Just some thoughts regarding a couple of recent issues: 1) Jacques Joubert: I interviewed Joubert in the B.U. lockerroom following the Minnesota game, just prior to his conversation with a Sports Illustrated reporter whose name escapes me (but it was definitely not the author of the published article - I looked pretty carefully at his press pass). My guess is that the reporter I saw was getting quotes from Joubert while the reporter whose byline appears on the story was talking to other folks. Anyway, Joubert's conversation took place in the middle of a lockerroom open to all media - hardly a clandestine meeting. In addition, I spent about 20 minutes talking with Joubert and alternately stepping aside so other reporters could get quotes. At least 8 of every 10 questions was focused on the Maine rivalry. Most of the reporters were determined to get Joubert to say something negative about the Black Bears - usually with questions like "So do these two teams hate each other?" Joubert wouldn't bite. He emphasized the intensity of the rivalry, and tried to deemphasize any attempts to relate the NCAA final to past BU/Maine encounters. Lastly, I've always found Joubert to be a straight shooter. He's a pretty bright kid (academic all-america last year, as a matter of fact) who speaks his mind. He has always been very candid with me. I don't doubt that he said the things attributed to him in Sports Illustrated, but I don't think he had any ulterior motive making them when he did (or to whom he did). 2) Gary Thorne column in the Bangor Daily News My dear old aunt in Old Town sent me a clipping of Thorne's that I found pretty interesting in light of some Hockey-L discussion. The column is entitled "Sports Keep Taking Us All For Suckers" and it is Thorne's thoughts on the disappointment that fans feel every time sports or their team lets them down, i.e. the baseball strike, Daryl Strawberry's cocaine use, etc. His point, I think, is that we build our sports heroes up to unrealistic expectations in light of the financial realities that shape sports. One Thorne comment is particularly interesting, and I reproduce it here (without permission, of course, although my uncle has met Thorne and that's good enough for me :-)): "Let's get real personal. Every kid who puts on a Maine hockey jersey isn't God. Maybe every kid who comes shouldn't be here. The NCAA will have something to say about that. How will you react if there is some negative news? Will you automatically assume the program must have been within the rules because you're a Maine hockey fan? Will you blow it off because 'everybody does it?'" As for me, I'm certainly willing to let the NCAA worry about Maine's conduct. I cover hockey games and players, not administrative matters (thank heavens). I just thought others on the list might be interested in Thorne's comment and my take on Joubert. Geoff Howell The Trenton Times Drop the Puck