Rangers Win 7th Straight Against Floundering but Feisty Isles

Disparities in victories, statistics and payroll rarely register when the Rangers and Islanders meet. Although the visiting Rangers entered the latest installment of the rivalry having won their last six games, while the Islanders had lost 9 of their previous 10, the Rangers could not exhale until the final seconds of their 4-2 victory Tuesday night at Nassau Coliseum.

“Whenever we play in this building, it’s up and down, over and about,” Rangers Coach John Tortorella said. “You just never know what’s going to happen. I thought we were good at periods of times. I thought we were brutal at periods of times. We’ve been on the back side of these, in this building. We’ve lost a lot of games here. But it’s an encouraging sign that we found a way to win.”

The game was intense throughout, a crowd-pleaser and coach-pleaser, undecided until Brad Richards took advantage of a Josh Bailey giveaway to break a 2-2 tie with just under five minutes left.

When the puck dropped, all streaks and slumps flew out the window. So what if the Islanders were 1-6-3 since beating the Rangers on Oct. 15? It mattered little that the Rangers were the hottest team in the N.H.L.

“I thought we gutted it out,” said Ryan Callahan, the Rangers’ captain, who had an assist and scored an empty-net goal as time expired. “I thought we stuck to our plan. There were a lot of emotional swings in this game. Nothing comes easy.”

It rarely does when facing a geographical rival, despite the personal and team statistics. The Islanders did not resemble the league’s 29th-place team. Jack Capuano’s club is battling an epic scoring slump, having already been shut out at home three times.

Kyle Okposo, the Islanders’ first-round pick in 2006, was a healthy scratch after failing to score a goal in the first 14 games of the season. Blake Comeau, a third-line wing with 24 goals last season, was held without a goal or assist by the Rangers – a season-opening drought of 13 games. Bailey, the goat, is a recent ninth overall draft pick with no goals and only one assist this season.

While the Rangers’ defensemen – Brad Park or Brian Leetch, none of them – have scored 11 goals this season, the Islanders have not seen a goal from any of their defensemen during even-strength play. This was about the only trend that held Tuesday night in Uniondale.

But even when the Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the middle of the second period on a goal by defenseman Steve Eminger, the Islanders generated more scoring chances for the next several minutes.

The Rangers, however, had Henrik Lundqvist in goal. Displaying his love for soccer, he blocked shots with his head. Dropping his stick and sprawling his pads across the crease to make a stunning save on P. A. Parenteau late in the period, Lundqvist drew echoes of Dominik Hasek.

“Hank kept us in it,” Tortorella said of Lundqvist, who is 22-11-5 in his career against the Islanders.

After kicking the habit of committing too many penalties during their six straight wins, the Rangers gave the Islanders five power plays in a 25-minute span over the final two periods. The Islanders finally took advantage of the fifth one. While Artem Anisimov sat in the box for high-sticking, the Islanders’ young star John Tavares slid a perfect pass to the crease, past a surprised Dan Girardi and on the stick of Matt Moulson, who scored to tie the game at 6 minutes 58 seconds of the third period.

Puck possession and battle levels were even for most of the third until Bailey’s shanked clearing attempt went from Brandon Dubinsky to Richards and past Islanders goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, whose acrobatic play between the pipes was almost the equal of Lundqvist’s.

“We had a lot of guys work very hard tonight,” said Capuano, who has some legitimately positive video to build on.

If the Islanders compete as ferociously in their coming games against Montreal, Boston and Pittsburgh as they did Tuesday against the Rangers, they will rise from the basement of the Eastern Conference. But that has been the question in Uniondale for a generation. Can the Islanders sustain a high level of play and tenacity when the old barn isn’t as crowded and the opponent not nearly as loathed?

As for the Rangers, they will look for their eighth straight win when they play Saturday in Montreal. The last time the Blueshirts won eight straight was during the 1974-75 season.

NBA players file antitrust suits against the league

The NBA labor dispute has moved a long way off the court -- and into the courtroom.

On Tuesday, a group of players filed separate lawsuits against the NBA, alleging antitrust violations, in federal courts in Minneapolis and Oakland.

Pistons guard Ben Gordon and the No. 2 pick in June's NBA daft, Derrick Williams, plus two other players filed their suit in Minneapolis. Their case alleges the NBA owners' latest offer for a new labor contract would have "wiped out the competitive market for most NBA players," according to the Associated Press.

