League Notes
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Kelly Visiting NHL Teams To Educate
Players On Dangers Of Hits To The Head |
In Philadelphia, Ed Moran reports NHLPA Exec Dir Paul Kelly and NHLPA Dir of Player Affairs Glenn Healy currently are visiting teams and talking "about the dangers of head shots and working to educate players on how to eliminate them." They also are discussing steps that are being taken on the matter, including "introducing the use of softer padding on shoulder pads." The pair is "showing video clips from games this season that demonstrate when a dangerous hit could have been avoided." Kelly said that the NHLPA also is "planning to make hits to the head the 'hot topic' next summer on the union's competition committee" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 11/20). Meanwhile, the league last week sent a memo to teams regarding hits to the head, and indicated that it will "suspend offenders more games for these types of incidents than they have in the past." Former NHLer Keith Primeau, who retired in part due to post-concussion syndrome, said, "I feel as though it's been neglected and should have been addressed by this point" (ESPN.com, 11/19).
IT PAYS TO PLAY: MLB agent Scott Boras yesterday participated in a live chat on USATODAY.com and was asked if the players he represents "feel at all a bit selfish and greedy" for their large contracts. Boras: "Player salaries are a function of the revenues of the game. Historically player salaries represent 50% of the revenues owners receive. The Owners are doing their best to advance the business of baseball and revenues have gone from [$3B] in 2000 to [$6.5B] in 2008. I provide a service to the players that assures the fair division of revenues and compensation to the players continues. I understand the important need to keep fans coming to the ballpark however ticket prices and player compensation are not a related issue" (USATODAY.com, 11/19).
LEAGUE OF ITS OWN: The GLOBE & MAIL's Ben Knight wrote MLS is "not like the world's other division one pro soccer leagues," as it has created a "tight, efficient structure of intertwined ownership and hard spending caps." Owners "love this, because it keeps costs manageable, but it also means [teams] are not playing the same game the rest of the world is." Knight: "It's going to be another year of soccer socialism. Who do I kid? Another decade. But at least if the league's special spending rules get it safely through to a day when the salary cap can double, then maybe all that expansion money will be able to improve the quality of soccer on the pitch" (GLOBEANDMAIL.com, 11/19).
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