Damn Blue Lines

After listening attentively to Prime Time Sports on May 20/08. The discussion was about hockey's problems. As much as I hate one pill solutions, there maybe a single rule change that would go a long way to address them. Whether or not anyone agrees with such a change, it would make for interesting discussion on Prime Time.

The fundamental arguments were too long to call in on a phone line show. To the hockey “purists”, the knee-jerk reaction is to dismiss the idea outright without listening to the arguments. The simple single rule change is to “Remove the Blue Lines.”

I am trying to keep the outline as small and concise as possible. The simple solution covers a lot of territory though.

Basic Problems in Hockey

In no particular order, basic hockey problems as discussed on Prime Time:

1. The continuing appeal to the USA audience. Part of this making hockey more “television” friendly.

2. Speed of the game and length of the games.

3. Fighting.

4. Officiating.

5. Goalie equipment.

6. Defense. e.g. The Trap and the dominance of defense in today's game.

7. Ice size.

8. Tie games.

9. Offense eg. More goal scoring.

10. Number of players.

These are problems that have crept into the game over the years. So basically the nature of the game has changed while the fundamental rules have not managed to keep up. Historically, the response to these evolutions generated even more rules. In effect these rule changes contributed to make the rules governing the game more onerous, more complex and more difficult for officials to apply in a faster game.

Observations

A... American audiences don't like complexities. Especially on television. Canadian audiences grow up with the game and are very familiar with the nuances of the “Blue Line Offside.”

When the Fox Network tried to promote the game in the USA, they believed that their audience couldn't follow the puck. So the mind masters applied a technical solution, which was colorizing the puck travel. The effect on the televised game was hysterical.

Actually, I found that most neophyte fans follow the puck, while Canadians follow the man with the puck. This is only because the Canadian viewer grew up with the game and its nuances. If one sits with immigrants who have never been exposed to the game tend to to the tennis thing and follow the puck. This confuses neophytes because many penalty calls, and offside calls are generated by players away from the puck.

B... The physique and skill levels of players are now much larger than a generation ago. The disparity of talent level between the worst and the best National Hockey League players is far less than a generation ago. The size of the National Hockey League ice sheets have not gone to the international size. One would think that it would have been mandatory for the new arenas to accommodate the potential for the larger ice sheet.

Another answer tendered has been to reduce the numbers of on ice skaters from 5 to 4. But this idea has not been palatable to many commentators and fans.

C... Attention spans of most television viewers is much shorter than it used to be. Most hockey games last about three hours when both the television networks and the live spectators really focus on two hour, to two and a half hour games.

D... Many fights occur shortly after a stoppage in play.

Hypothesis and effects

The proposition is to eliminate the “Blue Line” off side and indeed the Blue lines altogether. What would be the effect on the game?

Recently the NHL has eliminated the use of the center “Red Line”. The effect on the game has meant fewer stoppages. Logically, elimination of the Blue Lines would further reduce the numbers of stoppages on the game. This speeds up the game dramatically since a high proportion of present stoppages are related to the Blue Line offsides. More playing time in the game would be devoted to playing, not facing off.

Reduction of these stoppages would also mean a decline in fighting since there would be fewer face offs where trash talk occurs. Teams would also focus on players that combine speed and fitness which usually isn't the province of the classic goons.

Without the need for calling the offsides, this eliminates the need for any linesmen. You can reduce the number of officials on the ice. Removing the Blue Line offside aids on the remaining two referees being able to focus on actual physical infractions instead of devoting added observational stress on accessing on whether or not a play is offside. Indeed, it may be possible to reduce the numbers of actual on ice officials by use of modern technology. One referee can be on the ice, and another (both connected by radio) sitting in an observation booth off the ice.

In the latter case, with an on ice official, and with an off ice official, fewer plays would be halted by the puck striking an official. One official must be on the ice to drop the puck in the case of face offs. This would tremendously improve the observations of officials on play, reduce accidental intrusions by officials. The off ice official also calls penalties and can easily monitor any replays. With two less bodies on the ice that were in part there to monitor offsides, there is more room on the ice for play.

The net effect is to both speed up the game, make it more efficient from both a time and officiating perspective. To the television networks this would be a plus. Indeed, one is looking at a two hour versus a three hour game.

