David Carty's Homepage

You all know the fat man. He sits in his igloo all year until his day arrives to bring life to young children all around the nation. The miracle of Santa Claus touches us all -- at least those of us who celebrate the religion that seemingly has nothing to do with the holiday anymore.

What is it about Christmas that makes kids eyes light up? Is it purely because they get to cash in after a long year of being bound to the pointless, cruel wishes of their insufferable parents? Or is there something more? Something magic?

Remember back when you were a kid? Watching sports without the burdens of steroid allegations, dog combat, shooting incidents, or wave after wave of Peyton Manning commercials? Remember when sport itself was magical?

I don't mean to be "that guy" harping on sports these days, but it's hard to ignore the individual and collective travesties that have reshaped how we view sports. Even the smallest of things, such as endzone celebrations and 10-15 hockey hits with malicious intent are expected to happen every year.

It's the nature of professional sports these days.

So, I have an idea. Let's take a page from the magic man himself. The King of the North Pole and giver of gifts to all. Mr. Cringle himself.

I propose this simple solution for all major sports. It's so brainlessly easy and it keeps each and every athlete in check without favoring one over another. A list -- the list. The "naughty and nice" list.

By enacting one of these lists every season in professional sports, you can penalize players for any number of reasons ranging from legal trouble, to drug violations, to berating fans. It's a fail-safe.

Here's how it would work. Let's say we're talking about the NFL (not that there's any shady characters wearing football cleats...). What would happen is Roger Goodell would start his list in the preseason. He would keep the list going all the way up until the bye-weeks are over. At that point, it's punishing time! Suspend players for as little as one game or for as many as all postseason games. This way, you are penalizing players for games that are crucial to their team's success. In this case, for example, Rodney Harrison's suspension would not have kicked in until just recently and the Patriots would be fighting a much tougher battle.

Hold on, haters, I know this thing isn't happening in any sport. In baseball the players' association has the owner's balls in a vice grip and the NFL players' association isn't about to budge, so I know that this thing won't happen.

But that doesn't mean it wouldn't work. Think about Santa and the children. Children love Santa, right? I mean, he's jolly old Saint Nick...

Wrong.

Children fear Santa Clause. He controls their lives in a way their parents never could. He's always watching. Always. He watches you when you spend time with that kid down the street who always seems to have a supply of firecrackers, he watches you when you're sleeping, he even watches you on the can. He controls their lives.

So what recourse do kids have? They play the game. They act nice. When parents discuss Santa, children try to behave better. They do their chores. Even at the zero-hour, they attempt to bribe Santa with sugary snacks. The fat man in his ivory tower sits and watches all year long. The great surveyor of everything. His eyes miss nothing. You can't escape his glare and the kids know it.

No person or entity has ever been more manipulative that the fat man. Kids even sing songs about how wonderful the big guy is.

That is what we need in professional sports. A ruler with an iron fist (cast-iron stomach not necessary) who sees everything and judges everything. Any action, no matter how minute or small it may seem carries its weight and makes its way onto the list.

The commissioner in complete control. It makes so much sense...which is why it will never happen. I know Roger Goodell would love this idea, but sadly it will never happen. It's a Christmas gift that we'll never again see. Sports - clean, fun, and magical.

Looks like the fat man wins again.

Some general observations from the world of sports as I wait for the fat man to destroy my fireplace...

I think Jessica Simpson put a hex on Terrell Owens' ankle last Saturday. Although, considering the frequency of her damaging public appearances, maybe it was Ashlee.
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The latest ESPN projections have Matt Ryan going #4 to the Atlanta Falcons. Ever considered the CFL, Matt?
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The Thrilla in Manilla is on TV as I type this. I seriously wonder how many people my age actually have an understanding of boxing and just how amazing these fights were. The video quality - horrendous. The fight - beautiful.

I'm thinking of proposing an amendment that anyone who watches "The Contender" should be forced to watch all three Ali/Frazier fights and The Rumble in the Jungle. While we're at it, can we strip the Mike Tyson era from the record books and let him fade into Bolivian?
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The Patriots not scoring in the second half doesn't bother me one bit. Tom Brady was throwing exclusively to Randy Moss in that second half, whether he had two, three, or eleven men on him. Now, New England's at the 15-0 mark with a Giants squad next week that will have most of its reserves in. This bothers me more than anything. The bench players will be hungry. Give me Eli, Plax, and Jacobs any day. That being said, the Patriots will destroy the Giants at home next week and go undefeated.
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Quote of the week...when asked why he thought Tom Brady was throwing to him a lot. Randy Moss said, ""I mean, hell, I'm Randy Moss! What do you expect?"
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Have the 2007 Pats broken the record for the number of records broken yet?
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Finally, it seems, the Bruins are human. They've suffered injury after injury and finally are seeing the impact. Nevertheless they continue to hold a very solid 40 points (18-14-4) heading into Christmas. How did they do it? I have no idea. Schaefer has been a disappointment. Kessell is streaky. Bergeron has been out. Chara's production is down. Bochenski added a lot of weight in the offseason and has been slow getting back. Murray started slow and has been hurt. You figure it out! All I know is, Claude Julien better win the Jack Adams this season. This team was predicted by just about everyone to be scouring for loose change on the ground floor of the league and now they're one of the strongest defensive units in the league.
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The Bruins have gone through five goaltenders this season and nine in the last two seasons (Thomas, Rask, Auld, Fernandez, Sigalet, MacDonald, Toivonen, Sauve, Finley). That's a lot of turnover between the pipes.
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Seriously, where DID that list of players go that CNBC erroneously reported to be the Mitchell Report?
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The battle for AFC sub-supremacy...Pittsburgh without Willie Parker would be a .500 team this season at best. They'll get bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Jacksonville lighting up Oakland for 49 is a lot like watching a home run derby. Show it to me against a quality opponent in a tough situation. Indy has been swept so far under the carpet they may never see the light of day. What happened to those defending champions anyway? 13-2 with the injuries they've suffered is no small task. Leave it to Tom Brady to make Peyton Manning's 30 touchdowns look pathetic.
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NFC team that can compete against the AFC's best...
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It seems the Sox and Yanks are taking a break from the Santana trade talks for the Christmas break. Originally, my opinion was that Minnesota would be crazy not to trade Santana, now I'm not too sure. They bolstered the offense somewhat and they still compete in the pedestrian and inconsistent AL Central. Maybe, just maybe, they can take the Central. Though losing Garza and Silva leaves two big spots to fill in that rotation.
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That last Celtics roster spot is quickly looking like the last plane ticket to Hollywood for American Idol. Anybody who's touched an NBA basketball in the last 10 years wants in.
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Leave it to a terrible Derek Anderson performance to risk Romeo Crennel's Coach of the Year chances. If Cleveland misses the playoffs, we'll miss out on one of the biggest dogs to make the playoffs in the last decade.
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That's all for now.

It was just a week ago -- seven short days -- when baseball as we knew it fell apart. George Mitchell and his merry band of henchmen, armed with nothing but a clubhouse attendant and a polite request, brought the game to its knees. 400+ pages outed 80+ players, past and present, calling them cheaters and liars.