Later in the day five players, including All-Stars Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant, filed a similar case against the NBA in the Northern District of California in Oakland.

David Boies, an attorney representing the players, said in a press conference: "We hope it's not necessary to go to trial.... [It's in] everybody's interests to resolve this quickly."

On Monday, the NBA players' union rejected the league's latest contract and began disbanding the union so players could file antitrust suits against the league.

ALSO:

NBA cancels more games

Story lines Lakers will miss in early December

Darren Collison making do with less during lockout

Report: Gasol to play for Barcelona if NBA lockout cancels season

-- Barry Stavro  

Photo: New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony during a news conference Monday as the National Basketball Players Assn.  rejected the league's latest contract offer.  Credit: Reuters / Shannon Stapleton.

Angels GM widens search for relief pitcher

Jerry Dipoto has cast a wide net in his search for relief help, the Angels’ new general manager saying Tuesday that he has contacted the agents for “between five and 10” right-handers.

Among the free agents the Angels are believed to be interested in are Francisco Cordero, 36, who has averaged almost 40 saves a season over the past five years, and Octavio Dotel, 37, who helped St. Louis win the World Series in October.

The Angels are also believed to be interested in Todd Coffey, 31, who went 5-1 with a 3.62 earned-run average in 69 games for Washington last season, and Matt Capps, 28, who went 4-7 with a 4.25 ERA in 69 games for Minnesota.

As of Tuesday afternoon, they had not contacted the agent for Twins closer Joe Nathan, a 37-year-old who returned last season from major elbow surgery.

San Diego’s Heath Bell has expressed an interest in closing for the Angels, and Philadelphia closer Ryan Madson is available.

Plan for Formula One racing in Austin, Texas, appears in jeopardy

Plans for a new Formula One race next year on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, appear to be in trouble Tuesday.

Construction had started on a $300-million complex called Circuit of the Americas to hold the United States Grand Prix on Nov. 18, 2012.

It would have marked the international racing series' return to the U.S. market after a five-year absence. There also were plans for the track to host a MotoGP motorcycle race.

But the group building the track said Tuesday that it suspended construction because a contract assuring that the race would be held there had not been signed. A statement issued by the group did not say who or what was causing the problem.

"We have spent tremendous resources preparing for the Formula One and MotoGP championship races, but the failure to deliver race contracts gives us great concern," Bobby Epstein, a founding partner of the venue, said in a statement.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that the problem was a contract dispute between the race's promoter, which has the F1 contract, and the group building Circuit of the Americas.

At Formula One's race last weekend in Abu Dhabi, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone likewise reportedly said "there are two parties, one is building a track, the other has the contract and they've forgotten to talk to each other."

After the Austin race was proposed, New Jersey officials last month announced plans for their own Formula One race on streets along the Hudson River, with Manhattan as a backdrop, in June 2013.

That worries state officials in Texas. The state had committed to spending up to $25 million over 10 years to cover F1's annual $25-million sanctioning fee to help draw the race to Austin, according to published reports.

But Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said Tuesday that the state now would not pay any funds before the first Austin race.

"The recent announcement of an annual Formula One race in New Jersey is a concern, as additional races have the potential to reduce the number of attendees to a Texas race," she said.

— Jim Peltz

Photo: Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone last month at the Buddh International Circuit in India. Credit: Franck Robichon / EPA    

Galaxy jumping to Time Warner Cable in $55-million deal

The Galaxy has reached a broadcast agreement to jump from Fox Sports West to Time Warner Cable’s fledgling regional sports channels –- one in English, one in Spanish.

 The 10-year deal is valued at $55 million for an undetermined number of the games. The Galaxy said it will lose money this season despite advancing to Sunday’s Major League Soccer championship game with the league’s best record.

The value of the regional contract dwarfs the three-year, $30-million contract between MLS and NBC.

An official announcement of the deal was scheduled for Friday outside team owner AEG's offices at L.A. Live.

Although the Galaxy has been the league’s marquee franchise since signing David Beckham before the 2007 season, it has not been a ratings winner for FSW, never drawing more than 16,000 homes -– a .28 rating. In the last few years, ratings have dropping as low as .11%.

Marcel Lachemann rejoins Angels as special assistant to GM

Former Angels pitching coach and manager Marcel Lachemann will return to the organization as a special assistant to new General Manager Jerry Dipoto. Additionally, the hiring of Larry Corrigan and Tim Schmidt as major league special assignment scouts was officially announced Tuesday. 

