Michael Bresina wanted to know why so many people dislike ties, here's my
opinion:
   As Americans we are groomed to be competetive from a young age.  Doing your
best and losing is acceptable but tying doesn't fit into the equation anywhere.
I think, in short, that it is a desire to see a winner and a loser.  Going to a
tie hockey game is a little like watching a great two-and-a-half hour whodunit
movie and, at the end, not being told whodunit.  Or reading a book that stops
20 pages short of conclusion.  Or reading a historian who never tells you what
their point is (sorry, pet peeve this week).  Every time I walk out of a tie
hockey game, I feel like I wasted my money.  Not that I'd really have rather
had my team lose, of course, I would prefer a conclusion where my team always
wins.  But, I realize that isn't possible (especially the way the Spartans are
playing these days).  Still, a tough loss in a shootout would be OK, especially
if rewarded with a point.  I get the feeling that I am fighting a lonely battle
for a shootout here.  If I thought endless overtime was a good idea in the
regular season, I would support it, but it's not and I don't like ties soooo...
And shootouts do add excitement.  The Gold Medal game (not one that I would
have used it for) was great, at least as much of the SO as WKYT (subliminal:
write them nasty letters) let me see.  And didn't all those Canadians think it
was great the way they beat the Germans in Albertville with the last penalty
shot stopping right on the goal line.  Of course, they hate it now :-).  Of
course the point is moot because even if it is a good idea, the NC$$ will
never come up with it.  Good ideas run against their grain.  Just my 3.1415...
cents.
                                        --Steve Moerland
                                          MSU '92, UK '95 or thereabouts