Another likely effect of the removal of the Blue Line Offside is an increase in scoring. The Trap defense depends on being able to push the puck carrier into a tight position in the center area or a spot where a check can be made. Instead of trapping and zone defenses the defending team would find the man to man defense a preferable option.

Historically, the reason that Red and Blue lines were introduced in the early part of the last century to even competition. The spread of player talent and player skill level was more profound in the time that those rules were introduced. One must remember that originally hockey's only lines were the goal crease and goal line. Street hockey or Shinny Hockey is much closer to the original design of the game than the rule intensive modern game.

In Shinny, there is no offsides. The goalie or goal player is far more active on defense and offense. The game is more fluid, rarely stops and has fewer fights due to the need to constantly perform on the puck/ball more effectively. The Shinny version of hockey is far simpler to understand.

Removing the Blue Lines would also make television viewing much easier, the game would be far faster in tempo, the goal scoring opportunities far greater and the game far easier to understand. It would be all action.

One of the greatest issues has been ice size. By removing the Blue Line Offside you increase the Offensive area of hockey play without the costly issue of renovating arenas, or reducing the numbers of on ice players.

Now one of the greatest dilemmas that modern hockey has encountered, has been the material improvement in goalie equipment enabling goalies to wear greater protection with far larger equipment without a comparable increase in weight. In real life it has meant that the modern goalie literally fills the net. The athletic goalie of the past has been replaced by the butterfly style of goalie.

Removal of the Blue Lines would also dramatically effect the goalie. While the butterfly goalies have much larger padding they have lost mobility. In the Shinny style of hockey to prevent the cherry picker pass, goalies must come out to play the puck. They are the only ones allowed to play within their creases. Outside the crease though they are allowed to play the puck.

There is one good reason for this. In Shinny, any cherry picking scorer will be marked by the goalie. In effect this means that the defending team in the other end of the rink will be put in the position of a power play situation. Anyone who has played Shinny knows that a cherry picking player is almost more annoying to their own defending team as it is to the offensive team.

Much the same thing happens in Basketball. Cherry picking remains a minor problem because the defense must present an equal number of players. Also anyone who has played Basketball and Shinny knows that trap play is very difficult because if the puck carrier manages to pass out of the trap there will be always a three or four on two situation. The only way to compensate for this is to get an extra player involved on the defense and that has to be the goalie.

If the NHL removed the Blue Lines the present day teams would be confronted by one of two choices. If they opt for a stay at home butterfly goalie, then that arrangement will not be favorable in defending the offensive rush since the defenders cannot trap the puck carriers on the blue lines. If there is a cherry picker goal scorer then any long pass will mean a free shot on the net (with goalie).

This means that with the need for a more flexible and mobile goalie playing out of the net, equipment size must be reduced. Butterfly goalies in full size equipment are not mobile enough. The large trap glove must be reduced to enable the goalie to put both hands on any stick. To a Shinny style of game the present day butterfly goalies are more like sitting duck goalies.

Conclusions

Removal of the Blue lines enhances the television experience. How?: It is addition by subtraction. The change generates a more fluid, more goal scoring game in these ways:

It adapts the game to a better television compatible format.

It heightens the entertainment level of the game.

It generates more excitement in the offensive play.

It will generate more goal scoring.

It doesn't eliminate the Trap but it does make it far more risky and difficult to apply.

It creates more playing room on the same size of ice sheet.

It shortens game length.

It reduces the numbers of on ice officiating.

It literally makes officials more efficient.

It reduces fighting.

It forces the goalies to use smaller equipment to enable their mobility.

It again favors the more athletic, good skating goalie.

Help China

Aid flooded into China in the aftermath of the earthquake. At the same time, two food banks have closed in downtown Toronto in the middle of the poorest of the areas.

Apparently the city and provincial politicians have quietly withdrawn funding for these basic services. And this at a time when food and necessities should increase by about 10% this year. All this due to the outrageous increase in energy prices. These events get no Canadian media coverage.

Updeights

Without a permanent connection to the internet, it has been difficult to maintain a constant timely flow to the blog. Not that there is any particular shortage of material to write about. In a country filled with political buffoons like this its almost nigh impossible.

