Aufträge » 9 in the 82-game schedule.Amazingly, New York was 2

Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn. Chargers Jerseys .ca! Hi Kerry, I have a question regarding the "in-person hearings." The public is only ever told that a player has been "offered an in-person hearing", and rarely is the actual process discussed. I was wondering, what actually happens during one of these hearings? How much dialogue is there between the player and the NHL officials? From an outsiders perspective, it seems like the league has its mind made up, but has to invite the player simply because they want to issue a suspension longer than 5 games. Any insight into these closed-door meetings would be interesting to hear! Thanks! Ryan SteevesOttawa, ON ----- Hi Kerry, Max Lapierre on Dan Boyle - Obviously, that garbage has no place in the NHL. The ensuing fights, hits (Brent Burns for instance) and the injury - clearly someone needs to put their foot down. My question is - did the officials on the ice handle that properly? How many games does he sit? Sadly, Im not sure if Brendan Shanahan will give a stiff enough penalty to Lapierre and it could allow dirty players to continue doing this with a fair trade-off in their minds. That being said - my last question: Has the NHL ever asked you to head up the Department of Player Safety and would you (though I would be sad to see it since this column would have to go away)? Always hated it when you were the ref since you actually called the rules by the book and actually did a good job! I would love to see you in that position - I feel a former referee plus players advising is more appropriate way to structure that department. Cheers (and thanks for always doing a great job as a Ref), Zach Karabat Ryan and Zach: Thank you for your questions. Zach, you can bet the farm that I wont be included as a member of the Player Safety Committee let alone heading the department so have no fear, youll be able to keep reading Cmon Ref! Likewise, Ryan it would be totally inappropriate for me to speculate on what takes place through the discipline process that Brandan Shanahans office is responsible for; either through a telephone interview with the player or by invitation of an in-person hearing. What I can share with you however is a firsthand account of player hearings that I was required to attend. The format of player hearings changed a number of years ago when Brian Burke became the Vice President of Hockey Operations. Burkie was not only a lawyer but as a former General Manager and good hockey man determined that hearings could often be conducted by telephone for convenience/cost without the physical presence of the player or the Referee who called the penalty. When I began my NHL officiating career Clarence Campbell was the league president. Mr. Campbell was a Rhodes Scholar and a lawyer similarly to all his successors that have held the position, including current Commissioner Gary Bettman. Mr. Campbell was also part of the Canadian Army prosecution team at the Nuremburg trial of Nazi war criminals. The reason I mention this is because Mr. Campbell was a stickler for detailed report writing. He and his designee, Vice President Brian ONeill (responsible for supplementary discipline) insisted on the Officials writing independent detailed reports when game misconducts and match penalties were assessed in the event a player hearing was required. The Referee was always compelled to attend the hearing to provide evidence and be questioned on his report. The hearing was the players "day in court" and he and often appeared with his team General Manager. They were able to plead their case and speak on the charges levied against him. Unlike today, some games might not have been televised and no footage was available of the incident so the Referees report became a very important component in the proceedings. In most hearings the player attempted to diminish what had taken place and lay blame to his opponent or even the Referee. I have also seen situations where the player showed true remorse and appealed to the goodness and mercy of the court. I want to share the bizarre details of one hearing I attended just to give you a glimpse of how creative a players line defence can be. On March 23, 1983, I assessed a match penalty to Dave "Tiger" Williams of the Vancouver Canucks for breaking his stick on the back of Washington Cap defenceman Randy Holts head. Tiger used the fact that the game was not televised to his advantage in the emergency hearing that was called by Brian ONeill. It was the best defense I ever heard in a hearing. Going into the game in the Cap Center Randy Holt, trailed Tiger by a couple of penalty minutes for the league lead in that department. Patrik Sundstrom, a skilled rookie, bumped into Holt in the corner by accident. The Caps tough guy threw down his gloves and started pummeling the Swede. I was close by and witnessed Tiger charging from the blue line with his stick held in a cross-check position straight for Holt who was facing the end boards and doing a number of Sunny. I stepped in front of Williams and like a crossing guard held my hand out signaling - Stop! There was stopping Tiger and I stepped aside as Williams shattered his stick shaft on the back of Randy Holts helmetless head! The next day at the hearing in the Toronto office, Brian ONeill read my report (no video remember) and asked Tiger if he had anything if he had anything to say in his defence. For the next 15 minutes, Tiger talked about hunting grizzly bears with a bow and arrow and turning them into rugs. The essence of his defence was that he only got one shot at a charging grizz and had to make it a kill shot; thats why he only uses "aluminum arrows" - kills em dead! For that very reason