PaulThology

Call a spade “a spade,” I say.

From the NHL.com’s Blog Central:

Paul Kukla -last entry April 17, consistenly has had one entry per week (Tues.)
Evan Grossman - once/week, last entry March 28.
Risto Pakarinen - One entry in March, two so far in April
Darren Eliot- Three entries in March, none so far in April
Nancy Koenig - Two entries in March, none so far in April
Brian Slagel - 355 words (one post) in 2007, one post in each of April and May 2006. Three posts in 13 months.

The only one I can excuse is Darren Eliot, who has been covering games as a color analyst every night, appearing on multiple networks. He’s been a playoff workhorse, unlike the so-called “bloggers.” What did they do, fall asleep prior to the playoffs?

A newspaper column shows up weekly, and is thoroughly researched. While there are no laws dictating the nature of and frequency that a blog is updated, one is usually less formal and more opinionated.

Then the NHL’s Blog Central also has some “celebrity” blogs (mostly Canadians)…including prognostication from Tom Cavanagh, formerly the main character on “Ed.” He’s posting his predictions on Round 1 after a week of play? That’s like getting to wait until after the flop to place your bet or not. And the comments are in reverse order, with the newest up top. This is part of their “NHL Connect” beta. Odd. Let’s hope it never gets out of beta…

There is a lot of quality blogging going on around the NHL, and let me tell you, the “celebrities” aren’t doing it. Diehard hockey fans are (like Jen over at Southeast Shootout). Judging from the NHL’s lack of support for independent writers, aka bloggers, I’m not sure that NHL.com deserves to use the word ‘Blog’ on the site. Excluding lame celebrity answers, the fans have has SIX blog entries to read so far in April. I could read those during the first commercial break of the first televised game. Surprisingly, ESPN.com has done a better job covering the NHL playoffs on the web, and they’ve ditched the TV coverage completely except for a short segment each night on SportsCenter.