Draconator

Ok, I know I will open myself up to much possible ridicule with this, but in all honesty, I would want some feedback on this, from very smart sports fans. I sent an email to the closest email I could get for Bob Goodenow. It was a mailbag thing on the NHL CBA site. He hasn't answered a question in over 3 months, but it was worth a shot. Here's the email. This is in regards to the CBA mess us hockey fans are experiencing. I am quite positive that you have received many thousands of email from fans like me, who have their ideas on how to help reach an agreement. Allow me to share these simple thoughts. The players want the freedom to earn their worth. Cost certainty, or salary cap, will certainly take away monies due to the greatest athletes in the world. (When's the last time you saw Terrell Owens do what someone like Dominik Hasek can do?) Yet the owners want to make sure that they don't loose millions, and want a contract like the NFL, where owners earn millions. Why not have a CBA that gives both? Have a cap on those players in the NHL with less than "X" years of service. Then, if a player remains with a club for "X" amount of years, that team has the option to pay that player whatever amount they see fit, without the restrictions of a cap of any kind. I know that this will take away the free agency that all players covet. Yet as a fan, this system could possibly get us back to the days where a team could actually create a dynasty, like the Canadian's of the 70's, Islanders of the 80's, etc. If the casual fan sees that a top level player could possibly stay with one club for their entire careers, it would be a unique throwback that I believe would attract more hockey fans than anything else. It would also allow players to earn the top dollar contracts that the elite NHL athletes deserve. Thank you for allowing me to write these thoughts. So for all here. Do you think that a system where a player with less than 5, 6, 7 years of service would fall under a strict cap, and then after the negotiated years of service, get a chance to be paid any amount of salary an owner wants to pay, without any restrictions of any kind, would work?

That's the difference.

Someone on my Rush messageboard posted a link to Gizoogle, and translated the main page of my site. So on a boring night when my 2 year old daughter decided to have a Blues Clues viewing marathon, I translated a page from Don and Mike's website into Gizoogle. The result? http://www.donandmikewebsite.com/Product/G...gle-L021705.cfm Thus is my 15 seconds of Radio God's infamy.

NHLPA Press Release: http://www.nhlpa.com/Content/Feature.asp?contentId=3430 TORONTO (February 18, 2005): Late Thursday night the NHL requested a meeting with NHLPA representatives in New York. Today the NHLPA accepted the invitation and a meeting has been scheduled for Saturday.

Straight from the horses mouth, The Hockey News: http://www.thn.com/en/headlines/detail.asp...at=954945254360 Season saved Saturday? February 18, 2005 The NHL season is expected to be "un-canceled" Saturday in New York. A player close to the talks who asked to remain anonymous told The Hockey News the two sides have agreed to a deal in principle that features a $45-million salary cap. Asked if there was any way a deal won't get done, the player said, "not that I can see. I couldn't possibly imagine the idea that somebody is going to try to make a name for themselves in the last minute here." Following two days of media speculation that backroom talks between players and owners were taking place in an attempt to "un-cancel" the 2004-05 season, the NHL Players' Association issued a press release Friday night confirming it would be meeting with the league in New York on Saturday. If the two sides are as close as expected, an agreement in principle could be made public tomorrow. As first reported by The Hockey News, Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux are still believed to be major players in the process. Both are reported to be in New York taking part in the talks. "I believe all (that) stuff is pretty accurate," said the player. A second source confirmed Lemieux traveled to New York on Friday. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman cancelled the season Wednesday with the two sides seemingly within striking distance of a settlement. Though the components of their offers had some differences, the sides agreed on the basic premise of a salary cap with luxury taxes. The union was offering a $49-million cap and the league $42.5 million. One NHL GM told The Hockey News Bettman’s decision to cancel the season had a lot to do with history repeating itself. In other words, if NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow thought he was going to maintain his reputation of being a successful deadline hunter, he was wrong. Since the season was called off, there has been considerable movement among the players as well as agents and GMs to do whatever is necessary to get talks started again in an attempt to save the season. Detroit captain Steve Yzerman told The Hockey News Thursday afternoon he believed the season could be saved. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily tonight, tomorrow morning, Friday night or Saturday…I know the season has been cancelled, but it’s not too late to 'un-cancel' it.”

