Siouxman

That's right. He did not not parachute in, although I think that would have been safer than going in by landing in a Waco glider in the dark as he did. I am a huge history buff on WWII, and the more I read and learn, the less important some of my daily issues become. He did make it through all the way to Bertchesgaden as Easy Company did.

I don't know any of the details of the deal, but I do not believe that they can gift it back to UND without some ramifications. State law prohibits alcohol on state property. So if UND owns the REA, there go the liquor sales and the two clubs would have to be changed into barbershops/tanning salons, or some other activity.

PCM: Dang it. There you go again, dispelling innuendo with facts. Now I will have to draw an unsubstantiated opinion that quite possibly Engelstad was a man who also had an interest in history. Many of us gain an increasing interest in history as we get older. So there is my opinion, but please note that I said "quite possibly" so as not to create a fact that I can't prove. siouxjoy: You touch on the very aspect of this that grated on me. My engineering training is similar to your scientific training (I believe) in that you create a hypothesis (you know, kind of like an opinion) and then try to prove or disprove it. You don't throw it out to the world as if it is fact until you have taken that next step. And you certainly don't publish it out of context. I hereby vow to do my best to no longer post on this subject.

After all, Ralph did have an extensive collection of Nazi memorabilia, so it is pretty safe to say that he was probably not completely disgusted with the Nazi party. As a person who donated more than $100 million to the University of North Dakota - a public institution - he opened the door for people to criticize him. We all know that public figures are subject to intense scrutiny. <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let's see about this one. The Nevada Gaming Commission controls whether or not he continues in his livelihood, worth far more than $1.5 million. Whether or not he is innocent, it requires a business type decision whether you want to fight the Commission that controls your business and piss them off, or simply settle for a fine to get the matter resolved. Winning through business suicide is not winning at all. In the business world, you cannot win at all costs. Guaranteed failure at some point. Do not confuse a business decision with fact of innocent or guilt. Many, many businesses agree to settlements or fines, because it is the cheapest alternative from a business perspective. And you can talk about standing up for integrity, if you are innocent, all you want. For many prominent people, you are viewed as guilty whether or not you are found innocent. It is a loss either way. The Nevada Gaming Commission may have had a sticking point on some procedural item related to their rules that protect the public opinion of the gaming industry. It would likely have nothing to do with whether or not Engelstad was a Nazi sympathizer. However, in the end it appears that you are simply exercising your U of Michigan perogative of stating an opinion without determining the facts.

I just thought of the perfect example, just in case some still don't get it. And please treat this as an example and not a personal attack!! Let's assume that I write an opinion piece about college newspapers. And in that piece I include the following: "Josh Holman, a writer on the staff at Michigan, is best known on SiouxSports.com as a mediocre journalism student with a chip on his shoulder." Is that a fact? Heck, I don't know. But if I leave that sentence as is, to any reader who does not know Josh, they now know him as a mediocre student. It would be totally improper for me to do such a thing. And that is the point!

I have heard though the local grapevine, supposedly from the Dowzak family, that UND has been expressing interest in Tyson Dowzak. That is all that I have been able to pick up so far.

Quote: "Ralph Engelstad, the alum who North Dakota named its state of the art hockey arena after, is best remembered outside of the state as a Nazi sympathizer." End quote. This is the single point that the author fails to realize, which should be obvious to any journalist. Hanging that statement out there all on its own, suddenly makes it a fact to the Michigan reader. As it stands in the opionion piece, Engelstad is a Nazi sympathizer. Whether this is an opinion piece or not, broadcasting that kind of statement to the reader as a stand-alone item is totally irresponsible. It perpetuates a belief in the reader that he truly is a Nazi sympathizer. If a single word such as "inaccurately" or "falsely" or "incorrectly" had been included, there wouldn't have been a problem with the statement. It is correct that the opinion piece wasn't intended to defend Engelstad, and it shouldn't be. But it also shouldn't inappropriately slander him either, intentionally or unintentionally. I predict a dark future (in the author's mind), in a small town in eastern ND, as a pseudo-journalist for this author.