For a generation who grew up watching home run totals skyrocket and a new individualistic approach to a nine-man game, the report came as not-quite-so-solace. We knew the truth, but at least we knew the truth. A strange day that featured the sky falling on the east coast and baseball collapsing under its own incompetence ended with a mix of hope, anger, and confusion.

Then a strange thing happened. After the dust settled and names were named, players, much to the chagrin of their attorneys, admitted it. Placed in the crosshairs unlike any time in baseball history, many players chose to open up, drop the cyborg-athlete speak, and admit their past misdeeds.

It started with home run great F.P. Santangelo (21 career home runs, for the boys and girls counting at home). Santangelo confirming part of Mitchell’s allegations, saying he had used HGH on two occasions. Made into a bit of an unlikely and unwilling hero, Santangelo’s admissions prompted others named to follow suit.

Paul Byrd, Fernando Vina, and Brian Roberts, followed with a ‘my bad’ ridden with qualifiers. It was “a one-time use” or “under doctors orders” or “officer, I only had two drinks”. But the damage was done. Baseball players for the first time were confirmed as guilty, or at least not innocent, and even the biggest names in the report refused to refuse the truth.

Except one man. After seven Cy Youngs and 46 years of life, Roger Clemens emerged from the pack with the same vehement denials typically reserved for Jose Canseco steroid probes. In a statement so robotic I think it was leaking oil, Clemens (through his agent, of course) criticized steroid use and called it a “destructive shortcut” for athletes.

Now, ten years after the twilight of his career, Clemens is under a microscope for the first time in his career. Immune from the watchful eyes that followed some of baseball’s mightiest sluggers in recent years, Clemens defied logic, age, basic physics, and retirement by continuing to pitch at a high-level over a decade after weight and injury issues led him to a plus-4 ERA in two of his final four years in Boston.

But after a strength training regimen prescribed by David Copperfield, Clemens had a resurgence. 11 seasons later, Clemens cemented himself as one best pitchers of all time.
Now, as Clemens watches the ceiling cave in and his wife struggles to reach him due to lackluster cell phone reception, Roger is the kid alone at recess refusing to play with the other kids. I don’t know much about fashion, but you can’t tell me that there’s anything trendier these days than presidential candidates, snow shovels, and admitted use of performance enhancers.

To make matters worse, his best friend just picked up a tetherball. Andy Pettitte’s half-admission of HGH use not only corroborates the legitimacy of former Yanks’ strength trainer Brian McNamee, but leaves Roger in a difficult position. Now, every ESPN analyst under the sun is calling for congress to talk to Roger. Police squads are being put on watch, FBI officials are practicing looking cool when they flip open credentials, and Robocop is getting his dome polished all in anticipation of congressional action.

I have another solution and it’s so brainlessly easy it will never happen. It doesn’t matter who Roger Clemens talks to but what he says. And this time his agent can’t speak for him.
For as long as our generation has been blinded by 450 foot blasts and “mediocre” 30 home run seasons, we’ve been stupefied by athlete-speak. The brainless post-game submissions of millionaires saying nothing while putting on the illusion of saying something. Bill Belichick’s Patriots are holy savior of this phenomenon, but it’s been in existence for years and Roger may just be the best in baseball at it.

After signing with Toronto, Clemens never batted an eye at his Boston past. Instead, his eyes glazed over with visions of dollar signs dancing through his head (agents don’t deal in sugar plums).

But for the first time, it seems, we will get a candid Roger, instead of a canned-Roger. After agreeing to an interview on 60 Minutes (yes, the same 60 Minutes where A-Rod expressed his heartbreak over Scott Boras).

If there’s one thing sports does NOT need right now, it’s more canned speech. Roger has used it his entire career, but whether innocent, guilty, or semi-guilty-but-repentant, the last thing the baseball public needs are more lies.

The truth needs to come out, however sordid, seamy, or seemingly suspect.

We need to know.

Roger will be trying to save face more than anything else in this interview, but for once, let’s all collectively root beyond party lines. Beyond uniforms, logos, and regional definitions.

Let's root for the truth. Let's root for baseball.

Well, the match-up of the season has come and passed and after a disappointing 87-85 loss to the Pistons, Celts fans are left to ponder what we learned in the loss. The easy answer? Nothing we didn’t already know.

Watching Chauncey Billups and Rajon Rondo trade blows like Rocky and Apollo in the first quarter was pure fun. Chauncey hits a jumper, Rondo slashes in the lane for two, Chauncey answers back, Rondo answers back - one of the more enjoyable sights of the season so far. But that same match-up turned Boston fans into a quivering mess in the second half. Why? Chauncey was done with the cat and mouse game. When push came to shove, Chauncey Billups became Chauncey Billups while the young nucleus of Celtics defenders crumbled around him. Rondo couldn’t stay out of foul trouble and his five fouls loomed over him in the second half. Rondo let Billups run free and he burned the Celts en route to 28 points. Rondo didn’t even touch the floor in the game’s final minutes as Doc opted to go with Eddie House and Tony Allen, which only delayed the inevitable.

An embarrassing foul committed by Tony Allen with .1 seconds left was the lasting image of the night. Billups, the marionette, pulled the wool over our eyes and cut the puppet strings. It all seemed like an act and it felt like we’d been had. We’d been tricked into thinking that a 6-foot-1, 67 pound kid could guard one of the game’s savviest, multi-talented threats. Maybe we should have known all along.

Of course, the backlash resulted in a sportsradio frenzy. Everyone from Abington to Yarmouth (we don’t have any Z’s?) called to knock the Celtics off their pedestal. Chants for a veteran point guard could be heard all over the Bay State. If only we had Reggie Miller... Is John Stockton available?

The answer doesn’t lie in knee-jerk reactions. Last week, Rajon Rondo was one of the league most promising young point guards, entering only his second season in the NBA. This week, he can’t hold his mud. 7-of-10 shooting and 7 assists aren’t enough to warrant a premiere time against a tough opponent.

Let’s not be so brash. Rondo has been everything the Celtics have asked for and more. Yes, he still has some filling out to do, but Rondo’s inadequacies against the NBA’s best point guard aren’t to blame for the Celtics loss.

The boys in green shot 4 of 14 from long range, an area that Detroit buried the Celtics in last night. To make matters worse, the Celtics hit a mere 61% of their free throws, missing out on crucial opportunities to point a couple of points on the board. The Pistons excelled in both areas, firing up the jets in the second half to leave the Celtics in the dust.

Sure, you can find blame to place in this game. If you believe Kendrick Perkins, even the team wasn’t exempt from pointing fingers. The scene in the locker room was described as dismal, almost like a funeral. An overreaction? Maybe, but I’ll take a team that plays every game like it’s their last any day of the week. There have been games this year where a surly Kevin Garnett talks to the media after the game, disappointed at what his team could not accomplish in a win. Maybe some of the Belichick stuff is getting around.

