Episode 2: Oilers Addiction

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In episode #2, we discuss why we’re addicted to the Edmonton Oilers. What is it about our hockey team that keeps everyone so interested? Why did the lockout seem to have no effect on our addiction? Why don’t other sports teams in Edmonton have such a following?

We also delve into the notion of civic identity. Edmonton’s seems to be intertwined with the Oilers, but can that change? Of course, it’s hard for us to chat about the Oilers without touching on the arena too! That didn’t take long, did it?

The episode is a bit random, we admit, but we’re still figuring this out so thanks for joining us on the journey! As always, we’d love your feedback, so don’t be shy!

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  • http://twitter.com/adamdemaniuk Adam Demaniuk

    I’m challenging Hicks’ assertion that college football players “don’t go to school.” Last season, Notre Dame had the #1 ranked program, and was #1 in graduation success of its players, with 97% of its seniors leaving with a degree in hand. Other colleges winning lots of games and having high graduation success are Air Force, Boise State, Duke, Miami (FL), Navy, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Stanford, Rutgers and Vanderbilt. Oklahoma, on the other hand, should be ashamed, with a graduation success rate of 47%.

    Secondly, not “all” college football players “are going to be pros.” Each year, roughly 2,500 Division I football players leave college because they have exhausted their athletic eligibility, or are leaving early, or have graduated. Each year, about 200 rookie players make NFL rosters. Thus, more than 90 percent of Division I football players never play a down in the NFL. Take into account that some of the NFL rookies are Division II, Division III or NAIA players, and it’s closer to 95 percent. Watch any top college football team — the players are fast, muscular, and obviously devote tremendous amounts of time and energy to football. Ninety-five percent of them won’t play in the NFL. If they don’t study and don’t go to class, they walk away from college football practically empty-handed.

    Slightly off-topic…