No doubt Canada is closing in the number one position. The Italians are starting to feel challenged in this department.

I have been working on the Memory topic. Its not very long. Just a high content, high complex sort of topic. In many ways I should not have started on that.... whatever it was.

Summing up last blog re: Break - a Synopsis

• It snowed, the Toronto fat cat skiers cheered. But after the snow they couldn't get out of their driveways.

• People rushed to the airport to get out of the city for a tropical vacation. Its all timing. Winter got them before they got hot.

The Break???

March break marched in like a Lion and out like a miserable exercise. The gonad free politicians granted a "Family Day" in February without pointing to the fact that only a couple of weeks later, there is an educational exercise called "March Break".

For the uninitiated or for us paleo-humans forced to go to school in only the most inclement of weathers no matter the date a short background is required. March Break is one of those committee sourced brain child of an educational system devoid of any understanding of its clients. The idea was to let students catch up on critical study projects in a relaxed period.

It also is "supposed" to let teachers catch up on the bureaucratic overload and prepare the final exams. Like most things theoretical there quickly evolved a whole other environment. The original concept, a good one conceived its model in a time devoid of something called affordable air travel, and in an era of Cold War where travel mounted greater peril than the commercial pussy willow journeys available today.

March Break, as a concept began well and was a valuable tool. No one traveled and people did study as there were the 3/4 season exams at the end of March. In the old order, exams counted large in any study course. The idea of having students actually participate in the learning process was totally alien. Teaching hugged the concept of rote and knowledge regurgitation.

When parents realized that here was a free week to bring their snot monsters along to a tropical winter vacation without having to dump the progeny on grand parents, unsuspecting relations or paid baby sitters. Travel agents developed new travel packages for families while sneaking up the fares during this designated week. In short, it became a clear week off.

There is less study during this week than at any other time of year including summer. In short its a week off. Which leaves me confused? Why the need for a Family Day?

The only way to relate is to recount my experience with teachers, usually rookie teachers, who insisted on giving home work before Christmas vacation. In the old days, (oh the pain of such a phrase) any break from the enormous mind numbing Ontario educational experience was appreciated.

It propelled a surreal experience. Every person in that classroom nodded in agreement with the proposal because the clock ticked slowly down to an abbreviated freedom. And every person in that room save for one lonely soul (the teacher) knew that they didn't plan to do a lick of work during that period.

Then "school breaks" appear a sham. And March Break in Canada, is no less a sham.

However this spring break began wonderfully if not a participant. If parents cannot get the full time off to go to a tropical vacation, they schedule closer family events like skiing. Skiing needs snow.

At the beginning of the March Break this year there came such a great snow fall. It caused airport delays which meant that the tropical vacations started off shortened by a few days and travelers spent a few days at airports waiting.

Additionally those skiers appreciating the benefits of snow viewed a welcoming glance, anticipating the freshly groomed base on Blue Mountain and other like "hills". Yet, it snowed so much that even if these people dug out their Mercedes they couldn't easily get to those slopes because the roads were clogged with snow. Justice exists.

Helping the blind

While working on various projects, I took the TTC a couple of times. The Commission upgraded the service to include street announcements for the next stops. This multi-million dollar project was done to placate a few blind people who sought this feature through legal action.

And the new system works. A digital sign near the front of the bus, streams out the name of the very next stop.

Memory and the cast of being

I am trying to use a new approach to memory and its use. Something about the theory of memory being solely located the brain seems way too simple.

It is entirely possible that memories may be locate exterior to the brain itself. More on this later.

A Whopper

The old adage that bombarded my youth was issued from old geezers. "Hard work doesn't kill you."

After years of observation, participation and research I can honestly say, ...Thats a big fucking lie.

Whiving wit’ liners

Inordinate caché bellows above the line of passable toleration. Ears are smoking with the oft greeting of every Torontonian, “Ohhh its so cold eh!”

No it isn’t. It went down to –17ºC last night and early, early this morning. This is only down to “0” on the old temperature scale of “F”.

To make it really sound good, denizens of this city use something called the wind chill to make it sound even better. The breeze brisked this obscurely calculated number down to –36ºC. This sounds good but to get the full effect one must be standing on a football field, starkers.