The bottom line is last night we witnessed a revival of an old feud. Billups semi-hip check non-call was no Bill Laimbeer fist fight with the hick from French Lick, but it’s the most that basketball fans in Beantown have had to get excited about in 15 years. The Nets/Celtics “rivalry” of 2001 and 2002 was the equivalent of a Pawtucket Red Sox playoff series, it didn’t matter who won, the winners were still losers. Now, five years later, the Eastern Conference is no joke and neither is the renewed rivalry.

Chauncey’s grin was the lasting image of round one. It seems destined for these two teams to meet down the road and if they do expect a series that would do Bird and company proud.

As for what the Celtics learned? They learned they’re still learning. And the Pistons learned that the east just got a lot tougher.

From Tom Curran...

"I said something to (Belichick) after the game," Randall Godfrey said to NBCSports.com. "I told him, 'You need to show some respect for the game.' You just don't do that. I don't care how bad it is. You're up 35 points and you're still throwing deep? That's no respect....
"You look at all the great head coaches ... I'm just disappointed," he said. "You gotta show some class, show some respect. Joe Gibbs? We wouldn't have done that. Bill Walsh? You wouldn't see those types of guys doing that stuff. I've never seen nothing like that. Most teams, you get up like that you sit on the ball and try to run the time out. They're up 30-some points and they're throwing deep. That was blatant disrespect. I hope we can see them again, definitely. You don't see Joe Gibbs doing that. You can't even imagine that kind of stuff coming from him. Joe Gibbs. Bill Walsh. Bill Parcells. This isn't like college going for power rankings. This is the pros you show some respect, show some class."

Randall, this isn't your father's NFL. Since being called out as cheaters and criminals, the Patriots are out to prove that they can beat every team...into the ground...over and over again. The Patriots are on a mission not to just succeed but supercede every team in NFL HISTORY. This team will be a disappointment if it does NOT go undefeated. They're averaging 41 points a game and would be averaging more if we didn't see appearences from Matt "King of the" Cassel and Matt "Who is that??" Gutierrez.

On behalf of Patriots nation, Randall, we're sorry you got torched. We're sorry that you're the latest speedbump on the way to setting countless NFL records. But, most importantly, we're sorry that YOU forgot what it means to be a pro. Do it on the field. Don't like the Pats scoring 52 points? Stop their first team offense...or their second team offense!

Everybody and their moms called out the Pats and they are answering the call. They aren't exactly a monster that you have created, but, rather, one you have thrown a big juicy steak in front of and rattled the cage. The league's "most classy" individual LaDainian Tomlinson even called out the Patriots...well, after week two, he isn't saying anything now.

New words to to be invented to describe this team. The New England Patriots of the Kickass Conference (a one team conference, they're in first place by the way) are mega-destroying every team in their trajectory in order to superprove they are the crazyking of the awesomecrop here in the Patriots' Football League.

Don't worry Randall, the pain is over. I suppose you could have a shot at revenge in Arizona in February, but I'm sorry to tell you, these Patriots have their plane tickets booked already.

World Series thought coming soon enough.

Sox over Angels in 5.

- It will be more of a struggle and a nailbiter than Sox fans originally thought. These are the two most complete teams in baseball top to bottom. Don't expect any late inning comebacks against this Angels bullpen. Will J.D. Drew continue the relatively kinda, semi-warm streak he's on? They'll need it, offense is still lacking on this team. Does anyone else think its weird that the Sox kept three catchers on the roster when Tim Wakefield is too hurt to play in the first round? Yeah...I found that a curious decision by the boy wonder. Last time in the postseason against the Halos, the Sox pulled of the sweep en route to a World Series win. This road will prove much tougher.

Yanks over Indians in 3.

- What have the Indians done in the postseason lately? Exactly. What have the Yanks done in the postseason...forever? Exactly. If the Yanks played in the same division as the Mets, they probably would have won the division by 27 games, all of which would have been gained in August and September. What about the Yanks pitching staff? It will do...there's enough firepower to cover up the fact that Roger Clemens and Mariano Rivera are collecting from the AARP. BUT the year 2000 looms large and A-Rod will have to hit over .650 with 22 home runs in 19 at bats to even have a SHOT at pleasing Yanks fans in this postseason series...can he pull it off? I dont know...but the Indians are toast.

Arizona over Chicago in 5.

- In case you slept through the postseason or looked too long at the Padres, Arizona won the west...and the NL's best record. A very underrated pitching staff and a good mix of players. Arizona looks like a winner...alternatively the Cubs look like...well, the Cubs. Is it just me or do the names Soriano, Ramirez, Zambrano, and Lilly SCREAM "Choke!". If that's not bad enough, I got a Ryan Dempster to show you. The losing tradition continues...and this time, a fan won't be to blame.

Philly over Colorado in 4.

- A very fun series, indeed. Neither of these teams have much experience to speak of here. But, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins are two of the game's best pure hitters. This Phillies team has suffered through more injuries than ANY other team in the postseason right now. They are STILL withour Freddy Garcia, Jon Lieber, and Tom Gordon. They're scrappy and they DESERVE to be there. Colorado will be burned out after the maraton Monday night and won't be able to rebound. Rox fans, Larry Walker is not walking through that door. BTW, turning point of the season? Trading Byung-Hyun Kim to the Marlins on May 13th...they were 16-22 at the time of the trade...hmmm...

Princes Look to Seize Throne
by David Carty

Remember how sick we all got of SportsCenter's "Who's Now?" competition this summer? One day of ESPN parading it's panel of celebrity experts in what was akin to a high school popularity contest was too much for many sports fans to digest. For all the wonders Jessica Biel so generously provides a society of drooling men, sports talk is not one of her greatest assets. And I'm not too sure Keyshawn Johnson is good for anything, on the field or off.

In the court of public opinion, the Anaheim Ducks are the "Now" team of the NHL and their Golden State counterparts, the Los Angeles Kings, are "Next," about 27 miles separating today's Stanley Cup contenders from next year's crop of Championship hopefuls.

Well, guess what? The Kings are sick of the "Who's Next?" competition. Shoved into the spotlight far from home in the 02 Arena in London, England, the Kings were intent on proving the league and the world that this year counts too.

Michael Cammalleri opened up the scoring with a one-timed snap from Lubomir Visnovsky. The 25 year-old's power play tally will be the first of many to come on a growing special teams unit. Los Angeles finished tenth in the league with the man advantage last season, but boast a staff that could easily improve upon those numbers. Anze Kopitar may be the league's best kept secret, notching 61 points in his rookie campaign and two assists in the season opener. Combined with Cammalleri and yearly Norris contender Visnovsky running the point, the Kings can hurt you from anywhere on the ice.

The Kings took advantage of every power play opportunity so generously given to them by the sometimes foolish Ducks, peppering Ilya Bryzgalov with 11 shots on net during the power play and recording three goals, two by Cammalleri, in the 4-1 upset over the defending Stanley Cup champion Ducks.

