"Pundits"

Lately, with the lack of hockey highlights to show, the evening sportscasts have often led with a panel of "pundits" discussing the latest bargaining moves and predictions of how things may or may not turn out. Not unlike the mood and momentum of caller opinion on sports talk radio, it tends not to have basis in fact or even reflect a majority opinion but because it is loud and repetitive it dominates the conversation and sometimes replaces the story itself.
A little sober reflection always reveals a pundit's opinion is strictly an entertainment tool and seldom bears out in reality. When the Lakers added Karl Malone and Gary Payton to their squad, commentators were discussing with certainty the possibility of an undefeated season. When the Yankees added Alex Rodriguez, the same commentators were certain the Yankees would go unchallenged for the pennant or World Series crowns, and would struggle with boredom more than anything else. Of course, in truth both teams were miserable and while still successful were nothing close to the marks set for them by the experts.
In hockey, when the Avalanche added Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne the "gang" on Sportsnet practically wet themselves night after night, gushing with enthusiasm over the brilliance of Pierre Lacroix and unanimously predicting a runaway title for the Av's. Never mind that average fan in a roto league wouldn't touch either one for any reason, the commentators soon turned the inevitable 180 degrees when- Surprise- Kariya missed most of the season with injury and Selanne spent most of the season in the pressbox. Not once did the panel ever admit that their expectations were unrealistic but rather that the players had let the fans down!
I have always enjoyed Al Strachan's appearances on CBC's Hot Stove segment, he is always entertaining, but I've always been intrigued if a study could be conducted where transcripts of his opinions were compared to what eventually transpired. I am confident his success rate would be in the 10 percentile, which is fine if you take his rants for what they are, entertainment and nothing more. Unfortunatley, large portions of the people who watch tend to take him at face value and perception becomes reality.
In relation to what is going on today, people continually need to be reminded that Al was one of many who reported in 1994 that the league had fleeced the players and that we would all live happily ever after.