The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Flin Flon hockey legend Bob Clarke hasn't forgotten his Canadian roots Ð or his penchant for calling things as he sees them. On Monday, Clarke lashed out at the head of the NHL Players' Association, suggesting that Bob Goodenow doesn't care about the game or the future of Canada's teams. "Someone has to grab Goodenow by the throat and tell him: 'Look after the Canadian cities; the majority of the players still come from Canada,'" Clarke, 55, told The Canadian Press. "It's our sport, and to me, Goodenow has shown no interest in helping build the game and helping sell the game." Clarke, who began his second stint as GM of the Philadelphia Flyers in 1994, added that Goodenow has "done nothing but take from the game and now he's fighting for power." The comments came amid a tense time for NHL owners and players, as the entire 2004-05 season was recently canceled after the two sides failed to agree on a new contract. Not one to back down, Goodenow swiftly countered Clarke's assessment, saying the Hall of Famer is uninformed. "If Bob had been present in these negotiations as he was in the past, he would have some understanding of the actual issues involved," the union boss told The Canadian Press. "I encourage him to attend in the future Ð if he is allowed to do so by the league." NHL owners insist player salaries are out of control and are a major factor behind the league's financial difficulties. The players' union, which has indicated it would accept a team salary cap, has suggested the owners are exaggerating the problem.
