Sports in 2012: The good

Here's a look at some of the praiseworthy and positive sports stories of 2012, the type that by and large couldn't be predicted and which didn't necessarily appear on the stat sheet or scoreboard.

For a look at the depressing, shameful and eyeball-rolling counterparts, go here.

Olympian efforts

Seeing as it was an Olympic year, let's start with London. IOC president Jacques Rogge called them the "happy and glorious Games." If such an event can be called normal, then London can, following as it did the sad legacy of the Athens Games (drug scandals, facilities in disrepair) and the over-the-top, efficient Beijing Olympics. And with no publicly known security scares for the Games that were awarded to the city the day before twin transit bombings in 2005.

Oscar Pistorius was one of the bigger stories in London, becoming the first amputee sprinter to compete in able-bodied Olympics. The gold winner in that 400-metre event, Grenadian teen Kirani James, was inspired enough by "The Blade Runner" to ask the South African to swap bibs.

Wheelchair basketball star Patrick Anderson of Fergus, Ont., came out of retirement after three years to score 34 points in the Paralympics' gold-medal final win over Australia. Canada avenged a 2008 final loss to the Aussies in the process, and the result gave Anderson a career total of three gold and a silver after wins in 2000 and 2004.

"It feels like the first medal I've ever won somehow," said Anderson, now up for a prestigious award to be determined in February 2013. "I'm not sure exactly why just yet."

Then there was Esther Vergeer of Belgium, the wheelchair tennis player who added Olympic gold medals six and seven while also winning both Grand Slam events. That helped run her modest winning streak to 470 straight matches, dating back to January 2003.

Manteo Mitchell was entered in the able-bodied Games but ran most of his leg of the 4x400-metre relay with a broken fibula.

The Olympic hosts revelled in a stunning trio of gold medals from Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford in rapid succession at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 4, prompting singer Billy Bragg to tweet: "Tonight, our society was wonderfully represented by a ginger bloke, an immigrant named Mohammed and a mixed race woman. #proudtobeBritish"

It was Rod Stewart who sang, "Make the best out of the bad, just laugh it off," in Every Picture Tells a Story. U.S. gymnast McKayla Maroney did just that in quite possibly the most forwarded sports photo of the year thanks to countless internet memes. Her scowl on the podium while wearing a mere silver medal around her neck from the vault competition initially made her seem like a bratty teenager, but she quickly recovered to poke fun at herself in the weeks to come, all the way to David Letterman's guest chair and The White House.

The Canadian women's soccer team showed pluck on the field in winning a bronze model and then embraced their enhanced profile, appearing across the country at events to sign autographs and pose for pictures for appreciative young girls and other fans.

Newfoundland native Elijah Porter was golden without even competing. The 10-year-old boy raised the spirits of the Canadian men's Olympic 4x100-metre relay team after it was disqualified from a bronze-medal finish in London by sending the team the only medal in his possession, earned playing soccer.

Relay team members Jared Connaughton and Seyi Smith paid a visit to Porter at his home in Paradise, N.L., to personally thank him.

Linsanity

Speaking of kids, the sports catchphrase of the year may have belonged to Jack Meyer. He's the nine-year-old who greeted the megawatt Miami Heat team after a disappointing home playoff loss to the Boston Celtics with the hilariously incongruous "Good job, good effort!"

To the degree that the NBA was able to rid itself of the lockout stench, it was in no small part due to phenomenon Jeremy Lin. The Knicks guard had scored a total of 32 points in nine games of limited minutes as of Feb. 3. The next night he went off at Madison Square Garden against New Jersey, beginning a span of 10 consecutive games in which he averaged 24.6 points.

Linsanity reigned, the stickiest of a passel of somewhat politically incorrect puns based on his last name. Knicks superfan Spike Lee sought out his high school and university jerseys (Palo Alto High and Harvard, respectively), and many celebrated the still-too-rare examples of star status for a player of Asian descent in North American team sports. He couldn't come to terms with New York in the off-season, cashing in on a deal with the Rockets.

Fighting for rights

Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke and son Patrick, a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers, were behind the "You Can Play" campaign launched to educate and eliminate homophobia in sports, with several NHLers lending their support in advertisements.

