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.
Welcome to another edition of the Sports Experts column. This week, Jeff, Rob, and myself will discuss the CHL's idea to bring back the shoot out to determine a winner in a tied game. Jeff weighs in on the steroids debate, and with baseball season just around the corner, it's contest time! Keep reading to find out how you can be a winner. Last week the Canadian Hockey League announced that they will be looking into the use of a shoot out to decide the winner in games tied after overtime during the regular season. I think that if the fans like it, the fans should get it. "I love the idea of the shoot out. I don't know why they didn't keep it around. I don't like this four-category system. If you lose in overtime, why are you getting a point? I would like to see a system where you get two points for a win, a point for making it to a shoot out (so the loser of the shoot out gets a point) and of course, a loss in regulation or OT is no points. That way, we keep that point for the 'tie' around, but we get rid of all the other stuff." - Jeff K. "I love the CHL, and I hope that they bring in the shoot out. I have enjoyed watching the CHL the past three years and it needs a little more excitement. Although there are a lot of goals and great plays, it would be exciting to see a few more nice plays at the end of the game." Rob B. Jeff wanted to take another look at steroids in baseball, and had some interesting points to make. "I love what Bud Selig had to say about the whole steroids debate. While I agree that it is a shame that we will always question Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and all down the list for their accomplishments, what Selig said is true. When Roger Maris first broke the Bambino's home run record, we didn't put an asterix beside his name because he had eight more games to do it. The idea of trying to separate the records from the "phony" records is idiotic, and pointless. Keep the records, as someone else will break them anyway, throughout the next 100 years. We've seen baseball records broken in the past 10 years that were never supposed to be broken. It will happen, and we don't need to make three or four different record books for who owns what and why. Keep the game simple, keep the record books as they are, and crack down on steroids now." - Jeff K. Last week I jokingly mentioned that I might have to watch ABC's The Contender to replace my addiction to hockey. I watched the premier on Monday, and what an amazing show. This is the first reality show I've seen where the contestants aren't being exploited or looking to make a million on their playboy deals when they get booted off the show. Basically, 16 boxers train together and fight each other for a chance at a title bout. There are two things that give The Contender instant credibility. First, you get a look behind the scenes at their family lives. You find out the real reason that these fighters are here. Obviously they are already established boxers looking to break into the big time. When you get to see the 3-year-old girl they are fighting for, you realize that it isn't always about the money at the end. Second, the fights are sanctioned in California, which means that if they lose a fight on the show, it goes against their permanent record. In week one, we saw a 10-2 fighter challenge a 21-0. Mr. 21-0 is now 21-1, and the underdog is now a serious contender. Anyway, I mentioned a contest to celebrate the arrival of baseball season. I've registered a free fantasy league with Yahoo!Sports. Of course there will be prizes for the winner, and the midseason leader. All you have to do to enter is join the Sports Experts. Send me an e-mail for more information: [email protected].
