Piha

[KQuinton]

I have been reading some of the comments made about the PIHA League. As some of you know I have been involved in the league from the initiation. This league has grown tremendously from when it first started with just teams from PA. With the vast expansion the past two years the growing pains that have resulted, though frustrating for all involved, are to be anticipated. To branch off from this league when it has reached a pinnacle time in growth would be a disservice to our sport. The growth and popularity of inline hockey has been compromised by the number and unwillingness of all the factions involved to collaborate. Again we appear to be in the process of circumventing the betterment of this sport.

Secondly, in response to a quote that many have been commenting upon, I offer two other quotes to ponder:

"If you chase two rabbits, both will escape."
- Chinese Proverb

"We must all hang together,
or assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
- Benjamin Franklin

[DCbullets14]

The growth and popularity of inline hockey has been compromised by the number and unwillingness of all the factions involved to collaborate.

I have to completly agree with this statement. However my opinion is that PIHA has failed to take actions which are in the best interest of all the players. As I understand it the leagues goal at the beginning of this season was to expand the league and offer opportunities for additional players to become involved. Unfortunatly this goal was quickly changed to a focus only on the elite few (PIHA International). By limiting the focus of this league the majority of individuals involved in the league were completly ignored.

There is a serious difference between a league having growing pains and a league which does nothing to address major issues. PIHA failed to address many of the issues; including inconsistancy among officials, lack of communication, financial issues, and unkept promisses and for that reason people have been forced to look elsewhere. If throughout the season progressive changes had been made to correct some of these issues there would be no division of the league however, those who control the league decided to ignore the concers of owners and players.

To those who choose to stay with PIHA and "hang together" I suggest you pull out your wallets because it will be your money which buys the rope.

"We must all hang together,
or assuredly, we shall all hang separately."
- Benjamin Franklin

You use a quote by a man who pushed for creation of a democratic system of government to convince people to stay under tyrannical rule istead of going to a new league run by a board of directors in which all owners have voting rights. (essentailly a democratic system)

Brad Pryor
MD Knights
DC Bullets

[herbearsfan26]

very well said...i think everyone just expects it to be perfect right away...noone is willing to wait. the problem is, if you try to make it happen too fast, it will crash and burn, like it has in the past. charley is doing a good thing, better than anyone else has...until someone else does it better, i think people need to lay off the insults to the league and the people that run it. i know theres talk of all these other "pro leagues" but until i see a game played im not gonna compare them to anything, or say there good or say there bad, cause as of right now, its non-existant. what i can say is that from what ive seen from piha, its good, and its a league with a schedule and teams.

[GoRangrHky]

until someone else does it better...

And how exactly do you propose that someone does it better while at the same time staying the course?

http://www.hockeyleaguehistory.com/p...al_leagues.htm Remember that the NHL, at least the Original Six era, started in 1942. The NHL actually started operations in 1917.

[Center_ice]

The things that happened in the league this year are without a doubt a disservice to the sport.

[GROWL]

I have been reading some of the comments made about the PIHA League. As some of you know I have been involved in the league from the initiation. This league has grown tremendously from when it first started with just teams from PA. With the vast expansion the past two years the growing pains that have resulted, though frustrating for all involved, are to be anticipated. To branch off from this league when it has reached a pinnacle time in growth would be a disservice to our sport. The growth and popularity of inline hockey has been compromised by the number and unwillingness of all the factions involved to collaborate. Again we appear to be in the process of circumventing the betterment of this sport.

I hate to call someone out here, but this statement is nothing more then blind allegiance . If you haven't been an active owner in over two years, then you have no right to comment based on your experiences from 2002-2004. I understand loyalty but don't fight a battle you have no right being in.

[Doug Jones]

I hate to call someone out here, but this statement is nothing more then blind allegiance . If you haven't been an active owner in over two years, then you have no right to comment based on your experiences from 2002-2004. I understand loyalty but don't fight a battle you have no right being in.

It amazes me how all these less than 10 post wonders show up to defend the league. If you speak of truth, let us know who you are so we may all engage in debate.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the AIHL has arisen due to the need of others to see and feel that their voices, concerns and issues are being listened to and corrected.

While I applaud the effort of the press release on PIHA's site, it is just that. A press release. I want to see these changes. The division directors are not the problem. If it weren't for them there would not be a PIHA in some areas this past year.


"For every action, there is a reaction" Einstein

"I like competition, it brings the character out in people", Yogi Berra

My favorite
"Your best source of what your doing wrong is your customers, listen to them", Bill Gates

[rhhof]

Confucious also said,

"Man fart in church, sit on pew"

"Man sit on toilet, high on pot"

"Man live in glass house, change clothes in basement"

I think these all apply too....

[GROWL]

Man live in Vegas, spend to much time at Spirament RHino

[growl89]

very well said...i think everyone just expects it to be perfect right away...noone is willing to wait. the problem is, if you try to make it happen too fast, it will crash and burn, like it has in the past. charley is doing a good thing, better than anyone else has...until someone else does it better, i think people need to lay off the insults to the league and the people that run it. i know theres talk of all these other "pro leagues" but until i see a game played im not gonna compare them to anything, or say there good or say there bad, cause as of right now, its non-existant. what i can say is that from what ive seen from piha, its good, and its a league with a schedule and teams.

You are right with one thing, it is crashing and burning. Because it did happen too fast. And it is a shame because it had a lot of potential, for the past two seasons there was no other wannabe pro league (mlrh) getting in the way. Piha had a huge chance to seperate itself from anyone trying to go into the pro roller hockey market. Now it seems we have another new league in the aihl. Its all rather annoying to be honest. I'll play where my team plays, because I enjoy hockey, but hopefully a new league starts with all the answers, mlrh didnt, xihl didnt, piha couldve, but didnt, will this new league? Doubtful, but hopefully they do, because until then, more and more kids will be pushed away from the sport, hopefully someone will start to see this and try to keep it from happening...

[rhhof]

Well we had a Crazy Horse, its been shut down for a while now....actually, I'm more of a Treasures or Cheetahs guy, but I'll settle for Rhinos...

[33]

I understand loyalty but don't fight a battle you have no right being in.

hahahahahahaha!

[Drexel63]

Ying, you beat me to it...

Frist off, Doug, regardless of his post count, Mr. Quinton is no flash in the pan regarding PIHA, or Roller Hockey in general. Just because someone doesn't contribute on IHC often, does not mean they don't have an insight on the situation. Kean was around from the start, and ran PIHA's original organization of the year, the York Typhoon. Think of all the great things the SC Pirates have done this past year. Well, Mr. Quinton did them 7 years ago...

Secondly, Flynn, everyone who has ever played this game, not just for this league has the right to be in this fight. I encourage every owner, when making this decision, to contemplate the full consequences of our actions on the future of roller hockey, not only at our level, but as a whole...

[Berry_Bramble]

USA Inline starting there own pro league?...Will tell you more...at 11.

[William Bourque]

Ying, you beat me to it...

Frist off, Doug, regardless of his post count, Mr. Quinton is no flash in the pan regarding PIHA, or Roller Hockey in general. Just because someone doesn't contribute on IHA often, does not mean they don't have an insight on the situation. Kean was around from the start, and ran PIHA's original organization of the year, the York Typhoon. Think of all the great things the SC Pirates have done this past year. Well, Mr. Quinton did them 7 years ago...

Secondly, Flynn, everyone who has ever played this game, not just for this league has the right to be in this fight. I encourage every owner, when making this decision, to contemplate the full consequences of our actions on the future of roller hockey, not only at our level, but as a whole...

Bill,

Outstanding Post. It's evident that you truly get it.