Takes and trash talk from both ALL sides of the NHL's most obscure PATHETIC* rivalry

* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Return of the Son of the Illustrious Glowpuck, NBC Sports puck tracker



Have a problem finding the puck when watching an NHL game? Don't have HD and you have had three too many Bigfoot Ales from Northern California's finest? Don't understand technical hockey terms like: puck, pass, shoot, and goal? Fan of the Anaheim Ducks?

Then NBC's newly developed puck tracker technology is for you. Created by German engineers, a handy red circle magically follows the puck around the ice and holds your hand during the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins quest for Lord Stanley's Cup.

Condescending, arrogant sarcasm not included.

7 comments:

Doogie2K said...

That is fucking distracting. I couldn't actually follow the play with that going on.

Niekon said...

I have to agree... that thing is ugly and distracting... and needs to be put out of its misery.

Anonymous said...

Did they actually show it during the game, or was it just used for replays like in this video? I'm fine with it if it's the latter.

Alexander Dubcek said...

See, this is why it's better that hockey remain a "niche" sport. If it takes stupid-ass gimmicks like the glowing puck or a "puck tracker" to draw "casual fans" to the game, we should just forgo the casual fans so we don't piss off the diehard core. There have been some useful, innovative applications of technology in sports broadcasting over the years (everything from instant replay and miked-up players to the first down line and strike zone trackers used on baseball replays). When will the NHL get something useful.

Also, having not watched any games (I haven't quite managed to stay up through the middle of the night), can anyone tell me if NBC has revived the other "classic" NHL on Fox gimmick of having robots attack each other after a goal? Or are they moving up to having each team's actual mascot go at it?

PJ Swenson said...

I think the puck tracker graphic was only available online.

Mike in OC said...

I did not care for the glow puck at all, but the clocking of the slapshot was cool. That they could integrate without using the red slash across the screen, and they should. Like clocking a pitch in MLB. Of course goalies would hate it I am sure.

"Hey Dan why on earth couldnt you stop that shot, it was only 29 MPH?"....


The Fox robot animation for the NHL games (like the NFL) was pretty cool as well.

Patty (in Dallas) said...

Wow. That's worse than the glowpuck.