The Kings' abilities weren't just evident on offense. Keeping up with the Ducks from a physical standpoint proved particularly difficult for opponents last season en route to the franchise's first ever championship. There must be something in the water. Kings franchise defenseman Jack Johnson stood toe-to-toe on several occasions with George Parros, who recorded more fights than three NHL teams last season. While there are lessons to be learned for the 20-year old, his play in the defensive end was solid in his 18 minutes of ice time.

Also stealing a line from the Ducks, the line of Murray, Ivanans, and O'Sullivan were not afraid to throw their weight around playing a physical game all day.

But it is perhaps the Kings offseason acquisitions that will put them over the top. Michal Handzus played very effectively on the penalty kill and collaborated very well with fellow Czech Ladislav Nagy. If Handzus can avoid injury and Nagy has finally found an organization into which he can gel, the Kings will have a tremendous secondary attack when Kopitar's line is off the ice.

A season of stability will also do wonders for Kyle Calder, who has looked excellent in his efforts thus far with the Kings. The blue line acquisitions of Brad Stuart and Tom Preissing have silently turned the Kings defensive corps into one of hockey's best. If Rob Blake continues to drink from drink from the fountain of youth (of which Chris Chelios and Nicklas Lidstrom frequent), the Kings will have the perfect cast to help along Johnson's development.

Between the pipes, of course, is what has Kings fans grimacing. Dan Cloutier looked like, well, Dan Cloutier last season. He will start the season in Manchester, leaving Jason LaBarbera and top prospect Jonathan Bernier to fight for the starting job. Bernier was not expected in Los Angeles for another season or two, but played magnificently in his first career NHL start. Bernier held Anaheim scoreless until fellow top prospect Bobby Ryan scored his first NHL goal just past the halfway mark in the third period. If Bernier continues to play this well in net, look for the Kings to surprise everyone and make a run at the Pacific Division crown.

With the NHL opener come and gone, the Kings may just be ready to take the California throne with their impressive performance across the pond. All the pieces are in place for a deep playoff run for the Los Angeles Kings. Despite whatever projections exist for this core of youngsters down the road, the Kings look to create a much more interesting "Who's Now?" competition. And they won't wait 'til next year.

Has the Salary Cap Helped?
by David Carty

On the eve of the Stanley Cup Finals, columnists Jake Duhaime and David Carty take a look at the impact of the NHL's salary cap, and debate whether it's had a positive—or negative—impact on the game...

JD: Well Mr. Carty, the Stanley Cup Final is here! Canada’s Team, the Ottawa Senators and the (Not Mighty) Ducks. I know we’ll be watching, but will those outside of Canada tune in? That is, if NBC decides to even show the games.

DC: Let’s see. We have a warm-weather U.S. team favored to beat a non-original six Canadian team. Buffalo had the fanfare, but at least Ottawa has the star power with guys like Alfredsson, Spezza, Heatley and the vivacious Ray Emery.

But, to be honest Jake, I’m not sure there are any two teams that would have North America enthralled with the Stanley Cup, unless you live in an area where law enforcement wears red and rides around on horses.

JD: I may have to agree with you on this one Dave. Would a best-case scenario, Toronto-Chicago series captivate the casual sports fan? I don’t know. I just don’t think it would have the necessary sex appeal.

Here’s the problem with this series and the league right now. Since the NHL implemented a hard-cap economic system following the lockout, even a team like the Red Wings the Western Conference's top seed, seems rather mediocre, especially when you compare it to the Red Wings teams of five or six years ago.

I know they’re awfully excited for this series up in Ottawa, where tickets sold-out in four minutes on Thursday morning. But elsewhere? I think we’re going to need seven games to see a blip on the ratings screen. The talent pool has become far too diluted under this new system. And with each passing day, I think more and more people will yearn for superstar-based teams, and by that I mean the Gretzky, Orr, Roy, Messier types, winning consistently, as opposed to the team with the best third and fourth line.

DC: I think Hockeytown, USA may take some exception to that….

JD: Well, could we agree that the last two seasons play out a bit differently under the NHL’s old capitalist system, instead of the league’s new found love of communism.

DC: Let me quote the Gipper on this one, "Mr. Duhaime! Tear down this wall!" Has the league really changed that much?

JD: Take the Red Wings and Avalanche, two of the biggest spenders under the old system. Does Detroit go into the 2005-06 Playoffs with the goaltending tandem of Manny Legace and Chris Osgood? Does Brendan Shanahan end up in New York? Peter Forsberg in Philadelphia? Rob Blake in Los Angeles?

I'm not trying to diminish the accomplishments of Carolina and Edmonton, who treated us to one stellar Stanley Cup Final last season. But revisionist history leads me to believe that under the old system, there's a three-way trade deadline bidding war for Dwayne Roloson's services. Chris Pronger doesn't end up in Edmonton. And Doug Weight certainly doesn't end up in Raleigh, but did so because the Hurricanes could absorb his salary at the time.

It wasn’t too long ago, where an owner like Mike Illich or Tom Hicks would open up the vault and grab that aging superstar for a Stanley Cup run. This is how a guy like Brian Leetch can end up in Toronto. And you can't tell me that the league couldn't use another Ray Bourque story to generate interest.

DC: It sounds like parity to me.

Are you telling me that you'd rather have Detroit and Colorado stockpiling these players? I understand the sentiment towards these powerhouse franchises, but this system saved hockey, Under the old system, the Ottawa Senators, by now, would have gone the way of the leisure suit (except on Don Cherry) How many millions of dollars down the drain does it take to convince you that a change needed to be made? The league risked everything, including its niche fan base, to shut down for a year in order to change things for the better.

Now, do I want to see Carolina and Anaheim winning championships? I don't know. Does it help a league trying to expand its fan base? Or does it hurt the loyal fans that already exist? But, this was the correct decision. The National Football League thrives in its salary cap policy and is widely regarded as the most effectively operated league in all of sport.

JD: On the surface, a salary cap seems like the right idea. But the reality is a different story. Hockey, like baseball, has been plagued by labor and visibility problems the last two decades. But unlike the NHL, Major League Baseball has been blessed recently by having successful high-profile markets competing on the sport's biggest stage. New York, Miami, Boston, Houston, San Francisco, Detroit and Chicago have all been home to a World Series team the last five years. In the NHL? Anaheim, Ottawa, Raleigh, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, Calgary, New Jersey and Detroit have made up the last five Stanley Cup Finals. That alone addresses some of the television woes.
Under MLB's current economic system, which uses a competitive balance tax, the New York Yankees can spend a quarter-billion dollars on talent alone. (Not that it's getting them anywhere.) But they must also pay a price to do so. That money goes to small market clubs like Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh so they can invest in their own talent and other free-agents, equaling the playing field… somewhat. This system penalizes teams financially, while still giving them a chance to compete year-in and year-out.

DC: Well, I'm pretty sure that last year's World Series was a collective yawner for all sports fans and your precious TV ratings will prove it. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're saying that giving teams an unfair advantage is a good thing? Why is that?

JD: It’s easy to overlook the financial gap in a league where half its teams make the playoffs.
Your point would hold more validity if the 82 game regular season was of greater importance and only four teams (three division winners and one wild card) make the playoffs. A high payroll certainly helps teams get to the second season (unless we’re talking about the Rangers) but by no means is it a guarantee. Come April, you still have 16 teams in a crap-shoot playoff format in which a hot goaltender or a few lingering injuries can be the difference between Lord Stanley and a first round exit.