Of course, it's just media speculation I'm posting here, but some in Chicago are seeing Bledsoe as someone to help Grossman. Drew might have to accept a backup role after all? http://bears.scout.com/2/352594.html Is Bledsoe Worth a Look? By Jason Klabacha Date: Feb 16, 2005 The Bears suffered through a 5-11 season largely because there wasn’t a backup quarterback on the roster when the year started. GM Jerry Angelo has learned a lesson from counting on good health to be successful, so look for the Bears to explore adding a veteran signal caller, such as Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe's release from Buffalo is imminent, as the Bills go with a youth movement and J.P. Losman. A veteran of many NFL wars while with the New England Patriots and Bills, Bledsoe now finds himself in a precarious position. The market for a 33-year old quarterback that isn’t very mobile is slim, but Bledsoe still commands some interest. The end is not yet in sight for this former first overall pick. If Angelo decides to court Bledsoe, it wouldn’t be the first time. Following the ’01 season the Bears contemplated trading for the four-time Pro Bowler, but decided the price of a future first round pick was too steep. Over three seasons in Buffalo, Bledsoe has started every game and thrown 55 touchdown passes to 43 interceptions. The only season Bledsoe hasn’t been the starter in his career is 2001. He suffered a serious chest injury in the second game of the season and Tom Brady hasn’t looked back, leading the New England Patriots to three Super Bowl victories in four years. After 12 years in the league it might be time for Bledsoe to accept a backup role for less money. Giving him the option to challenge Grossman and Chad Hutchinson in training camp could entice him to come to Chicago. It’s Grossman’s time to emerge as the answer at quarterback, but if anything goes wrong, Bledsoe and Hutchinson would be a major upgrade over Jonathan Quinn and Craig Krenzel a year ago. Bledsoe isn’t the only veteran that will be available when free agency starts on March 2nd and the Bears aren’t going to be the only team exploring their options. Jeff Garcia has been released within the last week, while Kurt Warner is looking to get out of New York. However, either would come with baggage and might not accept playing second fiddle. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and San Francisco 49ers will all be looking to add a veteran starter or backup to the mix.

The NHL needs a detailed revenue sharing plan. If team "X" spends $30M, and Team "Y" spends $50M, team "X" gets $10M to make it able to compete with team "Y". This needs to be detailed and agreed upon, before any discussions of a salary cap can even begin. Unfortunately, both sides are focusing on the cap, with is a classic cart before the horse situation. If any league needs a dedicated revenue sharing plan, for basic survival, it's the NHL.

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory?id=502765

I think it's gonna be Vince Ferragamo. His last stay in Buffalo, and he wants a chance for redemption.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=1992364 Dear Bob: We attempted to reach out to you with yesterday's offer of a team maximum cap of $42.2 million ($40 million in salary and $2.2 million in benefits) which was not linked to league-wide revenues. As Bill told Ted, "de-linking" a maximum team salary cap from league revenues and total league-wide player compensation has always been problematic for us, especially since we cannot now quantify the damage to the League from the lockout. This presents the risk we will pay out more than we can afford. As you know, if all 30 teams were to spend to the maximum we proposed, and if the damage to our business is as we discussed at our meetings in New York, then the league would continue to lose money. I know, as do you, that the "deal" we can make will only get worse for the players if we cancel the season -- whatever damage we have suffered to date will pale in comparison to the damage from a cancelled season and we will certainly not be able to afford what is presently on the table. Accordingly, I am making one final effort to reach out to make a deal that will let us play this season. We are increasing our offer of yesterday by increasing the maximum individual team cap to $44.7 million ($42.5 million in salary and $2.2 million in benefits). This offer is not an invitation to begin negotiations -- it's too late for that. This is our last effort to make a deal that's fair to the players and one that the clubs (hopefully) can afford. We have no more flexibility and there is no time for further negotiation. If this offer is acceptable, please let me know by 11:00 A.M. tomorrow, in advance of my scheduled press conference. Hopefully, the press conference will not be necessary. Sincerely, Gary B. Bettman Commissioner