Baltimore player Brendon Ayanbadejo, a former CFLer, has been supporting the rights of gays to marry for a few years now, but for some bizarre reason, a Maryland legislater took umbrage this summer, telling the Ravens to do something about it. To its credit, the team didn't, and Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe fired off an impassioned and profane rebuttal to the politician.

Former Swift Current hockey players Theo Fleury, Sheldon Kennedy and Todd Holt continued fighting for the rights of victims of sex abuse and for greater punishment of offenders as the maddening Graham James case continued to wind through the legal system a quarter-century after the crimes. In the United States Cy Young Winner and new Toronto Blue Jay R.A. Dickey, Olympic judo gold medallist Kayla Harrison and Olympic boxer Queen Underwood told their stories of overcoming child sexual abuse.

Honouring the departed

The Miami Heat stood united after the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin. The so-called "Stand Your Ground" incident divided opinion in Florida, but it was undeniable that the Heat players clearly believed that in an earlier time, before they achieved fame, they were Martin.

Eli Manning and Victor Cruz were offensive stars as the New York Giants won another Super Bowl, and laudable off the field. Manning donated $25,000 US towards Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, as athletes and leagues pitched to help in that disaster. Victor Cruz dedicated a Dec. 16 game and adorned his sneakers in the memory of Jack Pinto, a six-year-old victim of the Newtown, Ct., school shooting massacre, who was buried the next day wearing the jersey of the Giants receiver, his favourite player.

Notre Dame linebacker Mant'i Teo was a Heisman Trophy finalist despite enduring the deaths hours apart in September of his grandmother and girlfriend, while Pat Neshek of the Oakland Athletics pitched impressively in a playoff appearance just days after his newborn son died.

The Canadian amateur sport community was rocked in a span of weeks by the deaths of freestyle skier Sarah Burke and skicross competitor Nik Zoricic. Friends and teammates tried to keep their memory close as they dealt with their grief. Foundations were established in both of their names to pursue causes consistent with their lives, while the Canadian skicross squad this season donned uniforms that were a tribute to Zoricic.

The Indianapolis Colts were "Chuckstrong", seemingly gaining strength as their first-year coach Chuck Pagano battled leukemia.

Hanging it up

LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Ricky Williams, Shawn Johnson, Chipper Jones, Pudge Rodriguez and Owen Nolan are among the many athletes who should be saluted as they ended their competitive careers.

Michael Schumacher retired again. David Beckham didn't, but effectively did for fans wanting to see him play on a North American pitch. Andy Roddick sometimes grated but was never dull, and will undoubtedly make an entertaining tennis commentator one day.

But if you were to pick one man and one woman as head of the "class," with respect to newly retired athletes, you'd be hard pressed to top seven-time Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings and four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Kim Clijsters.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Friedman: NHL needs to keep cool with Donald Fehr's tactics

Donald Fehr is an infuriating opponent, writes Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman. He stalls, he delays, he takes longer water breaks than a camel at a Saharan oasis. That's why it will be very important for Gary Bettman and Bill Daly to control their frustration.

The word of the week is "patience."

We've all got lockout fatigue. Fans, sponsors, players, coaches, executives and media. As one GM said Saturday: "I hope this ends, because we're all tired of it." But this isn't going to be easy.

It would be criminal not to have a season based on where things stand. But, it doesn't mean Donald Fehr is going to deviate from his plan. He's controlled the tempo of these negotiations for some time now, and he's convinced the players that waiting is the best strategy.

They're tired, but they're listening.

That's why it will be very important for Gary Bettman and Bill Daly to control their frustration. Fehr is an infuriating opponent. He stalls, he delays, he takes longer water breaks than a camel at a Saharan oasis. He's already slowed down this process, asking for more clarifications on the NHL's latest offer, meaning actual negotiations will start later than the league wanted.

At least Bob Goodenow yelled back at you.

But, the NHL's lead negotiators can't get caught up in that now. The endgame is littered with landmines and they will need to keep their cool.

Here's one possibility: I think the players want to have an exhibition game or two. Some guys haven't played a game this year, while others need the opportunity to win a job. All those guys who've improved in the AHL this year -- "two or three guys per team," according to several executives -- have the advantage.

The problem: I'm not sure the league wants anything to do with this idea. I could hear eyes rolling over the telephone when I brought it up to a few people. How much of a problem is this going to be? No idea. But it shows the kind of last-second issue that will add aggravation to the next week.