Lachemann, 70, served as the Angels' pitching coach from 1984-92 and was the team's manager from 1994-96. After resigning as manager in early August of a tumultuous 1996 season, Lachemann, who pitched at USC, returned to the team as pitching coach under Terry Collins in 1997-98.   

He has spent 44 years in the game, the last 12 in the Colorado Rockies organization, where he was a pitching coach and a special assistant to the general manager. Lachemann was Dipoto's last pitching coach with the Rockies in 2000, and his brother, Bill, has been a coach and instructor in the Angels' farm system since 1985.

ALSO:

NBA cancels games through Dec. 15

AEG reveals new, open design for Farmers Field

Dodgers not expected to make run at Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Milwaukee

Photo: Former Angels Manager Marcel Lachemann in 1994. Credit: Eric Draper / Associated Press

NBA cancels more games

A day after the players’ union rejected the NBA's latest contract offer and began the process of disbanding the union, the NBA told teams that it had canceled all games through Dec. 15, a league source confirmed to The Times Tuesday afternoon.

The union is expected to file a “disclaimer of interest” so it can convert to a trade association as the dispute moves into the courts. Players are expected to file antitrust lawsuits against the NBA claiming the league conspired to prevent them from making a living.

The players have been locked out by NBA owners for 139 days.

Previously, NBA Commissioner David Stern had canceled all games through Nov. 30.

Stern had hoped to reach a new labor agreement with the players this week so that they could start playing games on Dec. 15, but clearly that won’t be the case.

-- Broderick Turner

Photo: Billy Hunter, Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association and Derek Fisher, President of the National Basketball Players Association speak at a press conference Monday after NBA players rejected the latest labor offer from the league. Credit: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images.

Mark Howe, the Proto-Nicklas Lidstrom, Is at Last in the Hall of Fame

On Monday night, Mark Howe will at long last be where he belongs: in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Howe became eligible for election to the Hall in 1998, three years after his distinguished 22-season career ended, but only now is he being ushered into a club in which he has long deserved membership. Yet even that is somehow fitting for Howe, whose quiet excellence tended to be overlooked throughout his career.

Howe was nothing less than one of the greatest defensemen of his generation, and it was he, perhaps more than anyone else, who made the Flyers of the 1980s a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Howe’s play on the Philadelphia blue line looked an awful lot like Nicklas Lidstrom’s does on the Detroit blue line: near flawless through the use of positioning rather than body checking, virtually penalty-free, and with an effective attacking component that made him doubly good.

Compare Howe’s 16 N.H.L. seasons (1979-80 through 1994-95) with the 18 full N.H.L. seasons of Lidstrom (1991-92 through 2010-11), and you can see just how good Howe was.

Totals:

Howe in 929 games: 197+545=742, +400, 455 PiM

(per game: 0.78 pts, +0.42, 0.48 PiM)

Lidstrom in 1,494 games: 253+855=1108, +429, 486 PiM

(per game: 0.74 pts, +0.29, 0.33 PiM)

Howe’s record is remarkable. Certainly Lidstrom will be elected to the Hall in his first year of eligibility, and deservedly so. But Howe’s career averages are actually slightly better than Lidstrom’s, and he had to wait 13 years.

The things Howe is best known for are special enough, even if they lead people to miss the bigger picture of his on-ice accomplishments.

He is a son of Gordie Howe, and where Gordie could be and was often savagely rough, Mark was gentlemanly and clean. In any case, it was for the chance to play alongside his sons Mark and Marty that Gordie came out of retirement for the 1973-74 season.

The three formed a line for the Houston Aeros of the W.H.A., with Gordie, 45, centering Mark, 18, on the left and Marty, 19, on the right. Gordie scored 100 points and Marty 24. Mark scored 79 points in 76 games and was voted the rookie of the year.

But it should not have come as a big surprise – Mark had already led the Detroit Junior Red Wings to the national junior championship as a 15-year-old in 1971; won a silver medal with the United States at the 1972 Olympics at 16, the youngest hockey player ever to earn a medal; and been named Memorial Cup most valuable player with the Toronto Marlboros in ’73.

