OCR Text |
Show Wednesday, June 8 , 2005 ™ SUMMER UTAH CHRONICLE Post-lockout NHL may eliminate ties TORONTO—When the NHL finally returns to the ice, the tie game will probably be a thing of the past. "If they don't have a shootout, I'll be shocked," New York Islanders general manager Mike Milbury said Tuesday. "That's an easy one. "The fans want it, and it's the least we can do after spitting at them for the last 12 months." Fans in the AHL and other minor leagues have grown to enjoy shootouts. The NHL seems ready to implement the system that would eliminate tie games. "It sounds like most people want a definite outcome—a win or loss—one way or the other," Vancouver Canucks director of player personnel Steve Tambellini said during a break on the second day of the three-day NHL •research camp. \ Shootouts would be used to determine a 'Winner if a game remained tied after a fiveJninute overtime period. < After watching free-agent junior and colJege players on Monday test a radical plan <by Boston Bruins president Harry Sinden that allows passing from the top of the faceoff circles to anywhere on the ice, and the use of nets four inches taller and eight inches wider than usual, club representatives took in scrimmages Tuesday to test zero tolerance on obstruction fouls and strange-looking nets with arced posts. The most likely changes in NHL play for next season are shootouts, smaller goalie equipment and tag-up offsides. Some of the radical stuff being tested is too over the top for many GMs. "We have, traditionally, been very conservative as a group," Milbury said. "There isn't any doubt about that. "We've tried to be respectful of the game's history and heritage but the coaches haven't. They've coached the hell out of it. They've coached defensive hockey and worked the trap and angles and crowding in front of the net, and goalies have cheated...over the last number of years. "We've got to respond. Other sports respond." The no-tolerance obstruction scrimmage saw a parade of players to the penalty box after they interfered even in the slightest ways with opponents who didn't have the puck. There were constant whistles throughout the game. It's only a start, though. Players will adapt, Milbury said, adding that the next crackdown on obstruction during NHL games will succeed. "There's more resolve on the issue this time around," he said. "You could see in this scrimmage they were picking it up little by little. "Over time, players will get it and stick with it." The Associated Press ESPN pulls out of coaches' poll >- ESPN withdrew from the .college football coaches' poll •Tuesday, the second major news organization to say it didn't want to be a part of the Bowl Championship Series' weekly rankings. The cable sports network said it no longer wanted its name attached to the rankings Sinless all ballots were made public, not just the final ones. USA Today will continue running the poll, which helps determine who plays for the national championship. t' In December, The Associated Press told the BCS to stop using its media poll in its "weekly formula. "Coaches have the perfect right to conduct their voting the way they see fit," said Vince Doria, ESPN's vice president and director of news. "We just feel, in our best interests here, we couldn't reconcile having our name on the poll and being able to cover any controversy that might arise." Unlike the AP voters, the coaches' ballots have always been secret. ESPN asked this year that they be public, but the coaches agreed only for the final regular-season poll. Doria said ESPN wanted it for the entire year. "We just felt that to be as ethical as we possibly could in this situation, that's what we needed to do," Doria said. "This wasn't a case of us questioning the ethics of the coaches or the validity of the voting. These things tend to create controversy. When there is some vetting to be done, it needs to be done thoroughly and we didn't feel it could be done." Doria said ESPN notified USA Today and the coaches' association of its decision, but not the BCS. "There will still be a coaches' poll, and it will be used by the BCS, but we don't have a comment on ESPN's decision," said Bob Burda, spokesman for BCS coordinator Kevin Weiberg. The AP poll and the ESPN/ USA Today coaches' poll had been the major components of the BCS rankings. However, the AP said such use was never sanctioned and had reached the point where it threatened to undermine the independence and integrity of its poll. ESPN