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VIEWPOINT: CHRIS CUTHBERTThe
point of no return?
CBC Sports Online | Feb. 1, 2005
We have reached the point of no return in the NHL labour mess.
Although commissioner Gary Bettman has never officially confirmed
an ultimate deadline for saving this season, it is clear that this
week represents a last call to salvage the hockey year. While I understand
the strong sentiment that this season is no longer worth saving, put
me in the camp which could accept an abbreviated 28-game race to the
Stanley Cup playoffs.
History has taught us that the shortened season of 1994-95 produced
almost the exact final standings as the following year over a full
82-game campaign.
In 94-95, Quebec finished ahead of Pittsburgh in the Northeast division
with Philadelphia, Detroit and Calgary also capturing divisional crowns.
In the ensuing year, Quebec moved to Colorado, where the Avalanche
finished ahead of Calgary in the Pacific. Philadelphia and Detroit
repeated as divisional winners while Pittsburgh assumed the Northeast
title in the absence of Quebec. Further examination shows no dramatic
movement by any of the 26 franchises within the standings from the
shortened year to the following full season.
If you believe the cream will ultimately rise to the top, a 28-game
season would provide a compelling two-month sprint to qualify 16 teams
for the gruelling marathon which is the Stanley Cup playoffs. In my
humble opinion, that beats the alternative of no NHL hockey for the
foreseeable future.
The NHL has indicated that, should there be a return to action
this season, a shootout will be deployed to break ties. I may
be in the minority but I am not a fan of the gimmicky shootout. Yes,
it is popular with fans, but so are hockey fights. Is anyone suggesting
we call out the tough guys to drop their gloves in order to break
ties?
The league has already devised a tremendous tie-breaking format, 4-on-4
overtime. What is often the best five minutes of action in a game
could easily be extended for an additional five minutes, or even a
full 20-minute period. With games on average trimmed to two hours
and 20 minutes, there’s plenty of time to extend the 4-on-4 session.
I’d even prefer 3-on-3 overtime for a second overtime period before
endorsing the artificial shootout.
On the football front, you’ve been hearing a lot about New
England Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel lately. Crennel,
rumoured to be the next head coach of the Cleveland Browns, is the
older brother of Carl Crennel, the former CFL linebacker. The Patriots
website mentions that brother Carl played for the Hamilton Tiger Cats
in 1980. What isn’t detailed is that Carl was the backbone of a star-studded
Montreal defence in the 70s.
Crennel played 115 games in Montreal over eight seasons, winning the
Grey Cup in 1974 and 1977. Crennel moved on to archrival Edmonton
in 1979, where he was never comfortable playing with the enemy. Nor
was there room for him at middle linebacker with Hall-of-Famer Dan
Kepley.
Nevertheless, Crennel had a distinguished CFL career. Apparently,
brother Romeo is as successful on the sidelines as Carl was between
the lines. In fact, I'm betting Romeo wins his third Super Bowl ring
Sunday as he devises a way of grounding Donovan McNabb and the Eagles.
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For Chris Cuthbert, versatility has been the key
to success.
A Queen's University graduate, Cuthbert got his start at Radio CFRC with play-by-play
coverage of the Queen's Golden Gaels - Vanier Cup champions - while still a
student. From there, at radio station CJAD in Montreal, he was the voice of
the Montreal Manic of the NASL and the CFL's Montreal Alouettes and Concordes.
In 1984, Cuthbert moved to Edmonton to work for CBC Sports.
Along with his play-by-play duties for the CFL on CBC, where he made his Grey
Cup debut in 1996, Cuthbert also called the play-by-play for Hockey Night in
Canada's second game of the weekly doubleheader.
In addition, Cuthbert hosted CBC's coverage of the World Figure Skating Championships
and he was figure skating commentator at the Nagano and Salt Lake City Olympic
Games. He also covered gymnastics and cycling at the Commonwealth Games.
Cuthbert received glowing reviews for his work as the rowing and canoe/kayak
commentator at the 2004 Olympic Games. He also had the call of the controversial
figure skating events – revolving around Jamie Sale and David Pelletier
– in Salt Lake City at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
An episode that aptly demonstrated Cuthbert's true versatility occurred during
a NHL playoff game in 1988 in New Jersey, where he learned about the pressure
of live television. A power failure in Montreal forced Hockey Night in Canada's
to switch to a Washington vs. New Jersey game. Cuthbert was supposed to supply
updates to the national broadcast but when focus shifted, he became host, analyst,
commentator and runner. Cuthbert was nominated for a Gemini Award for that program.
Cuthbert co-authored The Rink - Stories from Hockey's Hometowns with
fellow CBC Sports broadcaster Scott Russell.
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