Let's face it, Bettman & Co. are back where they were 2 years ago, with the same financials (give or take) at play, where they can spend waaaay too much then they'll complain about making money.  They should ALL be fired, Bettman first for allowing this 2 years after the strike.

Congrats to the GMs who did not go berserk, namely our GM Bob Gainey who is criticized on a regular basis for "inaction" but heck, he's not sinking his ship with contracts.

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#31) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

A simple yet efficient way to improve player protection and eliminate fights is actually very simple: full-face helmet protection.  If they guy in front of you has a full metal grill or an I-Tech style transparent unit, how can you punch him in the face?  The ones to loose the most will be dentists anyway..

Also, on the topic of player protection, force them to wear kevlar neckguards.  The NHL has the ability and authority to impose (with the NHLPA) equipment obligations.  Look at Richard Zednik's injury.  'nuff said!

The problem in all this revolves around Bettman and the ruleset.  Take out fights and the players will pull dirty moves.  How to manage dirty moves?  5 to 10 game suspensions without pay.  And the NHLPA should go with this because they're protecting the well-being of their members.  If a dirty players gets caught 4 times (and yes such penalties should be given after the game from video replays), he looses half the season and half the pay.  I call that motivation.

Also in that line of thought, actual hockey players will get promoted to more ice time and the show will get better with more plays and more passing and more goals.  Don't mess with the goalies' equipment, just make the players play.  Sometimes I think rules for women's hockey should be applied to the NHL..

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#30) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#29) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

An UPDATE on OFFSIDE SPORTS... well, of sorts. I'm still swamped with work and haven't had a chance to get another OFFSIDE SPORTS out and it may be another week yet. I'm starting to think that Saturday will be my OFFSIDE SPORTS day... so look for the NEXT OFFSIDE SPORTS Saturday next week. In regards to the anthologies I mentioned... oy... I've hit a snag there as well. SO CLOSE.... they're coming but not for a while yet.

Thanks again for your patience and support!

Ken

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#28) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

Also... a word about OFFSIDE SPORTS. Once again I have had an incredibly busy few weeks and just haven't been able to get a cartoon out. I am working very hard to find a specific time in my schedule that will allow me to consistently deliver a cartoon a week. Obviously, when I'm this busy, that's difficult... but I am pushing hard. I apologize to all of you who have been disappointed not to see a cartoon last week, and most likely, this week.

The GOOD news is that my OFFSIDE SPORTS - YEAR 1 anthology should be ready at LULU.com by next week with my StraightJAB - YEAR 1 to follow shortly after that. So look for them both soon!

Thanks again for your patience and support!

Ken

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#27) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

Quite frankly, I don't think the Hurricanes should be in slot # 3, they should be #7..  Bettman & Co. should kill this program for 2008/9..

Also... I've got a new sched out for these. Check back every February 29th!

Ok... but can you blame me for trying? Check back every week for more OFFSIDE SPORTS!

Thanks again.

Ken

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#26) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

Check out my new "BLUEPRINT FOR DISASTER" cartoon in the Offside Sports section.

Thanks!

And thanks again for being patient!

Ken

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#25) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

UPDATE:

FREELANCE DEADLINES!!! I just can't escape them and consequently OFFSIDE SPORTS #37 will preview today. My apologies yet again.

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#24) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

UPDATE:

Due to unforeseen circumstances OFFSIDE SPORTS #37 will preview tomorrow and not today. My apologies.

To get to lulu.com either click on this link:

...Or on the side-bar link OR on the button associated with each posted cartoon (I only have the first 33 OFFSIDE SPORTS set-up for this to date but will have the full roster finished by this weekend). In the coming months I'll be putting together coffee table book anthologies for each as well so you can have the entire 2007 collection of OFFSIDE SPORTS or StraightJAB. Also... look for custom desktop images and other assorted OFFSIDE SPORTS and StraightJAB goodies at the store.

If you have ANY suggestions or requests for specific gear I'd love to hear about them so drop me a line.

Thanks!

