OUR VIEW: NHL ends bickering, tops Congress

    Our nation faced a grave crisis not too long ago.
    Constant bickering between two polar opposites threatened to destroy a sacred institution financially. Leaders from both sides met constantly to try to work out a solution, sometimes making progress, other times suffering major setbacks. Many worried that this beloved entity would never be the same again, and the people would suffer as such.
    Then, when all hope seemed lost, it happened. At the last minute, a deal was reached that saved our land for another 10 years. Citizens rejoiced at the deal and prepared themselves for a bright decade of success and happiness.
    That’s right: The National Hockey League lockout is over. A 48-game season will begin Jan 15.
    Oh, and Congress reached a last-minute deal, preventing the U.S. from going over the fiscal cliff or something.
    It’s sort of funny, really. The NHL has been locked out since October, costing the league half of its season. Both sides couldn’t agree on anything, and many thought the 2012-2013 season would be completely cancelled. But in a surprising move, the owners and the NHL Players’ Association managed to broker a deal that ultimately saved the season at its halfway point and guaranteed a period of stability for the sport for at least eight to 10 years. The fans, while still bitter over all the drama, will eventually get over it and return to the rink to cheer on their teams.
    The U.S. government, however, didn’t come together at the halfway point to put together a deal that would finally get the country back on track toward financial stability. They instead waited until the last possible minute to do anything, and in the end simply kicked the can down the road a little farther. Yes, the Bush tax cuts expired, but more needs to be done in order to ultimately save the U.S.
    Let’s be honest here. Neither institution came out of their situations smelling like roses. Both narrowly avoided disaster by passing the problem down to future generations. The NHL will have to deal with the same crap in ten years, while the U.S. government still can’t even come to an agreement on what flavor of punch to serve at a high school dance. Still, the NHL managed to get things going faster than the U.S. did and at least has a point in the future to work toward and plenty of time to reach another agreement.
    Congress, get your act together. When you let the fourth-largest sports league of the Big Four outshine you, you know you’re in trouble.