Charles Bell writes:
 
>I have been on this list for over four years and have yet to see the
>reason why everyone calls it the Phinal Phour.  I don't know why I am
>asking now, but I am going to cave in and request that someone tells me
>(please).  Oh, FWIW, I checked the Hockey-L FAQ and it did not give the
>reason.
 
Sacre bleu!  He's right.  The table of contents says:
 
XV. Hockey-L culture
    A. How was the list started?
    B. What is a ceramic dalmatian?
    C. Why the dollar signs?
    D. Why the PH's in Phinal Phour?
    E. What is an "Ogre?"
 
But section XV.D is the Ogre explanation.  Here's the explanation as
it appeared in section IX.B of a previous incarnation of the FAQ:
 
    B.  Why the PH's in Phinal Phour?
 
    The term "Final Four" has been copyrighted for referring to the
    college basketball finals only.  Hence the alternate spelling for
    the hockey national championship tournament.
 
I would propose the following (slightly revised) addition to the FAQ:
 
    D. Why the PH's in Phinal Phour?
 
    The term "Final Four" is a trademark referring to the NCAA men's
    and women's basketball finals.  Hence the alternate spelling for
    the hockey national championship tournament.  The term "Frozen
    Four" is also used.
 
    E.  What is an "Ogre?"
 
Sound good, Wayne?
                                         John Whelan, Cornell '91
                                               <[log in to unmask]>
                      <http://www.cc.utah.edu/~jtw16960/joe.html>
 
Attention ECAC:   Eight is Enough--Flush the Final Five!
 
HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey;  send information to
[log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.