PE.com - Professional Sports http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/ en Copyright 2008 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:24:00 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Alexander: Five ways I'd change the NHL As I noted in today's column, the inspiration for my "Five Ways I'd Change SoCal Sports" list came from the "Puck Daddy" blog at Yahoo Sports, which has been running a weekday feature throughout August where various bloggers, beat writers, etc. have proffered five ways they'd change the NHL.

Here's my five. (And no, none of them involve firing Gary Bettman, but don't think that wasn't under consideration).

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/08/the-genesis-five-ways-id-chang.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/08/the-genesis-five-ways-id-chang.html NHL Thu, 28 Aug 2008 08:24:00 -0800 Yes, it's been 20 years since the Kings got Gretzky Saturday is the 20th anniversary of the day that shook -- and eventually reconfigured -- the hockey world, the day that Canadian icon Wayne Gretzky was traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Kings.

It's hard to imagine now what a stunning development that was, the Babe Ruth of hockey -- still relatively in his prime -- being moved to what was considered a distant outpost by most in the NHL.

As things turned out, it affected not just two franchises but an entire sport.

Ducks fans, you may despise the Kings. But if Bruce McNall hadn't brought Gretzky to LA and the Kings started playing to nightly sellouts, your franchise wouldn't exist today. Neither would the San Jose Sharks. And neither would the Phoenix Coyotes, the former Winnipeg Jets -- who are, as it turns out, Coach Wayne Gretzky's current employer.

For those who have forgotten, here are a couple of reminders of just why they called him The Great One.

Here's his record-breaking 802nd career goal, for the Kings against Vancouver in March of 1994:

Here's Gretzky breaking Gordie Howe's record of 1,851 career points, in 1990, in Edmonton (with Prime Ticket's Bob Miller on the call):

And here are some recollections (quotes furnished by the NHL):

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/08/yes-its-been-20-years-since-th.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/08/yes-its-been-20-years-since-th.html NHL Fri, 08 Aug 2008 08:30:40 -0800 Dean Lombardi, Part VII One more segment from Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi, on No. 2 pick Drew Doughty and his search for a coach:

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-vii.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-vii.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:30:43 -0800 Dean Lombardi, Part VI More from Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi on the rebuilding process, and how hard it is on a fan base that has redefined the term "long-suffering":

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-vi.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-vi.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:30:34 -0800 Dean Lombardi, Part V More from Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi, on multi-tasking:

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-v.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-v.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:30:56 -0800 Dean Lombardi, Part IV Still more from Dean Lombardi, on trades:

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-iv.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-iv.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:30:49 -0800 Dean Lombardi, Part III More from Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi, on how soon the kids will be ready:

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-iii.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-iii.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:30:29 -0800 Dean Lombardi, Part II The second segment of a conversation with Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi, on the instructional model for the development camp -- and whether it hurts to not have a head coach in place:

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-ii.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/dean-lombardi-part-ii.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:00:12 -0800 A conversation with ... Dean Lombardi In conjunction with today's column on the Kings -- prompted by their development camp currently taking place at El Segundo -- here's the first of a few segments with the club's president and general manager Dean Lombardi.

Why several? Put it this way: When Lombardi gets going, he'll fill your recorder.

(Incidentally, the camp runs through July 18, with individual position sessions running from 8-11:30 and everybody on the ice from 3:45-4:45. There's no charge for the daily sessions at the Toyota Sports Center, 555 Nash in El Segundo. The only exception is a scrimmage on July 14 at 3 p.m.; there, admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children under 18.)

Anyway, here's Dean, talking about the origins of the development camp.

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/a-conversation-with-dean-lomba.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/a-conversation-with-dean-lomba.html NHL Thu, 10 Jul 2008 06:30:00 -0800 LA veteran leaves for Bay Area ... But no, it's not Elton Brand. At least not yet; there has been no word on whether he'll take the Golden State Warriors' contract offer or stay with the Clippers.

But Rob Blake is leaving LA. The former Kings captain signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the San Jose Sharks, with the idea that he'll serve much the same mentor role for their young defensemen that he would have with the Kings.

LA general manager Dean Lombardi had indicated he wanted Blake to return for another season. But the 38-year-old Blake told The Associated Press that Lombardi didn't return his calls in the early stages of the free agent period that began Tuesday. That gave the Sharks an opportunity, and they jumped on it.

"San Jose is something I've always admired," said Blake. "They have a ton of potential, and they're always right there every year. The excitement is in moving up the road a little and playing for a championship again."

]]> http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/la-veteran-leaves-for-bay-area.html http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/prosports/2008/07/la-veteran-leaves-for-bay-area.html NHL Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:04:24 -0800