To avoid an avalanche, stay out of the mountains. To avoid wind chill, stay out of the wind.

And the complaints were everywhere. Onto the subway cars, which are comfortably warmer than the surface and people sit sweating like stilted sponges. It may be cold to them, so they are all bundled up. Parents nag all their snot monsters in CWT (Canada Without Toronto) to unzip and loosen the winter gear indoors or in warm areas.

Its easy to tell a Torontonian in the winter. They can wear a parka, scarf, toques and mitts in a Tomato hothouse and still complain about the cold outside.

Experienced Canadians from CWT sit with perplexed look and their coats unzipped and toques stowed in pockets. Like its even warm outside to them.

Two weeks past, Prairie Canada experienced minus thirty four Celsius (-34ºC) but that came as a daytime high time temperature unaccompanied by wind chill hyperbole. Of course the Toronto newscast media brains tacked it on.

Worst of all, worst of all is that every news outlet seeks to find a lower exaggeration as a way to promote advertising, gain listeners. CityTV is the worst of the lot, followed by CTV. Of course the CBC advances a full explanation of the meteorological event so while ones body numbs to the cold, the CBC numbs the mind.

And what really hurts is that I can't afford earplugs.

Note to all CWT visitors to Toronto. Please bring your own hearing protection.

Wondering about emails.

Its completely baffling to me. How do all these spammers know I got a small dick?

Hey don't laugh too much. You're on the mailing list too.

Rumblings in Paradise

The measure of all economies is the relationship between the economy and the political. While separate in academia research and news media reportage, in real life they are undeniably linked.

While greeted with cheers by national ideologists and the international traveler, the rise of the Canadian dollar to parity value with that of the American currency describes the advent of economic troubles. The economic health of Canada is inextricably linked to the performance of the US economy.

Worse still it is a one way link. A healthy United States economy can swoon the Canadian economy despite poor political management. A healthy Canadian economy cannot improve the performance of the United States economy.

A rise in the value of the Canadian dollar against the American is the whistling wind of an approaching economic tornado. The value of the Canadian dollar was strongest before the 1974 recession. In 1988, the value of the Canadian dollar had risen. The rise in the value of the Canadian dollar versus the American precedes a downturn.

Kissing the frog

Sometimes proposals take on an air of fiction. A kerfuffle emerged when some black community leaders and school trustees took up the idea of what they called black focused schools. After weeks of rampant and ambling debate the idea was adopted by the rather dysfunctional Toronto Public School Board.

Now examining the merits of such a school at no time did any of the proponents put forward two critical points. They might have proposed that such a school demand a higher academic achievement than general schools. Second they did not advance to the public a list of subjects.

What was lost amongst the arguments is that only public, Catholic and private schools were entitled to exist. No one has suggested that a school maintains itself on the basis of race. Indeed such a creation violates the civil rights codes so hard won and maintained by this nation and its laws.

The TPSB passed the agreement then promptly forwarded it to the government. So in essence, the school board wanted to create a select school based on race, with no marked improvement in academic performance and have the rest of the province pay for it. The TPSB remains notoriously the most inefficiently managed educational entity in North America.

In what was a moment of political clarity, Dalton McGuinty promptly nixed the funding the idea. Indeed funds might be deleted from grants to the board if the idea went ahead. If these proponents want such a school why don't they create, operate and fund it on their own wallets. They are free to do that.

Winter Storm

Winds howl battering the glass of the window and the storm marches on, into Quebec. For once the weather forecasters had this call right. With due warning the denizens of this fumbling burg manage the turn of weather, still complaining.

I turn the page on the calendar into a new month. February comes in like a lion. Global warming also effects old proverbs. March appears to be a loser as its zoology abandons to the house of the Woodchuck. Its good to have all the animals in one short month. Ends total confusion.

April will be glad to get rid of the rainy tag one can be sure. March's rains bring April's flowers.

Almost dyed

Life streams along in a parade of surprises. For the longest time I thought the macho man is not allergic to anything.

Last Saturday, I hand washed my laundry. In one cycle of wash I placed a rather new twin sheet. From this sheet streamed reddish dye. It was made in Pakistan. So I pulled out the sheet, squeeze dried, and hung to dry.

