If you're currently holding off on starting a season with your favorite NHL franchise in ESPN NHL 2K5, NHL 2005, or NHL Eastside Hockey Manager, in the hopes that the real NHL might get their act together and salvage the season, just go ahead and change those plans. Yesterday the league cancelled the 2005 NHL All-Star Game, despite not having cancelled any games on the January 2005 calendar yet. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was recently quoted as saying, "The season is likely to slip away."

　　We're 50 days into the NHL lockout and not an iota of progress has been made towards a new labor agreement between the owners and the players, despite a minority group of players saying they would accept a salary cap.

　　The larger issue--and the one with long-term consequences for the NHL--is the apparent indifference from all but the most hardcore fans. If ever there was doubt that hockey is a fringe sport in the United States, the near uniform apathy from all but the most vocal of fans, is living proof. Fifty days into the lockout, and the sports world isn't even shrugging their shoulders anymore. How long until everyone simply forgets the story altogether?