There is a "ferocious hockey fight going on in downtown Minneapolis" at the federal courthouse, where some former players are suing the NHL "over the brain damage they suffered on the rink," according to James Eli Shiffer of the Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. The sides are "scrimmaging over whether thousands of pages of internal NHL documents should be made public." So far, those records "have been shielded from view by a 'protective order.'" Lawyers for the former players "have already pounced on a number of e-mails that have emerged through the litigation." Lawyers for the players in their argument for unsealing the records "have invoked the decision to unseal Bill Cosby’s deposition in the closed lawsuit that alleged he had drugged and raped a woman in Pennsylvania." But there is a "more persuasive reason to open up the files," as the public debate about concussions in sports "transcends this lawsuit." The potential benefit to public health "outweighs whatever embarrassment ensues for the NHL over the exposure of its internal chatter" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/10).
DILUTED PRODUCT? In Toronto, Steve Buffery writes other than a "couple of innovative ideas like the Winter Classic," the NHL is "probably the least cutting-edge professional league in the world." Buffery: "Same ice size for 100 years. The same boring TV angles that slow the game down. Dumb all-star game formats." He added, "I don’t buy the myth that the NHL is going through some kind of Renaissance and people around the world are starting to embrace the game." The NHL "seems bound and determined to expand by at least two more teams, further diluting an already diluted product." Buffery: "Instead of expanding, why not invite some of the already established and healthy franchises in the Swedish, Swiss, Czech or German leagues to join the NHL?" (TORONTO SUN, 1/12).
POP-UP VIDEO: TSN.ca's Gary Lawless wrote offside review "is a good idea in theory, even if it lacks a bit in the execution some times." In Sunday's Sabres-Jets game, a second period offside challenge on a Jets power play goal "took over five minutes." The goal stood but the wait "was interminable and sucked the life out of the game." An earlier offside review this season "took over nine minutes," which is "way too long." Lawless: "Video review is great when it works but sticks out like an angry pimple when it’s clumsy" (TSN.ca, 1/11).
