NBC hoping Winter Classic includes 'at least some baseball or football'

"Correct dimensions ... check, boards ... check, goals ... check, ice ... oh crap."

Seeking to increase television ratings, NBC has asked the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers, opponents in Friday's Fenway Park NHL Winter Classic, to not play hockey. Instead, the network would simply prefer that the two hockey clubs play baseball (or football) in one of the sports most cherished stadiums on New Year's Day. "At the very least we would like to see the teams use a baseball or smaller-sized football instead of a puck if they do decide to play hockey," said Albert Zumos, an NBC executive. Whether or not the teams decide to play hockey, each club will take a televised batting practice before the game. "We're hoping it tricks some of the television audience that there is actually going to be a baseball game played at Fenway Park in January," said Zumos. "The batting practice will definitely increase the number of viewers early in the telecast." Also, if the game goes into a shootout, the teams will attempt to earn the extra point in the standings with a field goal kicking contest that NBC demanded to be part of the Winter Classic broadcasting deal.