If I were a Bettman...

Curious to see how the arbitrator rules on the Kovalchuk deal. Yes, weird to sign a guy to a 17 year contract that takes him to the age of 44. But when Marian Hossa, Chris Pronger, and others have deals that extend to the age of 42 and 43, why is this the deal that's singled out? You have Chris Chelios playing into his 40s, and though nobody believes all these guys will still be active NHLers at that age, it's not impossible, and certainly not illegal. If they were still playing at that age, they couldn't expect more than the minimum, anyways. If you don't like the loopholes that allow for such deals, change the agreement. It seems arbitrary to not allow this deal to go through. Perhaps they should bring in an arbitraryator instead?

No Nos to Oh Nos!

In the year of the No hitter, it's all the more disappointing to see the Brewers' version of a pitching staff get continually clobbered. At any point, does the finger get pointed at the pitching coach, the catcher, the GM, the manager? How many times can a team give up double digit runs? If this team decided to throw in the towel, it's likely to be hit for a ground rule double. That sound you hear is Jeff Suppan giggling.

The Derision

Can't prove anything, but I have a pretty good feeling that Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem and Carlos Arroyo all made a secret pact in the offseason to join the Miami Heat. What kind of a competitor is Ilgauskas to not try and build a winner around himself in Cleveland, the way Andrew Bynum did in LA?

Boras Bad Enough

Full disclosure. I, too, received gifts from an agent during college. Think it was after we signed the lease to our first apartment. It was a pen, and maybe a key chain. And some mints. Do I now lose my NCAA eligibility? I red-shirted all four years. Still have that red shirt, but it's torn under the armpits now.

Taking Care of Business

Acquisition of power forward Jon Brockman from the Kings paves the wave for Bucks to add one more piece to their roster. I suggest they try and pry away 76ers rookie Evan Turner.

May sound crazy, but he disappointed in summer league. Should GM John Hammond pull this off, I see the following headline:

BROCKMAN TURNER (ILYAS)OVA DRIVE BUCKS

That is one supergroup. "BBBAby you just ain't seen nothing yet."