DC: Well Jake, under your system those potentially hot goaltenders are going to be making serious money in free agency, so it's more complicated than that. This system better allows a team to find their franchise players and lock them down. I understand what you are saying with players like Forsberg, Shanny, and Pronger changing location, but that was a simple result of the unfair (and unsuccessful) system that was previously in place. It happens in the NFL all the time.

JD: Goaltenders and defenseman have always been paid at a premium. Always have, always will. As for the league’s hard cap and comparing it with the NFL, it doesn’t work because one league has TV money, public interest and team fan bases already well-established and the other doesn’t. One is a simple once-a-week commitment that is television-friendly. The other isn’t. One has plenty of well established superstars who get arrested (The Bengals), call each other out (Terrell Owens), sleep with supermodels (Tom Brady), host Saturday Night Live (Peyton Manning) and host illegal dog fights in the comforts of their own backyard (Michael Vick).
The NFL is part-sport, part-spectacle, with something for everybody. Now I’m not saying that Sidney Crosby should be doing lines of cocaine with Lindsay Lohan or knocking up Britney Spears. But if you need some idea of where the league should start, go look at the Super Bowl, which isn’t a game but an event, where the food, commercials, halftime show, pregame show, parties and the anthems all play a part. I might not have enjoyed watching Cirque du So Lame do its thing before Super Bowl XLI in Miami, but the three women in the room, who only watch the Super Bowl, thought they were fantastic.

DC: Well then why can't the Stanley Cup be a spectacle? I'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with salary caps, it has to do with the game. It just doesn't appeal to most American fans. And it has nothing to do with longer series either.

The NBA thrives every year on story lines that often involve small market teams. Not Boston, not New York, not Los Angeles, but the San Antonio Spurs have been the most consistent team of the last two decades. Everyone talks about the NBA. Look what happens when Robert Horry throws a hip check on Steve Nash. It is plastered on ESPN for days while other Canadians throw themselves around the ice with reckless disregard. Who makes the news? The NBA and their small market teams. So don't say that small market success can't mean large national draw, because it can and it often does.

JD: The NBA’s interest and TV ratings have dropped off dramatically since Michael Jordan’s second retirement in 1998. And I don’t see many out there too excited over another San Antonio-Detroit NBA Finals. In fact, I think the right word is dread.
I’ll freely admit, I did watch more of the Spurs-Suns series than I did either of the NHL Conference Finals. One, because I believe the winner of that series, San Antonio, will win the NBA title. Two, with the NHL's instigator rule, there might have been more fighting and checking. Three, Steve Nash is Canadian and one can only dream of the passes he'd pull off with a hockey stick.

DC: I'll tell you what would help the most in this salary cap era, a Larry Bird exception. Allowing teams to exceed the salary cap to re-sign franchise players would allow some of those big names to return to their teams. Of course, it would have to be limited. I wouldn't mind seeing the NHL put some kind of exclusion like this in the next CBA. I also wouldn't mind seeing a "franchise" kind of rule like the NFL has to lock down their players. These are just a couple of ideas to try to keep players in their own uniform, but with a salary cap, you have to understand that there will be turnover. It's a part of the agreement and it's a part of parity.

JD: Would it help? It certainly would help out Buffalo who must decide between Briere and Drury in a few weeks. And it would benefit Pittsburgh in a few years, when they’ll be faced with a tough decision to trade a Jordan Staal or Marc-Andre Fleury because they’ll want to keep Crosby and Malkin around.

But even with a Bird exception in place, how do you build a TEAM around two guys cashing a huge paycheck? The Bird rule works in the NBA because two or three superstars is all you need to win an NBA title. But it takes a team of talented players to win the Stanley Cup.
Now I know you’re a huge Celtics fan Mr. Carty. Why was the NBA Draft Lottery so important this year? Because Greg Oden is the next in a line of can’t miss, superstar centers in a league where seven of the last eight teams to win the title have had either Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan.

DC: Why are ping-pong balls so cruel?

JD: I don’t know. But I’ve got to believe those ping-pong balls got some high ratings. Superstars sell. Teams don’t. Unless you’ve got five or six of them on a roster. Which doesn’t happen anymore in the new NHL.

Devils On Brink With 3-2 Loss
by David Carty

For Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils, it’s the tale of two seasons. Throughout the regular season, the Devils proved resilient. Surviving and even flourishing despite injuries to its top line, New Jersey came into the playoffs with the same agenda it had throughout the Lou Lamoriello era, championship or bust. Unfortunately for Jersey fans, the Devils may be cashing in their chips.

The Devils lost Wednesday night 3-2, putting the under-seeded Ottawa Senators one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals. In the midst of a Devils collapse, the Senators stuck to what got them to the postseason: star power.

Daniel Alfredsson opened the scoring for the Sens, netting a perfectly placed pass from Dany Heatley four and a half minutes into the first period. Ottawa gave New Jersey three power-play opportunities in the first period alone, but strong blue line play shut down the EGG line. Anton Volchenkov played brilliantly on the penalty kill, disrupting the Devils scoring attack and breaking up several chances. Patrick Elias struggled on the man advantage, giving up the puck twice on one of the power-plays.

From early on, it was obvious that this was a different Devils team. They were getting pushed around; they looked lost. Ottawa pounded on Brian Gionta early and took no prisoners. One hit on Colin White resulted in a game delay while they fixed the glass.

The Devils did, however, crack the code early in the second period. They took advantage of a Volchenkov penalty to get on the board. Elias connected with Gionta to even the score 1-1. Then Martin Brodeur accomplished a rare feat in his storied NHL career - he proved he was human after all.

Off a face-off in the Devils zone, Heatley tossed the puck from near the blue line at the net. The shot, which Brodeur never reacted to, deflected off his right heel for the score. Brodeur allowed an unacceptable garbage goal; it should have been stopped easily. It was a postseason blunder and Brodeur’s poor performance wasn’t over.

Four minutes into the third period, Mike Fisher lit the lamp after weaving through a suddenly porous Devils defense and beat Brodeur to the glove-side from the top of the circle. Can you believe the Devils’ defense was so weak and Brodeur’s reactions were so slow?

A Jay Pandolfo tally brought it to one, but the Devils got no closer despite some of their best action with Brodeur on the bench late in the game. A Colin White high sticking penalty killed the New Jersey momentum and the Devils fell again.

New Jersey’s sudden shortcomings have been the difference in the series. While the Devils offensive attack looked strong at times, their defensive deficiencies have left them reeling; leave it to the Sens to steal a page from the Devils’ playbook. Strong defensive play and domination in the neutral zone led one team to victory and that team was not the Devils.

Heatley and company lead 3-1 in the series and will look for the deciding win at the Continental Airlines Arena on Saturday afternoon. No word yet on which Martin Brodeur will be in net for the Devils.

