That’s what you call slashing
Briefing has been meaning to provide some commentary on Versus’ coverage of the NHL, but, you know, the channel is just so hard to find.
So we’ll have to take Brett Hull’s word for it.
Hull, now an NBC hockey analyst, told New York’s WFAN last week that the NHL’s poor ratings for its All-Star game were caused by the league’s choice of a cable partner.
“I don’t even think people know Versus is a station,” he said, calling it “a ridiculously bad channel.”
Hull didn’t stop there.
His take on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: “I don’t think he really understands the game. He doesn’t understand the history, and at times I don’t think he really gives a hoot. All he cares about is if he’s making the owners happy.”
On NHL players’ participating in the Olympics: “I think it’s ridiculous they send the pros.”
Hull finally ran out of verbal ammunition when asked about Mike Keenan, one of his former coaches: “I’d rather not talk about him.”
Trivia time
Hull scored 50 goals in 50 games twice in his career. Name the only player who has done it more times.
Vince McMahon is interested
Ray Hoffman is a part-time wrestling coach with apparent designs on a career in professional wrestling.
Last week, while his son was losing a youth wrestling match in Aurora, Ill., Hoffman grabbed the boy’s 11-year old opponent as he was moving in for the pin and tossed him out of the circle.
“I was just wrestling, then the guy throws me,” Nick Nasenbeny told WMAQ in Chicago.
Hoffman said his son’s shoulder had been injured, prompting him to move in to try to prevent more serious damage.
Fine. But as Nick’s father, Dan Nasenbeny, noted, “There is a lot of ways to stop a match. Not to pick up my son and launch him five feet, 10 feet in the air.”
Stating the obvious, Hoffman said he would no longer be allowed to coach.
It’s a shame about Ray
In the double-page advertisement the Clippers ran in The Times’ Sports section Saturday, it’s easy to tell the A-list stars from the B list.
“It’s All Coming to Staples,” the ad announces.
“Duncan. Kobe. Arenas. Carmelo. Iverson. McGrady. Yao. Ray Allen. See the Clippers Battle Your Favorite All-Stars Live.”
Only one name required for every All-Star ... except for the last one, Allen.
You spend the first 10 years of your career in Milwaukee and Seattle, these things can happen.
Beware: Only 42 other chances!
In the same ad, the Clippers inform fans that Wednesday, April 4, is their big opportunity to see Bryant at Staples Center.
Unless they would prefer to buy a ticket to any Lakers home game.
Trivia answer
Wayne Gretzky scored 50 goals in 50 games three times during his career.
And finally
Washington Wizards star Gilbert Arenas, borrowing a page from Charles Barkley, warns the youth of America not to consider him a role model.
“I’m a goof,” he said. “C’mon, everyone knows that. I look at my elders as the leaders. I don’t want nobody looking at me.
“How can I tell somebody, ‘Don’t shoot that shot,’ when I’m out there chucking them up?”