So, instead of getting to watch the Avs roll over and play dead for the Flames tonight, I get to spend my time emailing DirecTV. Yep, a week after having trouble finding the Avs game, tonight I get shut out entirely - no game, even though there’s supposed to be one. Last Sunday, someone from DirecTV was good enough to contact me when I emailed them about their fuck up, so I’m going to the well again. Here’s my letter:
Last week, I contacted DTV because a game I wanted to watch was not showing up on any of my Center Ice channels. That situation was resolved in time to watch the game, although I was annoyed at the inconvenience of having to work to find the game.
It’s not even a week since that incident, and now there’s been another error. Tonight’s Calgary / Colorado game is not on channel 768 as scheduled. I just sat down to start watching this game, only to find out that the game is not being shown as advertised. It is still listed on your website, but it is not on channel 768 - or any other non-HD channel as far as I can tell.
I think it’s pretty clear that there has been a screw up here, and I have missed a game because of it. I did not purchase the Center Ice package to not be able to see the games I want to watch.
I have been a DTV subscriber (and Center Ice purchaser) for several years. The Center Ice package IS the reason we first got DirecTV and is the reason we continue to be customers today. If these issues aren’t resolved quickly, I will be looking for a new carrier.
Please reassure me that this will be the last game that I have to miss this year.
Thank you
Yep, I know the game is brutal. But I think my $160 gives me the right to watch even the crappy games. It’s all part of my non-journalistic duties.
That sucks, but believe me, you were better off missing this one. I want to throw up after watching that piece of crap.
Seven shots through 2 periods, general pathetic, non-physical play with only Finger and Parker showing any balls. And another delightful Scott Hannan performance. Not sure which moment was my favorite, there were 3 to choose from:
-horsescrap pass out of his own zone that handcuffed Ryan Smyth, leading directly to a turnover and the 2nd goal (Smyth was to blame, too)
-tripping up that offensive dynamo Eric Godard on a Calgary 2-on-2 rush, giving them a power play
-ridiculously inept pinch that directly led to a 2-on-1 and Calgary’s 5th goal
Quenneville put the team in a hole right off the bat by scratching Guite and McCormick and starting Theodore. Sure, go ahead and remove two of your most physical players against a physical team, and while you’re at it, sit the only goalie who’s won for you in the last two-and-a-half weeks.
Parker will probably get ripped (and suspended) for the cross-check to Phaneuf, but his gutless teammates and their gutless performance forced his hand, already down 4-0 late in the 2nd, who the hell was going to do anything to try to shake things up except Parker?
I feel sorry for the poor bastards who paid good money to see this farce live. Giving up on the road (Dallas, Minnesota) is one thing. Tonight was twice as bad.
(Sorry again about DirecTV hosing you on Center Ice, DD. I know this post doesn’t help or address anything, but I had to unload. For what it’s worth, the game was also listed on Comcast’s version of Center Ice as being televised, not sure which channel.)
Do you get HDNet? I heard it was on that channel so that might explain why the game wasn’t on a Center Ice channel. Doesn’t explain why it was on the schedule for Center Ice though.
You probably added a few minutes to your lifespan by not getting to see the game though!
The game was on both HDNet *and* Center Ice.
Parker was 100% justified in crosschecking Phaneuf in the face. What people aren’t telling you is that Phaneuf ran Hlinka from behind and drove his face into the lip of the boards. It was identical to the Claude Lemieux hit on Kris Draper. Parker deserves no suspension, but if he does get one, they damn well better suspend Phaneuf for his hit on Hlinka as well.
As for the game itself, the entire coaching staff has to be fired. Simple as that. At this point, there is no viable argument to the contrary.
I’m just glad to be going back to school where I can’t watch the games. I come home for break, and they start playing the worst hockey I’ve ever seen, starting with the Dallas game. It’ll be a pleasure to NOT see the games.
Holey crap, Thomas and I agree on something!
http://www.milehighhockey.com/storyonly/2007/11/25/14915/216
Come on DD and Dario, jump on the Fire Q bandwagon!
heh. too late!
Hey DD and all. My friend Dan (above) just turned me on to this blog. Very well done, DD.
I am not on the fire Q bandwagon, but agree that many of his moves so far this season have been perplexing. And he has always been hell on goalies (a chicken and egg thing here, is he hell on goalies because he’s never had a good one, or do his goalies suck largely because of how he handles them?). Theo sucks. The sad thing is that once in a while he gives you a glimpse of how good he once was and could be, but then he pukes all over himself for the next two or three starts. And if you have a goalie puking all over himself, the confidence of the rest of the team tends to erode.
The effort against the Flames was the worst of a string of piss poor efforts over the last few weeks. Absolutely inexcusable. And almost the entire team is playing Downy soft …. like a bunch of Skoulas. Good teams finish checks. This team barely even attempts any. Sad thing is, this is not how I remember Q’s St. Louis teams playing. They were generally tough as nails to play against.
If this crap continues, some type of shakeup will become necessary. I’m wondering if they may want to trade one or two of their young, talented forwards for more grit both up front and on the blueline? And for the love of Roy, bench Smith in favor of McCormick. At least he will go out there and hit someone.
welcome Bob!