A pre-season game is a fancy term for an exhibition game. No matter how one tries to spin the importance of a “preparation” match, an exhibition game has no impact on the league standings; in essence, it is a glorified scrimmage to help assess talent.
These warm-up games serve a purpose since they are intended to familiarize teammates with each other and prepare for “real” games.
Commonly, the Labour Day weekend marks the transition from summer sports, to those played in the fall and winter.
The hockey season is just around the corner with the pre-season schedule set to begin for the Prince George Cougars.
Meanwhile, exhibition play will conclude this weekend for the PG Spruce Kings. The NHL starts its pre-season menu later this month. The NBA begins the pre-season in early October and the NFL wrapped up exhibition action Thursday.
There are varying theories on the importance of “winning” during the exhibition season. One notion suggests that with no points, standings or championships on the line the “W” is irrelevant. In other words, just surviving pre-season games without obtaining a significant injury is a victory unto itself, something the Dallas Cowboys did not achieve. Cowboys QB Tony Romo suffered a broken bone
in his back while playing Seattle and is out indefinitely.
On the other hand, one can argue that although pre-season results are not official, it is important for a team to establish a winning attitude.
Even if two points are not at stake, a team should not let its guard down because that is where injuries can occur and where bad habits are created.
I subscribe to the first philosophy. The “result” of a pre-season game has no significance, and I am not sure if there is a real purpose to keeping score.
I suppose that past history shows that fans and media want a result, but the final outcomes of these games contain virtually no substance.
In reality an exhibition game is equivalent to:
• A singer belting out tunes in the shower prior to performing in a concert.
• A teacher handing out a practice test to students that will have no bearing on a report card.
• A doctor working on a dummy in preparation for using that same technique on a patient in the operating room.
A pre-season game allows prospects and bubble players an opportunity to showcase their skills and earn a spot on the team.
The established veterans and/or star players need a minimal amount of playing time just to prepare them for the regular season.
Those key core players have a spot locked up (even if coaches try to suggest otherwise), so human nature suggests these vets will not participate to their full extent. Why should they? Yet, fans shell out significant dollars to watch these kinds of “Friendly” matches.
If exhibition results carried any weight, then why would no team exchange a perfect pre-season record followed by a loss in the regular season opener rather than vice versa.
Every team in an established league would rather be 0-6 in the pre-season and 1-0 in the regular season rather than 6-0 in the pre-season and 0-1 in the regular season.
There are rare occasions where one can be tricked by the terminology of “exhibition”. A glaring example of this was the historic 1972 hockey series between Canada and Russia. In retrospect, it’s hysterical to think that 44 years ago (Sept 2-28, 1972) the Summit series was deemed an 8-game exhibition. There was more emotion in that battle than any Stanley Cup Final and arguably any North American sporting event period.
It is obvious one should never gauge or read anything into pre-season scoreboard results. It’s a tease that often can lead to dismay. To put this all into perspective, the 2008 Detroit Lions had a flawless pre-season with a 4-0 record. Those same Lions went on to earn the dubious distinction of the first team in NFL history to finish 0-16 in regular season play.
This year, the Arizona Cardinals lost three of their four exhibition games. Does anyone really believe the Cardinals are anywhere close to being at the bottom of the NFL?
In the WHL, the 2013-14 Edmonton Oil Kings finished 1-4 in pre-season action, yet they won the Memorial Cup.
Also in 2013-14, the PG Cougars finished 5-0 in the pre-season, yet they missed the playoffs.
Last year, the Saskatoon Blades went 4-0-1 in exhibition play, only to finish the 2015-16 regular season 20th out of 22 teams with a 26-42-4 record.
These examples help put pre-season results in context.
Yes, one could suggest the word “exhibition” lies in the eye of the beholder.
From the Quote Rack:
Olympian Kerri Walsh-Jennings is boycotting a beach volleyball event in Chicago–hope she’s not getting advice from Colin Kaepernick.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Tony Romo has a broken bone in his back. So it will be at least until mid-season before he can return to disappoint Cowboys fans.
Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Nike has announced it will be exiting the golf club business. Elin Nordegren has ordered some extra 9 irons before they cease production.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
And in case you missed it:
Penny Oleksiak’s sister is an NCAA rower, and her brother is an NHL defenceman. No wonder she’s such a talent, swimming in that gene pool.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3
radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games. His column appears Fridays on
myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller
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