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Sunday, February 03, 2002

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

If all had gone according to plan last weekend at Heinz Field, there would be a New Orleans dateline preceding this sentence. And this space, as written here a week ago, would be turned over to you to get your suggestions on improving the NHL All-Star Game.

There's nothing anyone can do about the former, but we'll still take care of the latter.

Without further delay and without any comment ...

Jon Zebraskey of Uptown offered the most common idea, dumping the current format: "It should switch back to the old East vs. West format. The North America vs. World concept was a gimmick used to promote the Nagano Olympics in 1998 and, for some reason, they decided to stick with it. Not that it would really improve the quality of the game, but it would be nice to see an all-Detroit power play for the West like the Penguins had in 1992. It would also reverse the trend of the NHL sucking the tradition out of everything it possibly can."

Mike Adams of Madison, Wis., found his idea in a strange place: "Heaven forbid baseball actually has a good idea. Award home ice in the Stanley Cup final to whichever conference wins the game. Of course, that would mean going back to the East vs. West format, which is fine. I've had enough of the current format that pits teammates against each other."

Jack Weixel of Walnut Creek, Calif., wants to use the game as a testing ground for proposed NHL changes: "It wouldn't hurt to try out some suggestions to make the game more interesting or safer for the players. Try out things like removing the red line or making icing automatic."

Rick Morgan of Jefferson Hills echoed that, adding, "Maybe it would make a few of the old-time hockey sticks in the mud realize how much that change could open up regular season games."

Dan O'Neil of Squirrel Hill went wild with similar ideas: "The most exciting hockey I ever played was a three-on-three tournament. Break the roster into teams of seven -- six and a goaltender -- then have eight teams and a two-day event. Use three five-minute periods per game, with only a two-minute intermission to catch your breath. Every penalty is a penalty shot for the victim. And no red line! I know it will work. Remember, when the NHL switches to this format, it was my idea."

Joanne Kobosky of Castle Shannon wants a better system for choosing the rosters: "The players picked this year are what's making the game boring. You can definitely tell fans stuff the ballot boxes. Players should be chosen by their productivity, not their popularity. I also think they should go back to having all teams represented."

Brian Gefsky of Los Angeles wants to see more of a Hollywood-style emphasis on the promoting the players the way the NBA does: "Hello? Mario Lemieux vs. Jaromir Jagr? Those are the guys who are the most popular, so publicize them!"

Lev Loukhton of Hackensack, N.J., was one of several readers who took issue with my premise that the All-Star Game is now a dud: "It is curious how you can simultaneously be so excited about a players' revolt in Dallas, leading to an overthrow of a conservative system, and so negative about the All-Star Game, which showcases how exciting hockey could be without the trap and without Chris Pronger's and Mike Peca's sticks in someone's midsection."

Dan Rapp of Squirrel Hill was another: "I've always felt that the NHL All-Star Game is the most exciting of the big four sports. How can a hockey game be, as you called it, 'dreary' when the over-under usually sits somewhere around 25 1/2?"

Hey, this was easy.

Better check with the boss if I still get paid for this.

Dejan Kovacevic can be reached at dkovacevic@ post-gazette.com.