Hockey talk

[Judge]

I know Judge, can't believe it myself. Quebec City lost the Nordiques, then built a new arena, and are they angry! They always disliked Bettman, actually made a movie called Bon cop bad cop in which he's kidnapped and portrayed as an evil guy who's really short and he's called Buttman in the movie. Probably one of the reasons they didn't get the franchise.

It's a break from a mentality that goes back to the earliest days of legalized gambling here. That it was considered too great a potential conflict of interest to promote big league professional sports of any kind here because of our legal sports book gambling. Always seemed to make perfectly good sense and was supported by both the gaming commission and state government.

But the Great Recession came and decimated the gaming industry to a point where the state began to ponder other means of revenue gathering. Nevada no longer sees gaming as the cash cow it once was. Now it competitively entices corporate entities to bring their businesses here, whatever they may be.

It's no secret that football's Oakland Raiders want to come to Vegas as well. Let's face it. The ambiance of gaming and entertainment make it a formidable sports venue for any big league team to ponder.

I just never imagined an NHL franchise being the first one to claim such a distinction under the present circumstances.

 

[Flinty]

Dear Columbus: What?
Dear Edmonton: Why would anyone trade you a defenseman now?
Dear Arizona: Good work, kid.
Dear Winnipeg: Good work, not-so-kid.
Dear Bettman: The scary part about you is that you look like a genius next to the previous two guys that were in charge of the league. (Anyone else remember the time that John Ziegler took a vacation during the Stanley Cup semifinals?)