John H. from Michigan noted:
 
> As for the GLI, the scores have been posted and most of you (hopefully)
> were able to see the games on TV.  My question is this: How can Michigan
> State forward Bryan Smolinski be named to the all-tournament team when it
> was his 5-minute major penalty that cost Michigan State the game against
> Northern on Saturday?  Go figure.
>
Hey, John, I think you're being a wee bit TOO rough on Smolinski.  After
all, the Wildcats led 2-1 before the penalty.  Besides, it IS possible
to kill penalties, even five-minutes' worth at a stretch.  Of course,
 MSU would have been more likely to win being down only one, pulling the
goalie at the end, etc., but still . . . besides, one of the most
amusing momements of the telecast occurred at that point.  I've never
seen a game (admittedly haven't watched that many) where the hockey refs
were "miked"--boy, do they take a lot more profanity (I should say,
tolerate) than do other sports' officials!  Anyway, as those who saw the
broadcast know, when Smolinski was called for the major penalty, he (or
someone from Michigan) shouted at the official, "That's ____ing
bull___!" to which the ref shouted back, "The HELL it is!" ;-).
 
(Incidentally, I strongly agreed with the announcers' highly compliment-
ary comments on the way the head official (Greg Shepard?) ran the game;
he never lost his cool but always made it extremely clear who was in
charge and what the players' "options" were (a frequent response to a
penalized player's whining was "Do you want ten?  That would be easy!"
He also carefully conferred with the other officials whenever a
confusing or multi-player situation occurred; they worked as a real
team.
When the players were not giving him a hard time, however, he was
extremely professional, referring to them as "gentlemen" and clearly
directing them.) Gee, maybe more "miking" should go on!
>
> P.S. Steve C - sorry if I sound harsh, it's certainly not intented toward
> you.  My friends and I have bitched about McClure all too often to let
> this one slide by, that's all.  In fact, I thank you for providing me the
> opportunity to complain about him to the list.  Happy New Year!
 
Hey John, no problem!  We all have sports announcers we "love to hate!"
(Say, whatever happened to the guy from the Albany Times-Union who we
all had such fun beating up on last year when he made some totally
misinformed criticisms of Keith Instone's TCHCR?)
>
 **********************************************************************
 *  Steve Christopher, NMU  [log in to unmask]             * * * *    *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey National Champions  1990-91   *   GO   *   *
 *  NCAA Division I Hockey Final Eight 1991-92           *        *
 *  WCHA League Champions 1990-91                        * 'CATS! *   *
 *  WCHA Playoff Champions 1989-90/1990-91/1991-92 . . .   * * * *    *
 **********************************************************************