A Slap on the Wrist???

To say I disagree with the decision of the NHL regarding Zdeno Chara's hit last night on Max Pacioretty is a colossal understatement. In case you missed it last night, Chara rode Pacioretty into the stantion at the end of the bench early in the third period. Pacioretty lay motionless on the ice for some time, clearly unconscious and was eventually taken off on a stretcher. He was awake as he was taken off of the ice. Today it was reported on tsn.ca that Pacioretty not only suffered a severe concussion but he also has a fractured vertebrate. The NHL's stance is that since Chara is not a repeat offender and since he didn't leave his feet, there is no reason for a suspension or fine. Are you kidding me???? The puck was nowhere near the two as Chara rode him out. Furthermore, there is no denying that these two have had a bit of an issue with one another since Pacioretty scored a winning goal in a game between the two earlier in the season. When you add to that the fact that Pacioretty was arguably one of the best players on the ice in a game that the Hab's were clearly winning, how can you not think Chara had intentions of doing something. After the game he was quoted as saying he didn't want to hurt him. If that is the case, why the blindside interference on a guy who clearly has you beaten to the outside in pursuit of the puck? This is the stuff that makes me sick......and the fact the NHL slaps him on the wrist with nothing more than a conference call makes me more sick to my stomach. Chara wanted to hit Pacioretty...no doubt about it in my mind. What is it going to take before the NHL stands up and does something about this??? Had Chris Neil, or someone who has been suspended in the past laid that hit, do you think they would have gotten zero games and no fine??? Not a stinking chance. You could even argue that this hit was exponentially worse than the Trevor Gillies hit on Cal Clutterbuck last week that earned the big goon ten games. This is a joke, plain and simple. Max Pacioretty may never play in the NHL ever again and all the NHL can do is tell Chara that what he did wasn't nice and he shouldn't do it again!! Shame on you NHL for letting allowing players to get away with these type of blows, and then in the next moment talk about ways to end the head shots in hockey! Get it together!

In sticking with the theme of leagues who allow individuals to get away with stuff that should never be allowed, let's turn our attention to the US and NCAA football. In particular I am talking about the events surrounding the Ohio State Buckeyes Football team. For starters, five players on the team, including starting QB Terrelle Pryor are suspended for the first five games of this season for selling OSU merchandise, as well as receiving perks like free tatoo's in exchange for Buckeye's merchandise. The fact that these suspensions were handed out prior to their January Bowl Game, yet they were still allowed to play irked me. Now that it comes out that their coach Jim Tressel was not only cognizant of this; he did nothing about it which makes it that much worse in my mind. Last week I talked about my beef with NCAA athletes and their law breaking tendencies. This is ludicrous that players are caught breaching NCAA rules yet allowed to play in the biggest game of the year, and will now sit out games at the start of the season that will probably see Ohio State play a bunch of teams who have little hope of victory, which in essence does nothing to threaten their chances of appearing in a major bowl game and assuring that both Ohio State University and the NCAA make money, millions of dollars of money. And what does Tressel get for his admission of guilt, a two game suspension and a $250, 000 fine. That might seem like a larg eamount of money, but I can assure you that the head coach of Ohio State makes millions per season. Why does both the NCAA and Ohio State allow this to happen??? When are people going to stand up and do the right thing??? Tressel should be fired, most in the civilized world are for breaking the rules of their employer, and those five players should never have been allowed to play in January and should be forced to sit out games that matter. Only then will Ohio State be forced to suffer as a program which in my opinion should happen everytime you break the rules.

On to something that doesn't irk me, but rather brings a feelign of warmth and comfort. Am I the only one getting as much amusement out of the struggles of the Miami Heat. The whole enjoyment stems from the summer when Dwayne Wade, Lebron James and Chris Bosh held a press conference in Miami where they declared themselves a 'dynasty'. Shouldn't a dynasty be the best team in the league? Not only are the Heat NOT the best team in the league, they aren't the best team in their conference. In fact, they are only the third best team in the their conference! I love it, I absolutely love it. And then talk that following their loss to the Bulls on Sunday, there were players crying in the locker room...not complaining but crying real tears, that is gold. Professional athletes crying over a loss...nothing could be better, in particular a group who pretty much annointed themselves champions for the next half decade in June. At this rate the Heat will be hard pressed to make it past the second round of the play - offs. Ahh, jus think in eight years we will be talking about that dynasty that was the Miami Heat...play - off appearances in eight straight years....only problem...zero championships and the sight of Lebron trying to remove that size 15 from his mouth.

It is now a known fact that Tiki Barber wants to return to the NFL. Why? From what I am reading, love of the game isn't exactly at the top of the list...seems Tiki needs a little money. He was dismissed from his analyst gig on NBC which paid him a reported $300, 000 a year because he left his eight month pregnant wife for a 23 year old intern, and NBC used their 'morals clause' Without that income, and what I am assuming is a rather large alimony payment, Tiki better hope somebody wants to take a chance on a 35 year old running back three years removed from football of any type. Can you say....Welcome to Home Depot...you can do it, Tiki can help.

That's it, that's all....a good guy who needs a shout out...Shomari Williams of the Riders. He was at my school to present some positive messages to our students yesterday, what a gem! Great guy, great message and a thrill to sit and talk with.