Normally the Tampa Bay Lightning would be almost half way through its season by now. But the new normal in the National Hockey League precluded that. It actually took a federal mediator–not common sense and common cause–to salvage this ego-undermined, lockout-halved season. The NHL, in its third major labor dispute since 1994 and still lagging behind baseball, football and basketball in popularity and earnings, has assured that status won’t soon change.
Locally, Lightning owner Jeff Vinik, along with fans and vendors, deserved better. Vinik was a voice of reason among owners, kept his employees on the payroll and stayed true to the franchise’s commitment to its Community Heroes program. The Lightning Foundation has continued to award $50,000 to a local charity before every scheduled–albeit non-played–game.
Would that the NHL had more Viniks. Tampa is lucky to have the only one.