With the Howes leading the way, the Aeros won the Avco World Trophy as W.H.A. champions in 1974 and ’75. Then the family moved to Hartford and the New England Whalers, and Mark continued to excel:

WVIT in Hartford offered this back-in-the-day profile of Mark:

Father and sons stayed together for the Hartford Whalers’ first N.H.L. season, 1979-80, and by this time Mark Howe was playing defense more and more – though still putting up point-a-game numbers. Then came a horrific injury, when he was impaled by a prong at the center of the goal net – it entered through his thigh and buttock and narrowly missed his spine. You cannot find the injury on video, but witnesses call it gruesome. The N.H.L. subsequently redesigned the nets, removing the prong.

Despite losing 35 pounds while on a liquid diet recovering from the injury, Howe managed to come back and score 53 points in 76 games the next season. But in those high-scoring days, that was seen as a big decline, and he was dealt to Philadelphia for the 1982-83 campaign.

So began Howe’s greatest period. He was partnered with Brad McCrimmon on the Flyers’ defense for much of five seasons, and the pairing was practically impregnable in leading Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup finals in 1985 and ’87. (Howe’s plus-minus marks for those five seasons: plus-47, plus-30, plus-51, plus-85, plus-57. McCrimmon’s: plus-24, plus-19, plus-52, plus-83, plus-45.) Howe could score, too, averaging 19 goals and 63 points in that span:

Amazing how much that goal looks like the one he scored for the Whalers of the W.H.A. a few years before.

Howe’s best season was 1985-86, when he led the league with his plus-85 (followed by McCrimmon’s plus-83), while scoring 24 goals and 82 points – and did so while taking only 36 penalty minutes. Howe did not win the Norris Trophy that season; Paul Coffey did. But Howe should have. For that one season at least, Howe, like his father, had become the best player at his position; unlike his father, he never gave out a mean check or a cheap shot.

Howe continued to excel in Philadelphia until beginning the slow decline of a wise but still useful veteran. The Flyers let him go after the 1991-92 season so he could sign with Detroit to try to win a Stanley Cup. But in three seasons with the Red Wings – two spent alongside McCrimmon — he could not.

Perhaps the absence of a Stanley Cup on his resume was the reason for the long delay in according Howe the recognition he will receive Monday. He did make three trips to the finals with Philadelphia — and sat in the press box for a fourth, as a veteran scratch with Detroit. But he won two W.H.A. titles, was a first-team N.H.L. All-Star three times, had the rare distinction of skating for both the United States and Canada in international play and, as we have seen, had a career of overarching quality and class. Better late than never.

Kenny Bernstein retires from NHRA drag racing

Kenny Bernstein, a legendary NHRA drag-racing driver and team owner who was the first to break the 300-mph barrier, announced Tuesday he was retiring from the sport at age 67.

"My wife Sheryl and I have come to a place in our lives where we want to pursue other interests," Bernstein, whose Lake Forest-based team competed in drag racing's premier top-fuel class, said in a statement. "It's time to enjoy life while we still have our health."

He said the team's current driver, his son Brandon, "was also part of the decision-making process and we are going to do everything we can to help him find a position with another team." 

After the season finale Sunday at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, Brandon Bernstein finished sixth in the championship standings of the National Hot Rod Assn.'s Full Throttle Series.

Kenny Bernstein was a versatile six-time NHRA champion as a driver. He won four consecutive titles in the sport's other top division, funny cars, in 1985-88 and also won two top-fuel championships in 1996 and 2001.

On March 20, 1992, in Gainesville, Fla., Bernstein was the first NHRA driver to surpass 300 mph on the drag strip, a speed now routine in top-fuel and funny-car racing.

Bernstein initially retired as a driver after the 2002 season, returned in 2006-07 as a funny car driver and then retired again at age 63 to focus on his team.

ALSO:

Del Worsham wins top-fuel national championship

Del Worsham takes drag racing points lead at NHRA Finals

Funny car champion John Force: Car catching on fire not new to him

-- Jim Peltz

Photo: Kenny Bernstein in 2002. Credit: Gary Nastase

Justin Verlander is unanimous choice for AL Cy Young Award

Justin Verlander made it easy for the American League Cy Young Award voters. After capturing the league's pitching triple crown, the Detroit Tigers ace was rewarded with all 28 first-place votes from members of the Baseball Writers' Assn. of America in results announced Tuesday.

With 160 total points, Verlander easily beat out runner-up Jered Weaver of the Angels. Weaver got 17 second-place votes, eight for third, two for fourth and one for fifth for a total of 97 points.

