Gary was Dave Stern's assistant in the NBA and was brought in to duplicate
the success Stern brought to the NBA. A left handed compliment- he is by far
the most progressive NHL commish there has ever been. I hope some of the
members of this list had the privilege of seeing the Soviet National Team
play. They played real hockey and not clutch grab and trap. Bettman has it
wrong and ought to be embarrassed by the quality of play in the Olympics (one
reason why I like the college game better). touch icing is another idiotic
NHL rule that can only end somebody's career. when I have talked about the
Canadian culture of hockey- it is a fact that the idea of "can't beat 'em in
the alley; can't beat em on the ice" and the toothless hockey player etc. why
all players are not wearing face protection is beyond me (they are all
wearing cups!). Hockey is a great gift of Canada to the world- but let the
game be played and be a contest of skill and athleticism. Hockey's beauty is
that there is no glass ceiling of size- the ice should be a great equalizer.