What The NHL Can Learn From The MLB All-Star Game

With the 2008 MLB All-Star game having passed us, everyone is looking for ways for baseball to "fix" their game.  But the person who needs to take note is Gary Bettman, because stemming from the All-Star game comes a great fix for the NHL.

"Classless" is the way people have been describing New York baseball fans the last couple of days.  It's basically a term thrown out by bitter Bostonian's who had their team ripped by the Yankee fans.

Now, I've been to the Boston Garden.  I know Boston sports fans have class.  Not only have Bruins fans cheered "Oh Canada" after having Montreal boo the "Star Spangled Banner", but I've been in attendance when Sidney Crosby received a standing ovation for pulling off some amazing moves and hitting a crossbar late in a tie game (after a "Sidney Sucks" chant, I may add).  But let's be realistic, if the All-Star game was at Fenway, Mariano Rivera would get the same treatment that Jonathan Papelbon received.

It doesn't stop at baseball.  The Patriots hate the Jets (and I'm sure now the Giants), and if the Knicks weren't a D-League level team, I'm sure they would hate the Celtics.  But the Bruins and Rangers have no such rivalry.  Why?  Because hockey, in its infinite wisdom, has the worlds largest market in a separate division than the Hub of Hockey.

Think of what the Boston-New York does for publicity in the MLB and NFL.  Can ESPN ever talk about the Red Sox and Patriots without mentioning their New York counterparts?  Red Sox-Yankees is always the lead.  Spygate was a bigger deal because he happened between the Jets and Patriots. 

If the NHL wants to get more publicity, than the Bruins and Rangers have to be in the same division.  The Rangers need a major rivalry, and nothing could compare to one with the boys in Beantown.  The only thing New York and Boston fans love more than their own teams is hating each others. 

Imagine an April with the Bruins and Rangers battling for a division lead.  The intensity, and animosity, would make Mike Millbury proud.

Granted, it's easier said than done.  If the Penguins were still on the block, the NHL had a chance.  Now it would take a lot of effort and realignment, but the end could bring about more revenue and publicity than the NHL has ever had.