Tampa Bay's James Shields was a distant third with 66 points, followed by the New York Yankees' CC Sabathia with 63.

Verlander is the 12th triple-crown winner in AL history, and all 12 have gone on to win the Cy Young Award. He went 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA and 250 strikeouts. He is the first unanimous choice since Johan Santana in 2006.

He also pitched a no-hitter and won 12 straight starts for the Tigers, who won their first division title since 1987. Weaver was 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA and 198 strikeouts.

The manager of the year awards will be announced Wednesday, followed by the National League Cy Young Award on Thursday, the AL MVP on Monday and the NL MVP next Tuesday.

ALSO:

Angels GM: Better on-base percentage will take time

Dodgers not expected to make run at Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols

Bill Plaschke: Matt Kemp's new contract is the first step in Dodgers' revival

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Justin Verlander. Credit: Paul Sancya / Associated Press

With Matt Schaub injured, Matt Leinart is a starting QB again

Just when the Houston Texans were looking like one of the teams to beat in the AFC, quarterback Matt Schaub suffers a foot injury that will keep him out indefinitely. Now is the time for Matt Leinart to prove, once and for all, that he can be a successful starting quarterback in the NFL.

“It’s a huge opportunity for me,” said Leinart, a former Heisman trophy winner at USC who has served as Schaub's backup the last two seasons. “I’m really bummed for Matt. We’ve become very close the last year and this year. He’s the leader of this football team and he’s done a great job in the 4 to 5 years he’s been here to get us to this point.... But he knows and everyone knows in this profession that things happen and the next guy has to step up."

Leinart has had his chances before, and it hasn't worked out so well. He was drafted 10th overall by the Arizona Cardinals in 2006 and started 11 of the 12 games he played that year, throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in leading the team to a 4-7 record in those games.

He started the first five games of the following season -- throwing two touchdowns and four interceptions but leading the Cardinals to a 3-2 record -- before breaking his collarbone. Leinart never regained his starting job from veteran Kurt Warner, who led the team to its only Super Bowl appearance.

When Warner retired before the 2010 season, it appeared Leinart would reclaim his starting spot -- instead, he was cut just before the start of the season and landed with the Texans. Leinart initially agreed to join the Seattle Seahawks before this season, but opted to re-sign with Houston when he discovered he would have to compete with two other quarterbacks for the Seahawks starting job.

Now he's a starter again with the Texans, who are 7-3 and have a two-game lead in the AFC South.

“That's what I've wanted for a long time, and that's what I've worked hard for every day and prepared for every day,” Leinart said. “It's a great opportunity. I'm just excited about the chance.”

Head Coach Gary Kubiak says he has plenty of confidence in his new starter.

“He's played in big football games in this league, he's played in big football games in college,” Kubiak said. “Matt's been around it. The key is the whole team rallying around him and playing well as a team. Matt doesn't have to go win a game, the team has to go win a game. We'll rally around him and get him ready to go.”

ALSO:

NFL Week 10 two-minute drill

Which will happen first: Packers lose or Colts win? [Poll]

David Nelson scores for Bills, gives ball to Cowboys cheerleader

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Matt Leinart. Credit: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press

Angels GM: Better on-base percentage will take time

Among Angels General Manager Jerry Dipoto's priorities this winter is an effort to infuse more on-base percentage, a concept that has seemed foreign to the free-swinging team at times, into the offense. It will not be an overnight process.

"In talking to the Angels people, it was never not a part of the philosophy, it was just something that was never aggressively taught," said Dipoto, who is attending his first GM meetings this week in Milwaukee.

"There are different schools of thought on whether it can be taught or whether it's a skill you're born with. I tend to gravitate toward the latter."

The Angels ranked 11th in the American League with a .313 on-base percentage in 2011. Dipoto plans to target OBP as he looks to upgrade the offense, but much of the work will be done at the grass-roots level, identifying, drafting and developing players who understand plate discipline.

"Do they track the ball. Are they patient? Do they swing at strikes?" Dipoto said. "That's something you try to identify when players are young. And there's a good chance that the guys who are doing that in the big leagues always had that trait."

Veteran outfielder Bobby Abreu had some success mentoring young players such as Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis in 2010, but Dipoto said he isn't convinced that patience can be taught at the major-league level.

