As far as I am concerned, for hockey to do anything to make itself more attractive to non-hockey people is wrong. Hockey is a very sophisticated sport, and it takes a great understanding of the game to properly enjoy the game. It is easy to see the appeal of the fantastic skating, the well-executed and clean checking, and of course great goals and saves, but the truly fine points in hockey are the subtleties that the casual fan cannot see. I think that the NHL has cheapened the game immeasurably by some of the changes it has made to grasp a greater profit, such as selling out the traditional division and conference names. It was with great disappointment that I departed my first game at Reunion Arena here in Dallas, for the fans did not cheer any of the great passes, checks, or saves, but only the seven Dallas goals, and the cameo appearance of Tom Landry on the overhead screen. I think that the NHL All-Star game has turned into the kind of travesty that shootouts would cause, at any level, because if people are not drawn to hockey for the sake of hockey, then they will quickly leave, and those who would have turned to hockey eventually on their own would leave never to return because there were "Not enough shootouts." After reading innumerable articles in the Dallas Morning News as to what icing is, and being asked by the person sitting next to me how many quarters were in a hockey game, I am horribly opposed to changing the face of the game to make it more marketable. ******************************************************************************** Alex Relyea (214) 768-5725 SMU Box 2575 [log in to unmask] Dallas, TX 75275-2575 [log in to unmask]