PCM

It's all about the Benjamins, which -- from the WCHA's perspective -- is about putting butts in seats. You don't put butts in seats by allowing the top teams in the league to consistently blow out the bottom teams of the league. It's about keeping alive the possibility that on any given night, No. 10 can beat No. 1.

Bruce McLeod doesn't care what you think. He knows that fans of the WCHA's top-level teams already have a good reason to attend games. He wants to give fans of the league's lower-echelon teams a reason to attend games. Thus, we get parity through officiating because it's the one way that the league can redress the balance between the "haves" and the "have nots."

There's a first time for everything. If people want to discuss the polls, that's fine. But getting bent out of shape about them is a waste of time because they really don't mean anything. They're just a reflection of a select group's opinion. My guess is that within that group, there are some people who are very well informed about college hockey from top to bottom and some who probably know little beyond what their local team is doing.

When you can't get THETRIOUXPER on board for some good old-fashioned Gopher bashing... HERE'S YOUR SIGN.

Give me a break. Really. The idea that some in Minnesota are conspiring to belittle UND every time the Sioux make it to the WCHA Final Five is ridiculous and it's silly.

The Minot Daily News renders an editorial opinion: Reject secrecy request

He also happens to be correct.

I think he pays people to start these threads just so he can keep saying it.

So that was you in the Zapruder film!

I agree. It's the only way for Sioux fans to rid themselves of these offensive posters. Maybe the NCAA should be involved, too.

I thought the last time you posted this you said it would be the last time you said anything about it. So now you're back to give it another try? Thanks.

Here you go! No charge.

Trust me, you're not.

That thought crossed my mind, too. Just how badly does the NCAA want these documents kept from public view? And exactly who is it that the NCAA is afraid of seeing them?

Umm...no. They'd prefer to have people stay in their seats. I just write 'em. I don't perform 'em.

I'm glad you knew about her current job because I sure didn't.

And now for something completely different...

Brings back memories (from my Dec. 27, 2002 USCHO recap)...

He should win the dance contest, too.

I remember that game clearly. My parents went to the Saturday night game that the Sioux barely won 3-2 to escape elimination. We were close to the glass when a Mavs player checked Jason Blake very hard into the boards directly in front of us. My mother yelled, "I saw what you did and it wasn't very nice!" That was Ma's contribution to the legendary imtimidation factor of the old Ralph. My father and I went to the Sunday game, expecting to see another tough battle, but the Sioux blew the Mavs out of the water. Of course, they probably should have done the same in the first two games because that was an excellent UND team.

Here's UND's record against MSU-Mankato in the WCHA first round playoffs. 1997-98 UND 5, MSU 2 UND 5, MSU 4 1998-99 UND 2, MSU 3 (OT) UND 3, MSU 2 UND 10, MSU 0 2005-06 UND 2, MSU 3 (OT) UND 4, MSU 1 UND 3, MSU 0

Yep. Screw worrying about the TUCs. This time of year, the Sioux just need to win the games they have to play and everything takes care of itself. Also yep.

The scenario I posted last Sunday didn't quite play out as I envisioned, but it was close enough for government work.

I'll bet Greg Shepherd will be getting a phone call from Scott Owens.