Mellanby Hangs 'Em Up
by David Carty

Scott Mellanby was a trail blazer of sorts. The Montreal native probably never envisioned becoming an NHL star. Mellanby certainly never imagined becoming the face of two expansion teams, nearly losing an arm in a barroom brawl, or being dubbed “the rat guy” after an incident that probably resulted in a few nasty letters from PETA.

Yet this is the legacy Thrashers captain leaves behind after announcing his retirement on Tuesday.

Mellanby entered the league as the 27th overall selection in the 1984 NHL Draft. The Philadelphia Flyers second-round pick was selected higher than future stars Patrick Roy, Brett Hull, and Tom Glavine. Yes, that Tom Glavine.

It was during Mellanby’s tenure with the Flyers that the devastating and nearly deadly injury occurred. On August 20th, 1989, Mellanby and friend Jeff Frazier stopped for drinks at the Muskoska Sands north of Montreal. At some point in the night, 44-year-old Frank Chapple started a fight with Frazier and allegedly tried to cut his throat with a broken beer bottle. Chapple slashed Mellanby’s arm instead, severing five tendons in the process. Doctors almost had to amputate the arm, but instead Mellanby returned to action on November 22nd, three months after nearing having his arm sliced off.

It takes some time to heal, you know.

Mellanby was later traded Edmonton in a deal to bring hockey legend Jari Kurri to Philadelphia. After two decent seasons, he was left unprotected in the 1993 NHL expansion draft. At one time, Mellanby was considered a better prospect than guys like Roy, Hull, and Luc Robitalle. Now, he was considered the 30th best player amongst the league’s scrap heap.

Mellanby packed his bags to play hockey in Florida, and he never looked back.

The first goal in Florida Panthers history belongs to Scott Mellanby scored in the inaugural 1993-94 season. He’d score many more before the season was up. Thirty goals and thirty assists capped Mellanby’s career year. Still unfazed by pain, Mellanby broke his nose and orbital bone on as Larry Murphy cleared the puck on February 1st of that season against the Penguins. He was back on the ice a week-and-a-half later.

Despite the gritty play Mellanby become known for, his fandom reached its peak in the 1995-96 season. After finding a scurrying little creature in the Panthers locker room before the Panthers‘ home opener, Mellanby decided to get in some early practice for gametime. He one-timed the rat with his stick, saving exterminators a little extra work. Mellanby then proceeded to score two goals with the very same stick in what John Vanbiesbrouck dubbed a “rat trick”.

From then on, fans littered the ice with plastic rats in the midst of the Panthers Stanley Cup run. The Panthers’ miracle season was stopped just shy of a Stanley Cup after being swept by the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche goaltender is reported to have said, after allowing two goals in the first period of game three, that there would be “no more rats.” That prophecy proved to be true, and the Panthers were held scoreless for the rest of the series. Of course, that goaltender/fortune teller was none other than Patrick Roy, selected 24 picks after Scott Mellanby.

The NHL would ban rat-throwing the following year, saying that in caused too much of a delay on the ice. The Florida Panthers have only made the playoffs twice in the ten years since rat-mania, and they have not once gotten past the first round.

Mellanby ended his Panthers tenure after he was traded to the St. Louis Blues in February, 2001, but he still ranks first in Panthers history in goals and points scored. After a short revival with the Blues, Mellanby signed with the Atlanta Thrashers following the 2004 lockout. He was named team captain in his two seasons with Atlanta, and Mellanby’s third-seeded Thrashers fell in a sweep to the New York Rangers in what would be his last playoff series.

Only Phil Housley and Mike Gartner have played in more career games without hoisting the Stanley Cup, but Mellanby’s most dedicated efforts have actually come off the ice.

In honor of his autistic son Carter, he founded the Mellanby Autism Foundation in 1998 and co-founded Athletes Against Autism with Byron Dafoe and Olaf Kolzig. Mellanby’s foundation alone has raised and granted more than $300,000 dollars to autism related organizations.

While Scott has not yet decided where his life will go from here, one can be sure he’ll keep following the trail, living life the Mellanby way.

First Look: Devils-Senators
by David Carty

The Devils and Senators had similar roads to the postseason. Both teams pounded through the regular season finishing with over 100 points. (Only two points separate the teams.) Injuries stole ice time from each team’s top personnel: the entire EGG line of the Devils, and Jason Spezza and Mike Fisher of the Sens were just a few of the skating wounded. Each squad even had its own challenge in former #1 overall picks to square off against in the first round to reach this point.

Sidney Crosby and Vincent Lecavalier are stars of the game; they both provided strong offensive production against the Devils and Senators, respectively. While similarities between the two teams exist, their style of play couldn’t be more different. In what could be the best second-round match-up the NHL has to offer, it will be a classic battle of offense versus defense.

Forwards

When healthy, New Jersey’s EGG line of Patrick Elias, Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta is a tactful well-oiled machine that can do as much damage as any line in the NHL. Just look at how they performed against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Gomez leads the NHL in postseason points heading into round two with nine. Elias and Gionta aren’t far behind with six apiece. Zach Parise’s breakthrough season featured the 22-year-old as a determined player with tremendous leadership skills. In other words, Parise was built for Lou Lamoriello’s system. Backed by specialists Jamie Langenbrunner (postseason wizard) and John Madden (perennial Selke contender), the Devils boast solid play up front that is not to be overlooked.

Yet the edge stays with the Sens. Dany Heatley is too skilled a player to fall into the trappings of the New Jersey defense and will make his presence known. Jason Spezza, paired with Heatley, has developed into one of the game’s better table-setters. Daniel Alfredsson still has some postseason demons to answer to, but no need to call an exorcist. Outstanding ability will always find its way.

Advantage: Senators

Defense

Richard Matvichuk missed 81 games during the NHL season with a back injury. But since his return he hasn’t missed a beat. In Sunday’s clinching Game Six, Matvichuk logged the second most ice-time on the team (22:34) and that was after being cross-checked by Vincent Lecavalier and missing the final minutes of the first period. Brian Rafalski has been as active on the offensive charge as any Devils player with seven postseason points. Paul Martin compliments Rafalski by logging a ton of minutes and playing a solid two-way game.

Anton Volchenkov has taken it upon himself to try to replace every inch of Zdeno Chara’s 6’ 9” frame. That’s mission impossible, though Volchenkov is effective in his role when staying disciplined and not getting behind the play. The yin to Volchenkov’s yang, Wade Redden, answers the call whenever needed. He possesses all the offensive ability Volchenkov lacks and the leadership abilities to command a blue line. In the end though, New Jersey has built its franchise on defense. This year’s Devils may not strike fear into opponents (that job was previously occupied by Scott Stevens); they still finished with the Eastern Conference’s best defense.

Advantage: Devils

Goaltending

Does the question need to be asked? Martin Brodeur’s accomplishments, postseason or otherwise can be rattled off by even the most casual Devils fan. If not for a kid named Sid, Martin Brodeur would be walking home with the Hart Trophy. Instead, Martin will have to settle for another Vezina trophy. If anyone was worried about Brodeur slowing down, setting the single-season record for wins with 48 did enough to silence the doubters.

