CHICAGO -- Jeremy Roenick read the riot act on U.S. television last night.
The Flyers star told Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period last night that there's not going to be a season and demanded union head Bob Goodenow and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to negotiate.
"The rest of the players are pissed off. They're really, really mad," said Roenick. "They're mad because of the lack of negotiations. Nobody has talked. And I don't understand why nobody has talked ... They're mad at Gary Bettman because Gary Bettman is really putting on a hardball stance right and he's being tough and you don't act tough like that to hockey players."
Roenick was given 30 seconds to rant and he didn't pull any punches.
"This is not a strike. This is a lockout. Gary Bettman and the NHL owners will not let us play this year." he said. "Because of that, Gary Bettman, you should be banging on Bob Goodenow's door, demanding to negotiate, right now. Get into a room, lock the door and don't come out until there's a deal done.
"You know what -- people don't care right now. People are watching football, they're watching basketball -- they don't care that hockey's not on TV right now. But, I'll tell you what, Bob Goodenow and Gary Bettman, you should care about two things: The fans and the state of the game. And, if you don't get this deal done soon, you're going to lose them both."
