Oh, Maxime. . .was just visiting the NHL website and viewing "The Hockey Show"; when I wasn't having my libido transported to the planet Jupiter looking at Carrie Milbank, I noticed that the program featured a spelling bee that they held at Wachovia Center Tuesday night. Quite humorous in a sad way. . .it made Leno's "Jaywalking" spots seem like an on-the-spot report from a Mensa meeting. Check it out. . .the wrap-around Bud Light commercial with the cretin who has the one-word vocabulary ("Dude") is a candidate for PBS by comparison. Wanted to call this to your attention so you won't think that my being a stickler for accurate spelling makes me a candidate for the lunatic fringe. (There are a few really pathetic characters on this spot, slathered with orange paint and the obligatory anti-Sidney Crosby messages, who seem to be hell-bent on providing conclusive evidence to Darwin's theory of the origin of the species.)

Maxime. . .I was simply chiding the nitwit who was using my name to poke a little fun at me. . .I would at least like someone to spell my name right (regardless of how asinine their comments may be). And I realize that I'm a still voice crying in the wilderness of illiteracy that our society is becoming, but I think if we overlook that in any forum, become lackadaisical about our methods of communication and drop our standards of spelling and syntax we are contributing to the dumbing-down of Western culture that is oh-so-prevalent these days. Sorry if this offends you. (And by the way, "i", when used as the peripheral pronoun, should be capitalized.)

Jim, i honestly have nothing against you, neither do i have anything to say about your opinions, but could you QUIT BEING A GRAMMAR TEACHER? This is a forum. An internet forum. Not a future novel. Not an exam, and not a test of your knowledge. Internet chatting and posting is the last place you wanna look for the next Pulitzer award winner. When people confront your opinions, if you have nothing better to do then check people's spelling, it proves to me that you have nothing to defend your points. I think it's been 5 times in the same column you tell people they can't write. Leave the grammar in school, this is a hockey forum.

A little off topic. I was watching tsn tonite. Dave Hodge. Anyhows, bottom line was that he felt like Gretzky would outscore any of the superstars of all time. I have a different response to that. I acknowledge that Gretzky was elite and nothing less. However, I really feel like he had a story book career. Without a bias in place i really do feel as though Lemieux was a better player. My arguments are as follows. Gretzky came in with an amazing team. Lemieux came in with a team with the 2nd worse home record of all time. Lemieux scored 199pts in 76 games. If he played the other 4 games he def would have broken 200 pts without a doubt. He was also projected to do so 2 or 3 more times. Does anyone know who his wingers were when he scored 199pts. No thats right. Not many do. Gretzky scored his with Messier, Kurri, Coffey in his prime, Anderson. That is a huge difference. He was definitely not hit like Lemieux was. Just watch Don Cherrys 10. It really is true. Think of this. Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles when he was 28 yrs old. Only 1 season where he scored 50 goals. When he was 30 yrs old he scored 41 goals while when Lemieux was 30 he scored 69 goals. People dont look at things when they were on even grounds. At this age Gretzky was still in his prime no doubt about it. Gretzky was def given preferential treatment. People just ignore it all. When they were in the 87 Canada Cup. Gretzky was 24 or 25 with yrs of experience he had 4 goals and 21 pts while Lemieux had 18 pts and 11 goals including 3 or 4 winners including the tournament winners. Gretzky was MVP. Lets face it. That was definitely a BIAS no doubt about it. To confirm how people really have no idea what they are talking about, Malkin wasnt even invited to this yrs all star game. What a joke and pure evidence that people have no idea what they are talking about. Back to my argument. Lemieux scored 199pts to Gretzkys 168 pts with both having 114 assists and Lemieux having 85 goals to Gretzkys 54 goals but Gretzky receiving MVP is ludicrous. Do you really think if Lemieux scored 31 goals less then Gretzky that he would honestly get MVP. Lemieux scored consecutive points in 47 games opposed to Gretzkys 51 but Lemieux was on in first period of that game and came back many games later to have 1 goal and 1 assist in the last game of the yr is all forgotten about. I really and truly believe that Gretzky did recieve preferential treatment. I am fine with that. Actually No, I am not. It wasnt fair. If he was fair game and he had those accomplishments I would totally embrace him. However Lemieux is always number 2 to him because he didnt receive any embracements. Gretzky was definitely not fair game. I dont care what anyone says, he really wasnt. I laugh when someone says he is too fast. What a joke. If they say he was too smart that is another good joke. It doesnt take intelligence to finish your check on a player who is not exceptionally fast. I would love to hear others thoughts.

it was always drury with teh big plays and big goals at crunch time, it was never briere, Drury was the money man for the sabres brier was just a tag along.