After winning the starting job in November, Ray Emery has done more than a serviceable job in net for the Sens. His progression this season has reassured those who have said he could use more seasoning. But in the playoff season, Brodeur is about as close as you’ll get to perfection between the pipes.

Advantage: Devils

Special Teams

In the regular season, both squads finished in the middle of the pack on the power-play. Neither team was inspiring or disappointing, but the postseason has been a different story. The Devils and the Senators rank first and second respectively in power-play goals in round one. With the EGG line clicking on all cylinders, it appears that special teams will indeed be where the damage is done.

But not so fast; the Devils enjoyed the East’s best penalty kill unit and will not make things easy for Ottawa. The Senators themselves played strongly down a skater, but nobody can match the Devils’ ability to neutralize threats in their zone.

Advantage: Devils

Coaching

It’s the house that Lou Lamoriello built. The only problem has been trying to find a coach (not named Jacques) who he can trust behind the wheel. The other obvious solution is to handle it yourself. For the second time, Lamoriello fired his head coach with just weeks left in the regular season as he begins his second tenure as Devils coach. The players only had three days to work with Lamoriello, but the nucleus of the team is well familiar with his system and played for him in his first coaching stint.

Meanwhile Bryan Murray faces the challenge again. Murray is comparable to Marty Schottenheimer of the NFL, except that Schottenheimer has actually made it to the big dance before. With this talented a squad, pressure will be placed squarely on Murray’s shoulders to deliver results. Another second round postseason loss, albeit to the Devils, are not the kind of results Senators’ brass or fans will accept. And we know what happened to Marty Schottenheimer this off-season.

Advantage: Devils

Summary

An edge on defense means an edge on the tempo of a game. The New Jersey Devils have been reinventing the same formula for years under Lamoriello’s leadership and this year is no different. It’s hard to call Brodeur’s 2006-07 season a career year, but he set career highs in wins, games played, minutes, and shutouts; a scary thought. Heatley and company are plenty capable of squeaking a few past the stingy Devils defense. But when push comes to shove, the Devils resiliency and experience will win out in the end.

Prediction: Devils in five

Game Schedule
Thu, April 26 7:00 p.m. at New Jersey
Sat, April 28 8:00 p.m. at New Jersey
Mon, April 30 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa
Wed, May 2 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa
Sat, May 5 8:00 p.m. at New Jersey
Mon, May 7 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa
Wed, May 9 7:00 p.m. at New Jersey

Devils Dispose of the Lightning
by David Carty

In New Jersey, it has always been about the system. Lou Lamoriello is the longest-tenured NHL GM for good reason. Whether it was playing the trap in the pre-lockout, middle-aged time hockey, or simply controlling the pace of the game, the Devils never waver from the course Lamoriello sets.

Throughout all of the player retirement and turnover and coaches either quitting or getting the axe, there has always been Martin Brodeur. Largely overshadowed by Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek for half of his NHL career, Brodeur is and has been the face (or the mask) of the New Jersey Devils since winning the Calder Trophy in 1994. And as he’s developed, he’s become the backbone in a Devils franchise predicated on defense.

Thirteen years later, Brodeur is as good as ever. Brodeur, who will turn 35 in two weeks, stopped 32 of 34 shots to win a deciding Game Five against the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-2. Brian Rafalski netted his second power-play goal of the postseason and added an assist to bolster New Jersey’s strong special teams play.

But it was the Devils’ E-G-G line that amounted for most of the damage. Brian Gionta netted his fourth playoff goal on a short-side snapshot high over Johan Holmqvist’s glove. Gionta struck again in the second period beating Holmqvist with a hesitation wrist-shot from the left circle. Lightning defenseman Filip Kuba looked shaky on both scores. First, getting beat on Elias’s feed to Gionta while on the back-check; then, knocking over Holmqvist on Gionta’s second goal.

Patrick Elias assisted on all three Devils goals, controlling the offensive charge throughout the duration of the first two periods. And Scott Gomez added two assists of his own, as the Devils’ entire offensive production came down to the E-G-G line (plus Brian Rafalski, who also added an assist). All in all, New Jersey’s top line amounted for 14 of the team’s 26 shots and conspired to send the Lightning packing.

Brad Richards tallied Tampa Bay’s only two goals on the afternoon; both were on the power-play, and came within a span of six minutes. The Lightning entered Game Six with a pedestrian 2-for-20 success rate on the power-play against the Devils’ stingy penalty kill unit. Richards’ goals riled up the capacity crowd and served as a breath of fresh air for the struggling Lightning.

Unfortunately, it would be their last breath.

The same feisty play that marked (or marred) the Lightning’s first period effort was not evident in the third period. Brodeur played through screens and heavy traffic in the crease in the game’s first two periods and made the third period look no more difficult than a speed bump en route to the victory. On New Jersey’s rare defensive lapses, Brodeur was waiting to steer clear any offensive opportunity provided by the Lightning. In the third, Brodeur stopped the Lightning’s period-low ten shots on net and faced only a single unsuccessful power-play to begin the period.
Brodeur’s 93rd career postseason victory served to send home the league’s most dynamic duo, Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier. The duo’s frustrations were evident early in the first period. Lecavalier and St. Louis even spent a romantic two minutes in the penalty box together. The penalties occurred after Brodeur denied a Lecavalier offering on the doorstep. Lecavalier cross-checked Richard Matvichuk in the back after the play, sending Matvichuk to the locker room for the period. Matvichuk, who missed all but one game of the regular season after undergoing back surgery, returned for action in the second period. St. Louis argued with the officiating crew and received matching unsportsmanlike conduct penalties with Devils defensive specialist John Madden.

In the end, St. Louis and Lecavalier couldn’t crack the league’s likely Vezina trophy recipient. The duo combined for nine shots and only one point, an assist by Lecavalier on Richards’ second goal; the Lightning’s final goal of the 2006-07 campaign. The Devils will face the fourth seeded Ottawa Senators; Game One is reportedly set for Tuesday night.

Wings Dominate in Motown
by David Carty

The Calgary Flames knew they’d have to defy the odds to come away with a win Saturday afternoon. Riding high after evening the series at home 2-2, a first class ticket back to Hockeytown was the last thing the Flames wanted. With an abysmal thirteen road victories staring them in the face, the Flames resorted to what they know best. Being physical.

However, the pure talent of the Red Wings was not to be denied. The somewhat maligned Henrik Zetterberg found his stride to the tune of two goals and one assist. Captain Niklas Lidstrom added four assists on his own en route to a 5-1 stomping of the Flames.

Dion Phaneuf mixed things up early with Todd Bertuzzi, amongst others, in what was Bertuzzi’s first home playoff performance in Detroit. Bertuzzi looked sluggish at times, allowing a dangerous giveaway to Alex Tanguay in the Detroit zone two minutes into play. But luckily for the Red Wings, some of those old bones found a little extra spring in their stride.

