the 'Godfather' makes em' count the money...

How many days of rain before winter.These endless wet hours have got me dreaming,I know what your thinking,wet dreams.A quick glance at the calender tells me were so much closer than one might think.About fifty more repetitive reads left to go.Yeah,I'm as guilty as any,what with my 'topical reposts',but lord its hard to ride the high road when all anybody here seems to care about is predictions and T&A.

Well,I was rereading some old newspapers that are destined to start the wood stove at camp this winter;man,can't wait for ice fishing to commence,when I came across an article about the NHLPA and their efforts to scare the owners straight.Seems despite endless hours negotiating in good faith neither side can bring themselves to trust the other.

The union,so much so,they have hired a forensic accountant to dissect the 30 NHL teams and companies that own them.You see in the new era of revenue sharing, total company assets and disclosure of all aspects of related business are now under scrutiny.Hence the 'Godfather' of the forensic accounting industry is hired to consult.

Yeah,the 'Godfather',you know,his name is Bob,not Vito,but as far as clout goes this guy has got it in spades.Bob Lindquist is revered around the world as the best in his field.Get this for a resume.Don-Bob has investigated the likes of Bre-X minerals and was instrumental in uncovering the largest mining swindle of public money in mining history.He tackled the World Bank and their conflict of interests and fraudulent global loans,perhaps most impressive ,he spear headed an investigation into Swiss Banks that held dormant accounts of Holocaust victims.The latter investigation resulted in over a billion dollar settlement and a 'greater willingness' of major Swiss Banks to cooperate in the pursuit of monies laundered by criminals.

So.What ever will these owners do when they see this guy coming for dinner?Aside from sh!t their pants,I say clean up their act.Wouldn't you?Heres the thing.Roughly 55% of overall league revenues are earmarked for salaries.The union does not trust the league is doing as they preach,not fessing up all their hockey related revenue. For example;some companies own the team and the home arena yet make claims revenue from the latter does not fall into guidelines,nothing to do with their 'NHL investment'.The union claims that kind of 'wiggle' room has been eliminated in the new CBA and they are making the owners 'an offer they can't refuse'.Tow the line or pay the price anyway.

You know,when I read this stuff it makes me wonder if the game will ever be simple again.Will it ever be enough just to play for the love of hockey? Or,is it totally lost to the money.

One more sleep,than forty-nine more to go.Thats as high a number as I can bring myself to care about today.

no honor among thieves

Strategy plays a huge role in the development of professional hockey teams, as roster and personnel do. The trade deadline looms and the eyes of the hockey world watch. They wait to witness, critic, debate and ultimately judge.Some moves will speak for themselves as they carry their team forward to a decidedly respectable finish. Others will not. All the while the game will be played, the fans will be entertained, or will they? Powers to be make calls based on bang for their buck, or do they?

In this new age of sport, money and entertainment make for strange bedfellows.

Apparently a phenomenon unfamiliar to the hockey purist has arrived at the rink holding hands with the salary cap; I’ve even heard remarks boasting how attractive it is. This strategy hinges on getting something for free, you know, a reward for performing poorly. These people suggest that manipulating the leagues current draft format by fixing it so a team finish as close to last as it can is fair play. They would support this maneuver by dumping salaries and choosing marginal players in the interim. Jargon must exist to describe this twisted philosophy but I prefer to stay within my analogy.

Only a 'hockeywhore' would consider this acceptable!

Don’t get me wrong, a realist will accept the season is done for his/her current team and strategies to improve the chances to win.

TO WIN!

Not two years or more down the road, but next game. These conniving spoilsports would have the game rob its fans of the entertainment value they deserve. The game has got to be above board and fair just as it has to be more then dollars and cents.

WHY?

Because the game belongs to the fan and we won’t have it any other way. A fan will buy into higher prices, even accept changes to the game but we won’t tolerate cheating. We expect to be entertained in exchange for our dollar, our support, our passion. Owners and managers bear the responsibility to field the best team they know how, procure the venue best able to accommodate its fans. Only then can the league as a whole be strong and honestly achieve its highest level of play.

I’m not suggesting that there is a team contemplating cheating or that any team practices it, only that we fans should rise above this train of thought because there is no honor among thieves.