With a team in Toronto, they would surely have to build a new stadium. The Rogers Center (nee. Skydome), is horrible for football, and only sits about 55,000. They just redesigned the old University Stadium for the Argo's, and it cost more to do that, than what Skydome was sold for to Rogers Cable. Skydome is a severe money loosing proposition, and I don't think Toronto, or the Ontario and Canadian Governments, would want to foot any portion of funding needed to build a new N.F.L. quality facility.

Short term? Good points made Long Term? Total waste

The only place I've seen it in bars is at the Bills bar in S.F. (NorthStar). I think McCovey's is gonna start offering it also.

You should see what they did with their headquarters in L.A.! Something like a $100 Million renovation to an old hospital. That place is HUGE! And you can't miss the only sky blue building in Los Angeles.

For me non-Bills, it was the Denver/Green Bay game. Not only was it nice seeing Farve loose, but after watching the game at Casino Niagara, I went to a $5 slot, and won $500 on one pull!

LACES OUT!!!

If this does go through, I can imagine a lot of similar reaction to what the City of Oakland did for Grandma Al Davis. They soaked taxpayers for over $100 to lure the Raiders back to Oakland, and now the first thing you see when leaving the Oakland Airport is Mount Davis. Now, when the A's really need a new stadium to keep the team in Oakland, there's no way taxpayers are gonna go for it, due to what happened 10 years ago with what turned out to be a debacle for the Raiders. The new owner is looking hard to keep the team in Oakland, and build a new stadium in the Colliseum parking lot, but if the city and state can't come up with the additional $350 for a stadium (The A's are willing to kick in $100 Million), they'll be in either San Jose, Sacremento, or Las Vegas. When it's time for the Yankees, Mets, or any other team to get a new stadium, or major improvements to their existing facilities, this $600 Million offer could put such a sour face on public funding for a new stadium, that the other teams will be S.O.L.

I am literally clueless on this years draft, but if there is a very good DL who is a pass rush specialist, that's who I would pick.

My wife's mom lives very close to Westwood Memorial Park. In there you can find the gravesites/memorials for: - Marilyn Monroe - Dean Martin - Buddy Rich - Natalie Wood - Mel Torme - Heather O'Rourke - Frank Zappa among many others. The most interesting thing, was on Dean Martin's memorial (he was creamated), his stone was covered in lipstick lip prints! http://www.seeing-stars.com/Buried2/PierceBros.shtml I also spent quite a bit at Arlington National a number of years ago.

My stepson who's in 5th grade gets a week for President's Day, and a week at Easter. (Bay Area, California).

Someone is downloading them for me, then burning me a copy. I should be getting them abouts the middle of February.

www.rushmessageboard.com - Mine www.oakball.net - Oakland A's

http://www.nbc4.tv/slideshow/4130829/detai...l?qs=;s=1;w=320

Just reported that the Metrolink Commuter Train collided with a Union Pacific Train.

Commuter Train Derails In Glendale January 26, 2005, 6:42 AM PST GLENDALE -- At least one and possibly two Metrolink commuter trains derailed this morning in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale. There's no word yet on the numbers of people injured. Firefighters were searching through the wreckage at this hour. Fire crews on the ground are reporting that there are fatalities. Television reports showed smoke coming from twisted wreckage at the scene of the crash, where two separate trains could be seen derailed. The derailment happened near San Fernando Road and Chevy Chase Boulevard. Copyright © 2005, KTLA On the Fox Affiliate I'm watching this morning, this is about 6 miles north of Dodger Stadium