DaveH writes:
>My initial reaction when I read this in the paper was...  Hmm, that's what
>Mike Machnik was suggesting.  Seems like Mike is the true power behind the
>HE scenes.  Is there any truth to the new rumor (that I'm starting) that
>DeGregorio can't lift his arms or move his legs unless Mike pulls the
>appropriate string?  :-)
 
I'll be the first to dispel this rumor. :-)
 
Modesty aside, I know I can take credit for the way HE reports its
standings, counting the games as ties and then adding a column for
shootout wins.  An important aspect of this, however, is that my
recommending this method was based heavily on input I received from
several people on HOCKEY-L.  See, HOCKEY-L does make a difference.
 
Early last week, I sent a fax to Hockey East in which I talked about
the fact that in the now old system (seems ancient already :-)),
shootout wins were worth as much as outright wins, and that there was
some concern about this among HOCKEY-L people.  I also mentioned my
idea for resolving this, which was NOT the method that was adopted.
My idea was 3 for a win, 1 for a tie, and 1 for a SOW.
 
Thursday night, I met with BobD to discuss other matters - mainly, the
Merrimack radio situation, which as some may have deduced from my new
.sig, has become nil for this season for reasons too complicated to
explain here, nor do I wish to air any dirty laundry in public;
suffice it to say that the deal offered by the station was not
acceptable to Merrimack (and I agreed).  It is too bad, but we move on
from here.
 
In the course of that meeting, we got to discussing the points dilemma
and BobD pulled out a copy of my fax and some scribbles he had been
working on.  His alternate idea was the one that was officially
adopted Friday - and which was identical to a solution offered here by
Mike Wheeler but which I had not outlined in my fax.  After that
meeting, I was aware that a change would take place, but I didn't know
that it would be the same one we talked about.  Ryan beat me to it in
announcing it publicly, since I did not find out until Friday night
that it had actually been done.  BobD said then that he had discussed
the matter with HE coaches and after that, the change was made.  The
coaches were supportive of the change.  I cannot tell you if the
support was unanimous or not (because I don't know).
 
I appreciate the fact that HE listens to the suggestions I've made and
that many of them have been based on comments made by HOCKEY-L people.
I think that is a plus for this new administration.  From things BobD
said, I believe that my fax helped draw attention to this problem, but
he also said that he had been thinking about it ever since he saw the
new standings in the HE release dated Monday, October 31st.  It
probably would have happened anyway.
 
So, credit for this change should go to the commissioner's office.  He
could have chosen to wait until next season on the basis that this
season had already started.  But his philosophy is to do what is
right.  The coaches and ADs (of which he is one, although I do not
know which way he voted) voted to implement the shootout.  As
commissioner, his job is to carry out that implementation as fairly as
possible.  I don't know if the new point system is perfect, but it is
better than what we had, and he deserves a pat on the back for making
it happen.
 
I would like to add that I am very impressed with the way BobD has
divided his duties as Merrimack AD and HE commissioner.  I know that
there was some concern over whether he would have a conflict of
interest, and I was curious to see how he would deal with this.  But
at times we will discuss matters related solely to Merrimack (radio,
play of the team, etc.) and then the conversation will turn to a HE
matter.  At those times, I can almost see him take off his Merrimack
hat and put on a HE hat, and he then speaks solely as commissioner of
the conference; it is as if that is his only responsibility.  This is
something that I think people should know.  I am completely confident
in saying that as long as he holds both posts, there will never be a
conflict, and he will always do what he believes to be in the best
interests of the 9 members of Hockey East.
 
>Mike, we bask in the radiance of your power.  Can we call you... The Godfather
>of Hockey East?
 
Please don't...I have enough to deal with as it is. :-)
 
I would prefer to be thought of as an interested observer who only
wants to see done what I think is for the best of the league and of
the game.
 
BTW, some may remember, over the summer I conducted a poll on the
then-proposed shootout and forwarded the results to HE office.  The
poll results were heavily anti-shootout.  If anyone wonders whether I
have any such influence, just look at the fact that despite that poll,
the shootout was implemented, and its success appears to have proven
me and many of the poll respondents wrong. :-)
 
>No horse's heads in my bed please.  I have enough trouble there already.  :-)
 
No comment on the fact that it seems that every other post from Dave
has some reference to sex. :-)
---                                                                   ---
Mike Machnik                                            [log in to unmask]
Cabletron Systems, Inc.                                    *HMM* 11/13/93