"I don't think you can take a player ... and immediately change the way he approaches an at-bat, because it's a mindset, a physical reaction, and it's a reactionary game," Dipoto said. “Some do it like Albert Pujols, some like Prince Fielder, some like Mark Trumbo and some like Abreu. Each player is going to be different."

-- Mike DiGiovanna in Milwaukee

Should Hall of Famers Have to Shine Internationally Too?

Four new members will be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto tonight, and the consensus is that a better quartet has not been so honored in many years. Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and Joe Nieuwendyk are all names familiar to any hockey fan and each had a lengthy and successful career in the N.H.L.

Each also had important international experience. Belfour was Canada’s third goalie when it won the gold medal at the 2002 Olympics. Gilmour played at the 1981 world juniors, was part of the incredible Canadian win at the 1987 Canada Cup and played in the 1990 world championship. He also played in Switzerland during the lockout of 1994-95.

Howe won a silver medal at the 1972 Olympics with Team USA, a feat notable for two reasons. First, the Americans had been relegated to Pool B for that year’s world championship, meaning they were ranked so low no one could have imagined the team’s enormous Olympic success. As well, Howe was — and still is — the youngest man ever to play at the Olympics, at age 16 years, 8 months, 8 days. His other Team USA appearance came at the 1981 Canada Cup.

Nieuwendyk represented Canada four times; first at the 1986 world juniors, winning silver, and later at the 1990 world championship with Gilmour. He then played at the first two Olympics to feature N.H.L. players, finishing fourth in 1998 in Nagano, and winning gold in 2002.

But here is the curious paradox to these great players’ careers. Each is supremely proud of representing his country in international play, but if they hadn’t played a single moment internationally, would they still be being honored tonight? Almost certainly the answer is yes. While each had success on the international stage, it wasn’t necessarily the crux or defining moment of his career.

Yet for a modern hockey player to be considered worthy of the Hockey Hall of Fame, shouldn’t his international resume be superb and work alongside his N.H.L. portfolio? After all, playing for one’s country is not just an honor — it’s a way of filtering the greatest of the great players from the merely great players. There is an important symbolism attached to playing internationally. It means at that time, for that event, a player is considered among the very best at his position and from his country. A player can win a Stanley Cup as a fourth-line utility man. The Olympics call for stars.

In the old days, amateur (i.e., international players) and pro (i.e., N.H.L.) players were two different beasts. But today, they are one and the same. Wayne Gretzky was the best N.H.L. player, but he also played every international event because he was (A) allowed to and (B) clearly among that group we might call the best of the best.

For the Hockey Hall of Fame to truly earn its stripes as representing hockey and not just the N.H.L., it must surely consider both aspects of a player’s career. As well, it can and should induct players who were the opposite to tonight’s four: players who had outstanding international careers and only very good (or no) N.H.L. careers. Take a player like Robert Reichel, for instance, an excellent example of a superb international player who reached a lesser level in the N.H.L.

Reichel played 830 N.H.L. regular season games with four teams, collecting 252 goals and 630 points. In 13 N.H.L. seasons, his teams made the playoffs 10 times, but he never won the Stanley Cup. All in all, this was a superior N.H.L. career, but not one deserving Hall of Fame recognition.

But consider his international career with Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic. He played at the world juniors three times (1988-90), meaning that for three straight years he was among the best young players in his country. Between 1990 and 2003, he played in 77 world championship games, winning three gold medals and four bronze. He also won the historic Olympic gold with the Czechs in 1998, the nation’s first, and played in Salt Lake in 2002 as well as the 1991 Canada Cup and 2004 World Cup.

Given that the Czech Republic is one of the top hockey countries in the world, and Reichel was on his national team whenever he was available for a decade and a half (captaining the team on several occasions, no less), is he not among that group of hockey players who deserves a place in the Hockey Hall of Fame? Yet he has never received serious consideration, and likely never will, because his N.H.L. credentials aren’t strong enough. But, when he played the best of the best — a level above the N.H.L. — he excelled.

And what about a coach like Russia’s Viktor Tikhonov? He never coached in the N.H.L., but he coached against the N.H.L.’s best when those players represented their countries — and he won far more often than he lost. One could easily call him the Scotty Bowman of international play, both for his longevity and success. From his first tournament 1976 to his last in 2004 he won multiple gold medals at the Olympics and world championships, and led the Soviets to that historic clobbering of Canada, 8-1, at the 1981 Canada Cup. He also took his all-stars to victory over the N.H.L. stars at the 1979 Challenge Cup at Madison Square Garden. Not a Hockey Hall of Fame-worthy coach? Puh-lease.