Dominik Hasek’s stop on Tanguay was a sign of things to come. The Dominator played a near perfect game, and matched Miika Kiprusoff save-for-save early in the game. Later in the period, Hasek stymied Jeff Friesen on a 2-on-1 caused by an ill-advised hit by Danny Markov in the attacking zone. Hasek stopped all eight efforts on what was, at best, a spotty power play effort for the Flames.

Nevertheless, the Flames came out of the gate with a chip on their shoulder. Calgary’s eleven shots nearly matched Detroit’s fourteen as the two squads fought to a scoreless stalemate after one. Daymond Langkow played strong on the forecheck and helped to create several Flames opportunities. Langkow and Tony Amonte each contributed two shots on net and made Dominik Hasek work throughout the duration of the period.

And that’s when the wheels fell off the Flames' wagon.

After Tomas Holmstrom pushed Brad Stuart into Miikka Kiprusoff earlier in the game, the officials opted to crack down on goaltender interference. The Wings' first goal was waved off after tagging Kirk Maltby with a goaltender interference penalty. Maltby appeared to be led into the net by Mark Giordano, but instead Detroit got the goal waved off and Calgary went on the power play.

After more brilliance in net by Hasek, the Wings began the damage.

Dan Cleary beat Kiprusoff with a backhand on his first career penalty shot to break the scoreless tie. The shot came after Cleary was tripped up by Roman Hamrlik on a short-handed breakaway, and it was one of many opportunities the Red Wings created for themselves while on the penalty kill. The Red Wings went back to peppering a dazzling Kiprusoff, and held the Flames without a shot on net for the first ten minutes of the second period.

Five minutes later, Zetterberg lit the lamp, burying a feed from Lidstrom to put the Wings' lead at two.

The second period was also one of rejuvenation for Chris Chelios. After stopping two shots on one Calgary power play opportunity, Chelios netted his first goal of the 2006-07 campaign, putting Detroit up 3-0. Detroit capped an outstanding defensive effort by blanking the Flames on a late 5-on-3 and kept the three goal lead heading into the third.

The third period capped the Flames’ downward spiral. While the Wings added to their lead, Calgary continued the physical play, often after the whistle. Not surprisingly, the Flames were responsible for eleven of the fourteen penalties called in the third period.

Phaneuf and Bertuzzi dropped the gloves, and Phaneuf was slapped with the instigator penalty. Later, Stephane Yelle was slapped with a slashing penalty and a five minute major for attempt to injure.

The most notable offender was backup goaltender Jamie McLennan, who received a grand total of eighteen seconds of ice time in relief of Miikka Kiprusoff. His shift consisted of poking a battling Johan Franzen in front of his net, then hitting him with his stick after play had stopped. McLennan received a game misconduct and will face suspension from the NHL.

The Flames brutishly concluded the game using every opportunity at their disposal to throw in a little extra pain, including a double minor to Jerome Iginla that sent the captain to the shower before time expired.

Calgary's self-destruction now sends them back home trailing 3-2. Detroit simply manhandled the Flames, leaving them looking foolish and thuggish by the game’s finish. Calgary’s offense clicked in the first period, before degrading and collapsing as the game progressed. And in order for Calgary to extend their playoff life, they’ll have to control their emotion and play to their strengths.

Of course, that’s not quite so easy when you’re up against dominance and The Dominator.

Welcome to the Buehrlesque show
By: David Carty

Gas = success. The equation for success amongst many baseball scouts over the past century. Blow it by your opponent, rattle him a bit with a slight break, and then back for some more hot tamales. Anything less doesn't cut the mustard. It's not easy to deny their logic. All in one instant, a 90-MPH fastball is laughed at by hitters, measured up, and sent on a complimentary ride to the bleachers, where alcohol-fueled fisticuffs determine the rightfull owner of the doomed baseball. To succeed at this level among the world's best, you've gotta be able to put a little zip on the ball.

Luckily, Mark Buehrle doesn't buy into what scouts have to say.

A lowly 38th round selection out of lowly Jefferson College (located in Hillsboro, Missouri, in case you forgot), Buehrle's plane ticket would be much harder to earn than many of his cohorts. 38 rounds deep, for many players, is too far to see that light at the end of the tunnel.

But Buehrle and his 6'2", 200 pound frame were built for one thing. Speed.

Mark made 36 total minor league appearances, less than half of which were made above Class A, before making his Major League debut in relief in 2000. He was the league's third youngest player that year. Buehrle allowed one run in one inning in his first Major League appearance against the Milwaukee Brewers. Three days later, he made his first career start against the Minnesota Twins. He hasn't looked back.

Stop-watch enthusiasts would find a Buehrle pitched game to their liking. To the naked eye, it may seem as though Buerhle rushes from pitch-to-pitch. To the trained eye, however, it is easy to see that he works deliberately. Deliberately fast.

Ironic, isn't it? A pitcher who bears down for a low 90's heater is among baseball's quickest working hurlers. Just ask the 2005 Seattle Mariners, who wrapped up an afternoon at the ballpark in 1 hour and 39 minutes, just 63 minutes discounting the time filled by a lovely word from sponsors.

Of course, that was hardly the highlight of an action-packed 2005 White Sox season. Backed by Buehrle's career-best 3.12 earned run average, Chicago finished atop the baseball world, defeating the Houston Astros in a sweep for the World Series Championship. It would be their first Championship since 1917; 88 years of waiting, but who's in a rush?

The celebration stopped early in 2006 for Mark Buehrle as White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams ordered Buehrle to stop performing on the field. No, Buehrle was not restricted from pitching. He was forbidden from sliding on the tarp covering the field during rain delays. The lack of rain may have dried Buehrle's mojo. He finished with his first career losing season, 12-13 with a 4.99 ERA.

The team supported Buehrle in his other favorite past time. Pitching. Despite his losing effort the previous season, the White Sox exercised a $9.5 million option on him for 2007.

The southpaw would earn his paycheck.

Last night, Buehrle goose-egged the Texas Rangers in the White Sox' 16th career no-hitter. One walk to a soon-to-be hall of famer broke up Buehrle's bid for perfection, but Buehrle, all the wiser, didn't let it affect his game. In the next at-bat, Buehrle wound and delivered a strike...to first base, picking off Sammy Sosa, fresh off his not-so-retirement vacation.

But are the scouts correct? How can Mark Buehrle, who has been marred by inconsistency, blank a team that perennially rank amongst the league's best in offense?

In May 2006, Buehrle allowed seven runs in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins. Winning pitcher in that game, Mark Buehrle. He became the first pitcher to accomplish such a feat since 1900, the year the American League was founded.

Is the answer simply good support from his teammates?

Forget for a second that Buehrle got the win in Major League's Baseball's Futures game in the year 2000, started and won the 2005 All-Star game, and ranked first in innings pitched in 2004 and 2005. How does a pitcher who better fits in a wiffleball tournament stymie nine batters three times?

The answer, deception. Buehrle has been throwing those plus-plus changeups to baseball scouts for years.

After you get your fill of watching the Bobby Jenks' of the world, take a minute to watch the shear wizardry of Mark Buehrle.

He'll make sure you leave the stadium happily and quickly.