Within an hour my fingertips started tingling painfully. Another two hours later my hands were burning. By the time I went to the hospital. Having experienced caustic burns, I thought this was the reason. The soap and the dye had combined to give me a caustic burn.

I did hunt around for a nurses clinic but was forced to the emergency clinic of a hospital. Apparently none of the "street clinics" provided by the social health agencies work weekends, for as we all know, there is no poverty on the weekends and there is no medical emergencies on the weekends.

Anyhow I was given some prescription for a cream coping with caustic burning. This would take care of the hands but my top lip was swelling mysteriously. And the itching screamed more widely.

This was steroid cream. The very same that Barry Bonds claimed to use. It worked sort of.

As Monday rolled in there was hives all over my body. I just touched an area of skin and it would erupt red boils and itching. Now I couldn't go too far away from my home. I looked like a walking measles factory. Some friends said take some Benadryll.

No it isn't an allergy. And even if it was I had to get permission from the doctor because it would interact with my other prescriptions.

Two days more and two more nights of fierce itching, scratching and I finally saw the doctor who signed for more cream and yes Benadryll.

The illness isn't all that much. The burning hands not that much. What really stinks is that I do have an allergy after all.

Wind Warnings

A few days ago there were wind warnings galore. For brief morning moments, the forecasts hinted at a touch with hurricane strength winds. So it was.

Having just got up and shaken the webs out of the twists of morning’s wakening, I ventured forth and dread the inevitable chorus of whining about the wind chill. It can be the depth of summer and denizens of this city will wind chill the air temperature with their anguished vortices.

Wisdom emerges from the north. An old reply from an old Nortarian (person from Northern Ontario). ‘Get out of the wind.’

The actual sequence of weather events that hit this churlish urban complex ran like a hair salon. There was snow, a thaw and then wind. Or Shampoo, Rinse and Blowed Dry. Toronto looks rather shag.

Bhutto

Strange events in Pakistan emerge like a bizarre entertainment. First a politician who wants security from a government doesn't stand up through the sun roof of a bullet proof car.

I followed Ms. Bhutto's political career for quite a while. Like the Peron's of Argentina and the Kennedys of the USA, there was always a large margin between the promise and the actual result.

In actual political performance Bhutto could be termed ineffectual and very divisive. Al Qaeda, the likely agency of assassination, may have finally goofed if it can be proved that they did this. The worst thing a society of future martyrs can do is to make a martyr of an opponent.

Mad fool

Using the Barbara Amiel phraseology about having a taste of the extravagance which knows no bounds, this year's Christmas Day repast marched up the avenues of excess.

I decided to spoil myself with something very special. Yes I went, bought and opened a jar of Cheez-wiz.

And when I was done with the sausages, yes I spooned some remaining amounts directly from the jar. Hmmm that's some good eatin'.

More on Christmas

Less on Christmas. Off the annual to do list.

Since the advent of the internet, which is about 14 years. I usually sent out Xmas wishes to everyone on my active email list. They would naturally hit the reply button and return said salutations.

This year I decided to be the passive. My turn to hit the 'lie reply'.

Only one. That's it. Hmmmph.

And I checked in ALL the email accounts.

I'm not bitter. I am used to getting no respect. Rodney Dangerfield died. Now I'm number one forget whats his name.

Hey next year. Time for the old 813.54d2.

Jolly Jolly little elf

Jolly, Jolly little elf
Removing a box off the shelf.
Tearing open the seal
Letting loose a squeal
For he had just opened
The surprising scene
Of last summer's
Box of bread
Printed in red
Contents fuzzy and green.

Season of Joy

To bad. At the moment Christmas seemed to be such a suck. I haven't blogged in eons. Had a good reason too. Couldn't see the screen due to all those eye infections.

Now that these eyes lids have settled down a a bit, I can now look at the screen after almost two months. Figured out how to fix future eye infections. For those on Prevacid and Losec all you might be susceptible to such infections. Simply stop taking it for about three weeks.

The anti-anticid beta blockers reduce the PH in your stomach but also eventually lowers the PH in your tear glands. This means that the weaker acid in the eyes doesn't do its job in blocking what would otherwise be common infections not likely to infect.

The only downside to this is that you must endure a return to the bowels in malfeasance for a short duration.