "The first person I saw who had one was a 70-year-old woman in a Lexus," he said.
"I think it's a good idea to keep it fresh in everybody's mind that the fans miss hockey," said Kate Resetarits, who stuck one on her BMW.
There's no worry at the moment that hockey will resume and render the magnets obsolete.
On Thursday, the lockout was in its 120th day and the total games missed stood at 618, plus the All-Star game. No new talks have been scheduled since Dec. 14, when the NHL rejected a players' association proposal and had its own counteroffer turned down.
"I haven't seen one glimmer of hope in any of these months of talking," Sitler said. "Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there will be any hockey, unless a miracle happens -- and I hope that does happen. I really want hockey. I'll go nuts."
The magnets are for sale in Media Play stores in Buffalo and Pittsburgh and over the Internet.
___
On the Net: www.hockeyribbon.com
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- A disgruntled hockey fan is taking his frustration over the NHL lockout to the streets.
"I need my hockey fix(ed)" reads the newest version of those now familiar magnetic car ribbons that express everything from national pride to cancer awareness.
Creator Doug Sitler got fed up watching millionaire players and owners squabble while the only ice time for fans this winter has been that spent scraping it off their windshields.
"Here's these two powerful big-money organizations fighting and the fans are left in the dark," he said.
The magnet is black with orange trim and lettering, like the National Hockey League logo. The slogan sends a dual message: fans miss hockey and they want the sport fixed.
"I thought why not express my frustrations using a pop culture phenomenon?" said Sitler, 36.
The fact that he sold more than 2,000 magnets soon after their introduction showed him there are a lot of like-minded fans.
Sitler was actually more flattered than annoyed when someone swiped the magnet off his own car. And it's been fun watching them pop up around town. "The first person I saw who had one was a 70-year-old woman in a Lexus," he said.
"I think it's a good idea to keep it fresh in everybody's mind that the fans miss hockey," said Kate Resetarits, who stuck one on her BMW.
There's no worry at the moment that hockey will resume and render the magnets obsolete.
On Thursday, the lockout was in its 120th day and the total games missed stood at 618, plus the All-Star game. No new talks have been scheduled since Dec. 14, when the NHL rejected a players' association proposal and had its own counteroffer turned down.
"I haven't seen one glimmer of hope in any of these months of talking," Sitler said. "Unfortunately, it doesn't look like there will be any hockey, unless a miracle happens -- and I hope that does happen. I really want hockey. I'll go nuts."
The magnets are for sale in Media Play stores in Buffalo and Pittsburgh and over the Internet.
___
On the Net: www.hockeyribbon.com