Ok, so the Kings lost game 1. No big deal. They played a stellar game and lost as a result of a neutral zone turnover. One of many during the game by both teams. Oh well. On to game 2. One thing is for sure. Vancouver has its hands full and the Kings will only get stronger as the series goes on.
However, the LA Kings Insider website staff shouldn’t be so lucky. Their absolute inept and incompetent handling of the Kings top blog this entire year deserves nothing less than an outright and immediate dismissal. Earlier today, they posted a note on the site stating that they have “optimized” it for the playoffs. Optimized it by removing upgrades for fear of server overload.
Well, as you can see, and just as I predicted, the site failed. On it’s grandest stage yet, and at the most critical time of its existence, the site broke down. The people in charge failed both the fans and Rich Hammond. And it’s all so completely avoidable. All I can say is I hope heads roll because this kind of ineptitude is totally and completely unacceptable.
Wassup Waves… For me, the Hammond blog has become nearly worthless. Sure, good info is available, but I no longer go there at all. I don’t like the fact that he limits my ability to properly respond to the trolls and idiots, yet they have free reign to dominate every thread with repetitive negativity. Runningman, Shades, Backchecker, those guys poison the experience, and Rich does nothing about it. When I try to respond, I get deleted.
Doesn’t surprise me that the site crashed, but there are more than technical bugs that need to be worked out. Rich either needs to have a stronger hand deleting one-trick bashers that simply put down the Kings at every opportunity, or else allow more freedom for the bloggers to self-police the f*%knuts.
Preaching to the converted. I don’t know if you are aware, but I’ve gone around and around with Rich over this issue from the very beginning of the blog. The problem has only gotten worse because the popularity has soared.
I was actually the one who lobbied for rules to be posted, which he finally implemented. The rules (even before they were posted) have always been enforced inconsistently. But I also recognize Rich has every right to enforce them (or not) any way he sees fit.
My view of Rich is that he is both naive and tends to preserve the status quo. He thinks “everyone should act like adults” and anytime there’s a heated exchange, it clearly bothers him.
The bottom line, in my opinion, is the blog is a reflection of Rich himself and he likes it that way. Good info, lots of readers, lots of mindless comments, some low grade burger humor, and very little meaningful or intense debate.
The key, in my opinion, is just like you said… allow more freedom. But I highly doubt it will happen.
I didn’t understand how changes to the site to make it worse,was a good thing.Taking away the reply options,for 1 thing,really drove me nutts.With all the changes it now takes forever to refresh,making the whole experience dull and lathargic.
Waves, I admit to some of the low grade burger humor.It’s how I wind down from an intense and demanding work day.I realize sometimes I am writing to humor myself,but it’s kind of like therapy for me.At least it was till they changed the site.Lame!
Player-x I used to get T’d off at bloggers(one-trick bashers),until I was reading a Ducks blog one day and recognized some of those same names.Ever since,I’ve went onto Ducks blogs to screw with them vigariously.
Recently I’ve had a change of heart,because the Ducksfans that are left are at least supporting a team that’s golfing early this summer.Much like I was last 8 years.
I understand Vancouver and LA blogs are the busiest in the NHL. More freedom certainly makes things more interesting and people better.
Those in charge and running on cruse control reject such ideas simply because it makes them have to work harder.
I do disagree with a comment you made, compairing the play of Jones and Williams.
I feel Williams remains slow (not fully recovered?) and thus could not create the time needed to make good decisions.
Jones is playing at his top level, a level which, in my opinion is not good enough. He seems to lack the anticipation that makes a good defensive defenseman and is a might short of the vision that makes a good offensive defenseman.
Through I admit that at the end of the season what was he, a not so awful Minus-2? But, he looks much worse because his missteps always seem to be at key moments and were often momentum killers.
I know Steward was a long term cap issue but we certainly miss him this season. They should have hung on to him through this season, at least.
Meanwhile a great season and great playoff game by this group. Wonderful road game with a fair chance of winning at the end. And, it looked like the Kings were starting to take control and carry the momentum in OT…too bad, but better then watching golf.