The Double Standards in the NHL

The NHL's double standard for its players is disgusting. Thursday night, Sidney Crosby decided the best way to fight someone was to punch someone in the back of the head and in his groin while his teammate held the guy in a headlock. It was a clear attempt to injure, and just an awful display of sportsmanship. However, it's been three days, and by not punishing him at all, the NHL is giving tacit approval to Crosby's actions. Crosby already acts like he's above the rules of the game, and this latest incident is just further proof that he knows he can get away with whatever he wants. Had this been anyone besides Crosby, he would have been suspended for several games. Case in point: Sean Avery uses the phrase "sloppy seconds" and is shut down for the rest of the season. Or last year, Steve Downie gets suspended for punching Jason Blake in the face. Here's a clip of Crosby's actions from Thursday:

And here's a clip of the punch that got Downie suspended:

Which is more worthy of a suspension? If Gary Bettman and Colin Campbell refuse to act upon Crosby's situation, then they are practically admitting that they will let the stars of the game run wild, but if you're not one of the league's superstars, you'd better never step out of line. Prove me wrong Bettman. And please, Penguins fans, I want to hear you defend his actions. I really want to see what you'll come up with.

Why I Hate Gary Bettman

So after several emails and phone calls exchanged with Comcast, it turns out that it is the NHL's policy to black out Flyers games in the State College area. So now the NHL can expect an angry email from me as soon as I find the proper place to send it. It is complete b.s. that Penguins games can air here and Flyers games can't. The Phillies and Pirates are both shown here. The Sixers are shown here and I'm sure if Pittsburgh ever had a basketball team they would get aired here too. It's not right that I am forced to watch Cindy tip toe around the ice, but I don't get to see Mike Richards careen around and hit people. Gary Bettman, I hold you responsible for my anguish.

This is the email I tried to send to them:
I am a Flyers fan that attends Penn State University. Two years ago I arrived here as a freshman, and was disappointed to find out that Comcast Sports Net wasn't carried on the dorm TV network. Last year, I moved into an apartment which did carry CSN, so I was excited to finally be able to watch Flyers games again. Much to my dismay, I found out that Flyers games were blacked out all season. During the playoffs, the Philadelphia/Washington series was NOT blacked out on CSN in the State College area. However, once the Montreal/Philadelphia series started, games were once again blacked out. For most of the year I chalked up the games being blacked out to the fact that the Flyers were the worst team in the league in the 2006/2007 season. Since the Flyers made the Eastern Conference Finals last season, I expected that the Flyers games would not be blacked out again this season. I was shocked when I tried to turn on the game on Monday to see that the game was again blacked out. After talking to Comcast over the past few days it has been determined that it is the NHL blackout rules that are preventing Flyers games from being shown in State College. This is complete b.s. Penn State is right in the middle of Pennsylvania and there are just as many Flyers fans as Pittsburgh fans in State College and it isn't fair that only half the fans get to see their team play. This situation NEEDS to be fixed promptly.


But unfortunately they only allow 512 characters in the email so I cut it to this:
I am a Flyers fan at Penn State University. I was shocked when I tried to turn on the Flyers game on Monday to see that the game was blacked out. After talking to Comcast it's been determined that it is the NHL blackout rules that are preventing Flyers games from being shown in State College. This is b.s. Penn State is right in the middle of Pennsylvania and there are as many Flyers fans as Pittsburgh fans in State College and it isnt fair that only half the fans get to see their team play. Please fix this

I will be emailing them every day until I get a response I like.