Whether or not UND got to the FF with Zajac or Parise is not a measure of either player. Hockey is a team sport. I think with Bo and ZPar on the team the other players tended not to play as hard as they could have. Those two were the supposed "go to" guys and I think everyone else kind of slacked of a little from where they should have been playing. The Sioux did not have the goaltending the past two years, nor the defense, that this year's team had. Both Zajac and Parise have their pluses and minuses and it is not possible to make a direct comparison. Just look at CC - two Hobey Baker finalists - and they weren't really in the game with Denver. It takes a team. Be happy with the fact that we got to enjoy both.

Man oh man! I've haven't been this popular since ..... Heck, I've never been this popular. I should have used the video to pad my retirement fund, or maybe my going to the Sioux games fund. Whoever thought watching a Goffer defenseman drop his drawers would be so popular. Anybody else need a copy, PM me with your email address.

You hit the nail on the head. The problem is a matter of bullying that leads to irrational decisions. Peer pressure causes people to make unwise choices at any age. Making it a league rule takes the peer pressure out of it, and greatly decreases the chances of an accidental stick, flying puck, or, heaven forbid, a skate in the face. And it clearly cuts down the potential for serious damage from an intentional act of violence. I would really like to see the statistics on how many hockey players (at all levels) in the past 20 years have had their career ended by an injury that would have been prevented or non-career threatening with a face mask, as well as how many man-games have been lost due to needless injuries that could have been prevented by a face mask. I believe that the numbers would be staggering and eye opening. It might also put an end to some of this athlete false bravado of invincibility that it will never happen to me. Sports is sports and life is life, and the first should never rule the second.

Clip has been sent. Let me know if you don't receive it. Same also to Keikla, Mikejm, and Siouxnami. Get ready for thrills and chills. Hope it carries you at least part of the way through the summer.

Dagies - I believe that it was T.J. Caig that got benched in his final collegiate game. What a way to go out.

If Siouxguyinstpaul doesn't have it, my brother might. I know that he recorded it since he couldn't watch it live.

I have the clip on my computer. It is 4.7 MB in size. I can email it to you if that isn't too large.

It is likely far too late now, but this would finally have been NDSU's opportunity to get into hockey. They could have fit into the CHA, which in the long run would have been better for them than going 1AA with everything else. Probably not a chance here, as they have punted a couple of times on getting into hockey.

Sorry guys, one more thought. I would think that as long as you are stepping on the ice with goons of the caliber of Bertuzzi, a little extra protection would help. Marty McSorley made a career of apologizing after-the-fact by stating that "he got caught up in the heat of battle" after spearing or butt-ending someone in a flagrant act. Some athletes simply lose rational thought in the heat of battle. In those types of situations, I don't think someone is going to think "Oh, I better keep my stick down because he doesn't have a face mask." Players react, sometimes viciously and with malice. Very unfortunate, but a fact of sports.

Sparky's goal against MN in the so-called meaningless game was terrific. From the unsung hero perspective (at that time), Fabian's first goal was an impressive display of more to come. He used that D-man as a screen for a quick shot that made Bruckler look like he was taking a nap. Follow that up with Fabian's goal against the Goofers at Columbus, and those two goals have got to make anyone sit up and take notice. I sure did.

It depends which team shows up. UMD certainly should have had a better year than they did in 2004-2005 with the players they had back. In watching them play this year, it appears that at least some members of the team had a poor attitude. Once that permeates a team, it is difficult to clean up. Sandelin should have some decent talent, but the challenge will be to turn around that attitiude that just killed them this year. If it does turn around, I can see them in that 5/6 spot. If it doesn't, they will fall lower and teams like UAA and/or Michigan Tech could move up. Both showed flashes this past year, and if they can get some consistency should move up. SCSU is in a hole, and I think Mankato will continue to struggle. My vote was for UND to finish 3rd, contingent upon Greene and Smaby returning. (Oh please, please, please, please, please!!!)

For those interested in Tyson Dowzak, I did contact a few people in Fergus Falls involved with the hockey program to see if anyone had heard anything about his future plans. Nothing to report. Everyone that I talked to seems to think that since he has another year to go it will be some time before we start to hear much.

Even ignoring the physical presence of Matt Smaby (which is tough for anybody to do), his tremendous play on defense down the stretch indicates that he could be quite the leader on this team next, whether he does it vocally or just by his intensity and play. Matt is a critical component of this team, and every Sioux fan should be eager to have him in the Sioux Green and white this fall. Even with my Canada fishing trip, it will seem like forever until the next Sioux game.

Truly sad. All the best for Nick in his recovery and his family in these trying times.