The truth in sidewalk chalk.

While hanging out with Sean last week, we had the opportunity to hang out in the drive way, and have some in depth discussion over frosty a beverage.Our discussions were wide ranging and varied from the current political climate, to the world economy to cars and sports. Here, Sean ponders his position on "paper or plastic"At that point, Sean realized I just wasn't "getting it" so he went and grabbed his sidewalk chalk. It seemed he felt I needed him to "spell it out" for me.Here Sean is pointing out the finer details of using sidewalk chalk, as well as grading my poor "chalk-manship." He then had to explain that my name is spelled J-A-S-O-N. In an effort to show me proper form (or to taunt me) he then took the red chalk and quickly got to work.When the discussion turned to hockey, though, Sean had very clear opinions on the current state of the game.You see, even kids know that NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman is single handedly ruining hockey for the world. Under Bettman's command, ticket prices have escalated so that the average human can't afford to see his home town team play. We are forced to watch on TV. So that allows Gary to jack up advertising costs in an effort to make more money. The players see all of the money and the fact they aren't getting any, so they strike, and wind up costing the NHL a season. The first pro sport in US history to lose a season due to a strike. Thanks Gary! Since the strike has ended, Gary's been flexing his muscle, forcing a salary cap on teams, and thus making it impossible for players to stay at one place for long. So no longer will you see great "franchise players" stay at one team their entire career like Steve Yzerman of Detroit. Thanks Gary! The problem the NHL is now facing is that ESPN, growing wearing of Gary's Games told the NHL to take a hike. In desperation for a TV deal, the NHL signed with the Outdoor Life Network (OLN). Hockey? Outdoor Life? So the channel eventually changed their name to Vs. Yeah, that channel, Versus. The one with all the cage fighting. ESPN replaced hockey with poker. Hockey vs Poker? OLN vs ESPN. Well it was a no brainer, ESPN's poker killed OLN's hockey. Thanks Gary! There are literally thousands of incidents that have happened under Gary's rule that clearly show he has no respect for the game or for the fans. Yet he seems oblivious. He doesn't hear the deafening BOO's that follow him to every arena in the league. He has no clue, and everyone else has to live with it. Perhaps the most terrifying thing I have seen was on Saturday, the first finals game on national (non cable) TV. On one particular play, they did a replay and as a player shot the puck, imagine my shock and horror as a long black tail "grew" out of the puck like some cartoon. The reason it terrified me was that this is what used to be called The FoxTrax Glow Puck. You can see it in action here in the All Star game a few years back: If the video above doesn't work, click hereThe glow puck worked by keeping a colored dot on the puck at all times and if the puck was ever shot faster than 70mph a "comet tail" would be drawn out of it. This was, supposedly, to help the "average viewer" keep track of the puck. Even modest hockey fans hated it, and the thought of it coming back is driving them insane. (I know this article makes it look like it is Versus' idea, but if Bettman was against it, it would never have even made it out of the "wild idea" stage.) Golf balls are smaller that hockey pucks, and travel up to 170mph. Do they put comet tails and colored dots on them? No! Pitches in baseball regularly travel faster that 70mph and hits even faster. Do they put comet tails on them to help the average fan? No! Comet tails on race cars? Nope. on racing horses? No way. How many comet tails do you expect to see in the upcoming Olympics? I'm putting my money on ZERO. The problem here is the NHL (Gary Bettman) thinks you are stupid. It's really that simple. He thinks you are stupid because you'd rather watch Poker than hockey. You are stupid and he has to draw little comet tails on hockey pucks so you can see them. It is only a matter of time before the old Batman and Robin "Blam!" and "Pow!" graphics start appearing when there is any kind of a check or fight on the ice. No wonder hockey's ratings are in the toilet. Players don't stay put because the salary cap makes it so teams can't afford them. The games are played on stations no one's ever heard of. You can't afford to ever go to a game so why bother even getting involved in the first place. Gary keeps tweaking the game trying to make it more "accessible to the non hockey fan" and in the process he destroys the game. Eventually, Gary will change the puck for a ball, the hockey stick for a bat, the ice for grass, and suddenly it will be baseball. Thanks Gary! So tonight, watch the Red Wings kill the Penguins (and I hope I didn't jinx it) and win the cup. Then Nick Lidstrom, the Captain of the Red Wings will come out to get the Stanely Cup from Gary Bettman. You will be able to see Gary the weasel himself. I bet Lidstrom will feel like spitting on Gary. Nick Lidstrom is one of the nicest hockey players ever, regularly winning awards for gentlemanly play. I suspect that is the ONLY reason he doesn't just cross check Gary Bettman in the teeth before he picks up the cup. The rest of the hockey world would love him up if he did, but sadly I don't have my hopes up. So just remember this as you watch hockey tonight: Hockey is a beautiful sport. Gary Bettman is ruining it (even 3 year olds know that). Gary thinks you are stupid. Red Wings rule! Now, if they'd put comet tails on the poker chips when players go "all in" and poker players could "drop the gloves" and fight with someone when they think they are bluffing, THEN poker might be worth watching.