Ken

If you noticed that team #3 (Washington) has 60 points and should be in the slot after the Panthers, you got it right. Bettman & Co. need to address this rule now or for next season. I don't think this system brings any value where if no teams from a division don't make it past 82 games. If your team doesn't make it it sucks, but who cares about divisions really. Top 8 go in, the rest play golf.

If you want change in the NHL, check these guys out.

Thanks!

Ken

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#23) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

Thanks!

Ken

Look for my next "StraightJAB" (#22) sports cartoon in the Georgia Straight this week.

• Speed race: boooring - bring back the old format
• Too much happening at the same time at once on the once when they did the "team activity", cameras were not keeping up
• The judges for the last segment were nobodies - where were Gretzky, Bossy, Lafleur or other hall of famer?

They need to shape up this activity, it holds a lot of potential but excecution is, well, bad.  When the players have to ask for pucks, you hit rock bottom.

I think these guys got it right.

Quite frankly, when the NHL is not selling into it's key demographic (the north part of North America, like Winnipeg & Quebec City) and is trying to keep teams in Nashville (??) and implement one in Las Vegas (ice hockey in the desert..) they need to re-think where they're going with this.

Plus, the NHL all-stars are a no-show at the all-star game, which is absurd, just a tad less absurd of showing games on the Vs channel.  Talk to ESPN for crying out loud!  Talk to local TV stations!  Give all these guys a great deal, cancel the Vs contract and get some viewers.  Sounds like rocket science?

For those who want a good laugh and like hockey, try this film.  Just trust me, it features "Gary Buttman".

The Wings played flat in the first 20 and never really got it going. Osgood was stellar most of the night as the game could have gotten out of hand much sooner than it did. Well actually it never got out of hand, Turco finally showed up for a game. Some say this is the second coming but 1 good game out of 21 against the Wings doesn't prove to me that he has turned the corner. The Wings get a couple days rest and can finish them off at home a place Turco still has never won.

A lot of people were calling into the radio today saying Sutherland cost us the game. I don't believe he did. Would it have changed the game, probably, but would it have been an automatic win for the Wings if the goal stood? Who knows. No one likes calls like that to decide a game much less in a possible elimination game in a Conference Final but sadly this is the new NHL. I have never been one for conspiracy theories especially in the sports world but the NHL seems so fixed to me at times. It also didn't surprise me that they showed Gary Bettman in the stands last night with a huge smile on his face as he watched his well oiled machine work to his screwed up rules. What are the rules? Look at Eriksson's goal for instance. The puck is thrown to the net and he is standing there, in the crease clear as day, blocking the right side of the net and the puck bounces off him. Osgood had no chance to shift to his right because of it. Is that not interference? It's hard to tell given the rule which could have it's own separate book. Yet in game one Homer clearly is in the crease standing in front of Marty and the goal counts. This lack of consistency and a rule that is so ambiguous that not even the refs have any concrete way to defend their actions makes this game a joke at times.

Okay now I am just starting to rant. Though it would be worse if I was talking about the Tigers.

I think we will be okay and in the long run it was just a bump in the road to the Cup.

So just a couple of thoughts now that the smoke has settled on what may have killed All-Star games in the NHL.

 Mic'd Goalies are a necessity.

Target Shooting should become the 'Home Run Derby' of the NHL.

Lose the goalie on the 'Fancy Pants Breakaway' competition. Let's be honest, this is an ape of the NBA dunk competition and at no time ever did the guys in the NBA have to worry about a defender smacking them down.

3-on-3 Hockey will save the All-Star Game. 2 Forwards, 1 Defenseman. Let the Fans vote for the top 4 forwards and top 2 defensemen. Let the Coaches pick the remaining players while lopping-off a skater for a fourth goaltender (there's always a goaltender snub). Play 4 10 minute periods and just have some fun. You'd see some incredible plays with that much ice.

 It's clear the All-Star Game isn't 'playoff hockey' so embrace the difference. Welcome players from across the league to take part in the hardest shot and fastest skater competitions. Maybe fans will find some new 'unknowns' to identify with and include the young stars in all of the activities.

It's not the stars that fail, it's the league who can't figure out how to showcase them.