had sponsored the coaches' poll with USA Today since 1997. Doria said the network became uncomfortable last season, when California lost a shot at a major bowl after dropping in the final coaches' poll, causing a public outcry and debate among fans. The Golden Bears finished fourth in the coaches' poll, but six coaches dropped them below No. 6 on the final ballots—four at No. 7 and two in the eighth slot. In the previous week's poll, nobody picked Cal lower than sixth. The final vote came after Cal's 26-16 win at Southern Mississippi —a close game, but a tough road contest that wasn't in doubt in the final minutes. The drop cost Cal its first Rose Bowl bid in 45 years. The Golden Bears instead went to the less glamorous Holiday Bowl while Texas got into the Rose Bowl. "In essence, that was really the determining factor," Doria said. "The poll was more than something that is there primarily for fans to discuss and debate. It was a determinant element in the BCS poll." Monte Lorell, managing editor for sports at USA Today, said he was surprised at ESPN's decision. "As recently as a week or so ago, my understanding was that if the coaches were to move to the level of transparency that ultimately they did, that that would satisfy ESPN," Lorelt said. In November, the BCS signed a four-year deal with Fox to televise the Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls from 2007-10 and the national title game from 2007-09. The Rose Bowl has its own television deal with ABC. "Our BCS interest is focused only on our TV coverage, which begins in January of 2007," Fox spokesman Dan Bell said. The Associated Press U.S. midfielder DaMarcus Beasley gets tripped by Costa Rica defender Mauricio Wright Saturday afternoon at Rlce-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The United States defeated Costa Rica 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup qualifier match. SHAW continued from Page 6 newspapers ran U.S. soccer stories on page Ai. I can't say the last time that happened, because it hasn't, not even for the World Cup this country hosted in 1994. Even still, I don't know if this match was a fluke, but 40,000 screaming fans told me that Utahns may be on to something. I say let's have the next qualifier match in Provo, in front of 60,000 rabid U.S. fans in LaVell Edwards Stadium— mostly a dry crowd—and give Mexico a taste of their own medicine. Let's make LaVell Edwards Send letters to the editor. Stadium a buzzing, noisy cauldron so hostile and sobering that our fans give the U.S. national team what it has always dreamed of: definitive home-field advantage during a crucial World Cup qualifying match. Who knows? Perhaps we'll defeat Mexico. bshaw@chronicle.utah.edu NEED MONEY? WE NEED YOU! You could qualify for a special blood program, if you have recently been diagnosed with any of the following: - Herpes Simplex l/il - Mononucleosis - Chicken Pox/ Shingles - Epstein Barr Virus • Chiamydia - Other conditions may bo suitable, call for details. letters® Qualified Donors receive $ 1 0 0 par 4©fi*tion, Plus mileage reimbursement* Please Contact (88B) 806-5215 for more information Ail Calls are Confidential Site #04-030 chronicle.utah.edu "Further screening may b& neceway In order to qualify As many as 69,000 students, family, faculty and staff will bury their heads in it. Don't miss the biggest issue of the year! OPENINGS ISSUE The Openings Issue is mailed to all U students registered for Fall Semester. Although direct mail advertising is usually the most expensive, our Openings Issue provides a cost-effective way of reaching the University community. All remaining copies are distributed at all the regular spots on campus for faculty and staff as well. For extra exposure and value, inquire about our Map Page and other targeted sections. Insertion Deadline Rate Friday, July 22, 2005 $17.00 per column inch Copy Deadline Minimum Purchase Requirement Tuesday, July 25, 2005 $340.00 (20 column inches) Published August 8 & mailed by August 12, Sample Sizes and Rates Color Ads 20 c.i. = $340 1/4 page = $544 1/2 page = $1096.50 Full page = $2,193 1 color: $100 2 color: $150 Full color: $350 Contact us at 801-581-7041 for more information or to place an ad. earning potential $800 per month 20 hours a week 1 . _ . . . a o B cir@£ire aw : _ ._ a _ _ G in <>n »m • best sales experience for students University of Utah The Daily Utah Chronicle contact Jake Sorensen Ad Manager at 581.7751 Email resume: jsorensen@chronicle.utah.edu |