The International Ice Hockey Federation has its own hall of fame, and by definition makes it clear that being elected is based on international success. But the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto has always maintained it celebrates the best players in the game, period. The class of 2012 is beyond reproach, but it could do more to incorporate international play into its voting consideration (not to mention the addition of several more women to keep company with Angela James and Cammi Granato). After all, nothing beats best-on-best competition. Nothing.

N.H.L. General Managers to Discuss Rule Changes

The N.H.L.’s general managers will convene at a suburban Toronto hotel Tuesday for their annual fall meeting to debate whether a rule change is needed to limit the neutral-zone trap, after exactly one mildly controversial game.

The trapping debate could divert general managers’ attention from matters many would consider more important, like a measure to adopt no-touch icing, after a serious injury early this season.

The general managers cannot formally propose rule changes at the meeting. Those proposals are made when the general managers reconvene in March, but the fall meeting is when they decide which matters to study and revisit in the spring.

The trapping issue emerged last Wednesday at Tampa Bay, when the Philadelphia Flyers refused to advance the puck against the Lightning’s 1-3-1 trap. The Lightning, in turn, refused to forecheck, so on several occasions totaling about four minutes of playing time, a Flyers defenseman stood motionless in his own zone with the puck while four Lightning players stood motionless at their various stations in the neutral zone and a fifth stood idle deep in his own zone.

It was a tactical standoff, brief and somewhat amusing, in a single game, but it drew plenty of attention.

“I think it’s been called an embarrassing moment,” Commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday on his radio show. “We play 1,230 regular-season games, and in the course of seasons played things happen that are unusual, teams will do things that are unpredictable and unexpected.”

Yet despite the singularity of the event, there will be discussion among the 30 general managers on Tuesday about whether something should be done about the trap. The focus may be on Lightning Coach Guy Boucher’s 1-3-1 trap, which is slightly different from the 1-2-2 used by other teams.

One idea being talked about is a proposal to allow icing if a defending team goes into a passive 1-3-1.

The general managers may also look at abolishing traditional icing and installing no-touch icing, as in the N.C.A.A., Canadian junior and international hockey.

There were many calls for the N.H.L. to adopt the no-touch rule after Edmonton defenseman Taylor Fedun fractured his femur crashing into the boards during an icing race with Minnesota’s Eric Nystrom in a preseason game in late September.

It is not known when or whether Fedun can return. In 2008, Minnesota defenseman Kurtis Foster required surgery after breaking his femur in an icing race. It took him almost a year to return to the ice.

N.H.L. general managers have kept the traditional rule — although the league did update to the rule to try to prevent unnecessary contact during an icing race — saying fans enjoy the excitement and effort of the races. While commentators spoke a lot about the issue after Fedun’s injury, there has been little talk of it heading into Tuesday’s meeting.

The general managers will also hear reports from the N.H.L.’s chief on-ice disciplinarian, Brendan Shanahan, on the effectiveness of the revised rule on head checking and boarding. He will also report on supplemental discipline for offenders. There were more suspensions in the preseason, and during the regular season the supplemental discipline has been exclusively in the form of fines.

The general managers will also talk about realignment for next season, but their role in the matter is strictly advisory. The Board of Governors will decide how to realign at its early December meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. They are expected to reduce to four divisions from six.

The big questions there are whether Detroit, Columbus and/or Nashville will end up in the East or West, and whether rivals Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will be separated into different divisions.

The general managers’ fall meeting always takes place in Toronto after Hall of Fame induction ceremonies; this year’s inductees, Ed Belfour, Doug Gilmour, Mark Howe and Joe Nieuwendyk, were honored Monday night, and Nieuwendyk stayed on for the meeting in his capacity as the Dallas general manager.

Jason Gillespie should get the band back together to coach Yorkshire

Pot to pee in: Yorkshire defy financial hardship to hire Jason Gillespie and other coaches. PHOTO: GETTY

Jason Gillespie has returned to Yorkshire County Cricket Club as the first-team coach. He joins what the Aussie will no-doubt be calling a “leadership unit” that includes captain Andrew Gale, Development Manager Richard Damms, Martin Moxon as Director of Cricket, Ian Dews as Director of Cricket development, Paul Farbrace as Second Team Director and, if talks go well, Michael Vaughan as Artistic Director (Paintball).