its why Tiger said he used a "wooden" hockey stick because they break real easy unlike aluminum. If he had hit Holt with even the slightest force using an aluminum stick he wouldnt have gotten up! Tiger then used me as his defence witness by referring to my report which said Holt did not fall down after being struck my Williams stick. We walked out of that hearing and I said, "Tiger, thats the biggest load of horse---- I have ever seen shoveled at one time." With a big grin on his face he replied, "You know, I think he went for it. I couldnt believe Holt didnt go down, because I really hammered him." The only punishment Tiger Williams drew was an automatic two-game suspension that came with accumulating game misconducts. Tiger was a character as well as a big-game hunter. The Referees assessed the correct penalty to Maxim Lapierre (major for check from behind and game misconduct) and the players fate is now in the hands of the Player Safety Committee. I know one thing for sure - Maxim Lapierre, Brent Burns and all the other players leveling dangerous hits on their opponents arent hunting grizzlies! This recklessness has to stop... Justin Jones Jersey . -- Peyton Manning is the only player in this Super Bowl who has won the big game. Derwin James Chargers Jersey . -- The Val-dOr Foreurs made it to the Memorial Cup semifinal thanks to their workhorse goaltender and their ability to hang around like a bad cold. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Justin-Jones-Elite-Jersey/ . Terry came from Boston along with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce but has appeared in just 35 games after a knee injury, averaging 4.5 points on 36 per cent shooting. Evans was a favourite of fans but not coach Jason Kidd, who used him in just 30 of their 51 games.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Believe it or not, the New York Knicks were a winning team last time Charlotte was here.Now theyre the worst in the NBA — and potentially the worst in Knicks history.Kemba Walker added to the best stretch of his career with 28 more points, and the streaky Charlotte Hornets extended the Knicks losing streak to 15 games with a 110-82 rout on Saturday.New York hung around for 1 1/2 quarters before being run buried under a 27-2 avalanche to finish the half that produced some of the most booming boos of the season at Madison Square Garden.It kind of just went bad real quick, forward Quincy Acy said. It looked like we kind of just gave up.These days, its hard to tell even when theyre trying.Charlotte won its fifth in a row and did it so easily that Walker played only three quarters. That was still enough for him to surpass 25 points for the fifth straight time.The Hornets outscored the Knicks 41-13 in the second quarter and were ahead 89-44 after three.Right now were clicking, Walker said.Bismack Biyombo added 14 points, tying a career high, and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, the latest team to enjoy a laugher at the expense of the Knicks. New York fell to 5-35 with its 25th loss in 26 games.Acy had 18 points for the Knicks, playing without Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani.New York reaches the midway point of its schedule Thursday when it plays Milwaukee in London. The Knicks are on their longest single-season skid ever and free-falling toward their worst finish, which is 23-59 in the 82-game schedule.Amazingly, New York was 2-1 after beating Charlotte here on Nov. 2. Now the Knicks could be headed toward more NBA infamy, as they are on pace to finish with fewer than 15 wins, which is the least in an 82-game schedule for a team that was above .500 at any point during the season, according to STATS.Presideent of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson took the blame before the game, though said he was doing whats best for the franchises future. Uchenna Nwosu Chargers Jersey. We hope were on the right track, even though this isnt the track we anticipated, Jackson said.The Hornets are on the right track, though they havent stayed on the same one for long this season. They lost four in a row last month, then won four, then lost five straight before this win streak, their longest of the season.Even playing without injured starters Al Jefferson and Lance Stephenson, they averaged 100.8 points during the previous four games. They were already at 89 after three quarters of this one, when they led by 45.This is the best offence that weve played over a number of games, coach Steve Clifford said.TIP-INSHornets: Walker had 30 or more in the first three games of his streak before scoring 29 in a victory at Toronto on Thursday. ... Cody Zeller (right shoulder strain) and P.J. Hairston (illness) both returned after missing the previous game. Hairston scored 15 points.Knicks: Rookie Cleanthony Early made his first start. He shot 2 of 9 for six points. ... New York signed Lance Thomas and Lou Amundson to 10-day contracts earlier Saturday. Both players had previously been waived after they were acquired earlier this week in the three-team trade that sent J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to Cleveland.HONORS FOR WALKER?Walker will be a strong candidate for Eastern Conference player of the week when the award is announced Monday. An All-Star berth will be tougher given the Hornets 15-24 record, but Walker said he doesnt think much about it anyway, even with the game here in his hometown.Right now Im just focused on winning and just keep racking up wins for my team, he said.UP NEXTHornets: Host San Antonio on Wednesday.Knicks: Against Milwaukee in London on Thursday. Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Discount Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Outlet Cheap NFL Black Jerseys ' ' '