There have been a few comments made about the Czech team (I won't even attempt to write their name...) that pulled out of various games, and the guess was made that this was because of the political situation in Czechoslovakia. I very much doubt this. I think the reason is a lot simpler: Money. I think that the Czechs simply cannot afford to send a hockey team halfway across the world when the average income in the country is $100 a month. As to the political situation, I'd say that the Czechs have pretty much the most stable one in Central Europe. It's too bad that they can't come, as the Czechs have shown consistently what a strong hockey nation they are. Robert Pohl Berlin Ear to the Central European ground