Jason promises: “The one thing I'll be bringing to Yorkshire is a bit of fun and enjoyment, but making sure our preparation is spot on and leaving no stone unturned” which is kind of four things, really, but you don’t take 259 Test wickets by mincing about with a calculator and a slide-rule, do you?

In the spirit of Yorkshire’s new “if it moves, hire it” approach to coach recruitment, one hopes there will be jobs for the boys from Jason’s all-conquering Aussie team.

Yorkshire is, of course, God’s Own County, and as such it needs God’s Own Opening Batsman, Matthew Hayden to teach Adam Lyth, Joe Root and company the dark arts of chewing gum aggressively, swearing with your arms folded and bullying opponents. If some of them go on to set up slightly frightening web-based life coaching businesses of their own, then so much the better.

With the advances of illegal bookmakers an ever-present danger in all forms of cricket, a genuine expert is needed to help keep Yorkshire’s lads out of their clutches. Mark Waugh must be brought in as a consultant without delay. He will need an office; perhaps in a private box at Pontefract Racecourse.

However, there must be no place for brother Steve Waugh, whose well-known disdain for Nightwatchmen might have deprived Coach Dizzy of his finest hour had he still been captain. Very early in his career, Jason attempted to secure the future for nightwatchmen everywhere by eliminating the elder Waugh with a brave headlong dive. He got a broken leg for his troubles, but 17 years later, Gillespie had the last laugh by bashing 201* against mighty Bangladesh in Chittagong after coming in at first-drop. Any Yorkshire side of Jason’s will feature at least three nightwatchmen, with a long-term view to playing only specialist number nines from 1-11.

All that is needed to complete the jigsaw is to secure Glenn McGrath as a co-coach, so he can get all the attention and leave Jason to go quietly about his business, and the glorious age of Dizzy can begin.

Which will happen first: Packers lose or Colts win? [Poll]

After watching Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers destroy the Minnesota Vikings, 45-7, on Monday night, it's hard to imagine these guys ever losing again. They're 9-0 this year and 15-0 since their last loss, to the New England Patriots on Dec. 19 last year.

But the Packers are still seven wins away from joining the 2007 Patriots as the only teams in NFL history with 16-0 seasons -- and many of their opponents should put up a bit more of a fight than the hapless Vikings, including five teams with winning records and six that will likely be fighting for playoff spots.

After hosting the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-5) next week, Green Bay visits the Detroit Lions (6-3) for a Thanksgiving meeting between NFC North rivals. Then on Dec. 4 comes a road game against the New York Giants (6-3) -- the team that gave those 2007 Patriots everything they could handle in the final game of the regular season and then prevented them from going 19-0 by winning Super Bowl XLII.

That is followed by games against a pair of AFC West contenders -- home versus the Oakland Raiders (5-4) on Dec. 11 and visiting the Kansas City Chiefs (4-5) on Dec. 18. The Packers finish off the season with home games against division rivals, the Chicago Bears (6-3) on Dec. 25 and the Lions on Jan. 1.

Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Colts (0-10) are trying to avoid joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only 0-16 teams in league history. Two of their best chances for a victory come the next time they take the field -- Nov. 27 hosting the Carolina Panthers (2-7) -- and in the last game of the season -- Jan. 1 at the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6).

In between, the Colts have dates at the Patriots (6-3) on Dec. 4, at the Baltimore Ravens (6-3, including losses to the Jaguars and the 3-6 Seattle Seahawks) on Dec. 11, home against the Tennessee Titans (5-4) on Dec. 18 and home against the Houston Texans (7-3, but may be without starting quarterback Matt Schaub) on Dec. 22.

Writers from around Tribune Co. will discuss which will happen first, the Packers lose or the Colts win. Check back throughout the day for more responses, and join the discussion by voting in the poll and leaving a comment.

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Was Juan Manuel Marquez stepping on Manny Pacquiao toes consistently during trilogy fight

Was Juan Manuel Marquez deliberately stepping on Manny Pacquiao's toes and feet during their trilogy fight ?

Did it cause him to suffer from cramp ?

Video shows Juan Manuel Marquez stepping on Manny Pacquiao toes consistently during trilogy fight