(Suggestion: if exhibition hockey actually occurs, let people in for free. Holy Mother of God, gouging fans for those would be an awful idea.)

There's a story Fehr tells that should be repeated right now. During one of his MLB battles, the owners and union were getting close to a deal, when a couple of the players told a reporter they couldn't wait to get back and play. The league read those quotes and pulled the offer. (I've looked for the specific story, but can't find it.)

I have no doubt he is all over his current clients to be careful what they say. It's close. But we've got a wavy ride ahead.

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NHL, union set to meet for face-to-face talks

Multiple sources say the National Hockey League and its union will hold the first face-to-face negotiating session in almost a month on Monday, as the clock ticks towards virtual midnight for a resolution to the 106-day lockout.

The sides spent the weekend exchanging phone calls to clarify points made in a major proposal from the NHL on Thursday night that ran to 288 pages.

At the same time, lawyers and business experts representing Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA head Donald Fehr also held meetings to go over points.

"There will be no further face-to-face meetings today," the union said in a statement late Sunday afternoon. "The plan is for the sides to meet tomorrow."

Time is short as NHL sources indicate anything less than a 48-game schedule would not be acceptable, and that must begin by Jan. 19. Work in a week of training camp, with no exhibition games, and a day for organization, and that seems to leave Jan. 11 as a drop-dead date for a final deal.

This would not preclude the union from telling players to head for their teams in the days before that, if negotiations indicated success was at hand, according to sources.

Also, there are more than 100 free agents left to be signed by teams who won't know the salary cap for this season until a deal is signed.

The NHL breathed new life into negotiations Thursday night by presenting their proposal to the NHLPA, one that included a summary of key points, a Memorandum of Understanding with more detail, and a lengthy legal document that details the offer in proper language.

After spending Friday going over the package, the union held informational discussions by phone with the NHL on Saturday to ensure they were clear on each point. Sunday morning saw more of the same.

Under the league's new proposal, term limits of the deal would be 10 years, with a mutual opt-out at eight, maximum contract length would be six years, or seven if re-signing your own player, and a $300-million fund to guarantee much of the existing contracts is included.

A key point seems to be variance, with the NHL not wanting any contract year paying more than 10 per cent more than it did in the first year, while the players are reportedly seeking a 25 per cent level.

This is important because of the league's resistance to the long-term, back-ended contracts some general managers have used as a way around salary caps.

Also, reports each team would be able to buy out a contract (likely a large one for a player no longer producing well) without it counting against the salary cap now seem to point to a start date of this summer, so it would not affect the stub season this winter and spring.

Escrow terms are also still under discussion. Under this provision, players would continue to have some of their salary held back until the end of each season when league-wide profits are counted up.

If the players have earned less than a 50-50 split of overall revenues, they would receive monies from escrow to bring it back up. If they have earned more, the escrow goes to the league.

More than 50 per cent of the schedule (625 games), has been lost to the lockout.

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Canada defeats HC Davos in Spengler Cup final

Ryan Smyth scored the winning goal in the first period and added another as Canada skated to a 7-2 win over HC Davos in the Spengler Cup final on Monday in Davos, Switzerland.

Patrice Bergeron added a goal and three assists while goalie Devan Dubnyk stopped 28 shots in the win.

The host Swiss club, featuring locked out NHLers such as Joe Thornton and Patrick Kane, had goals from Montreal Canadiens forward Rafael Diaz and Dario Burglar in a losing effort.

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Canadian Team of the Year: Women's soccer

The Canadian women's soccer team captivated the country with its bronze-medal win at the London Olympics, achieving something that transcended the sport.

That's a major reason why they've been voted by the CBCSports.ca staff as the Canadian team of the year.

Prior to the London Olympics this past summer, it had been 76 years since Canada won a medal in a traditional team sport at the Summer Games.

To put that in perspective: in 1936 you could buy a loaf of bread for about eight cents, an average home cost $550 (the same price as your Studebaker car) and the BBC was just starting the first public broadcasts out of London.

That year, Canada's basketball team, made up primarily of players from the successful Windsor Ford V-8s, lost 19-8 in the Olympic final to the United States, capturing a silver medal for their country.

Not a single member of that '36 team was alive this summer to watch Canada's women's soccer team break the nearly century long curse, as they captured an Olympic bronze medal.

But those who did witness the women's team win, saw a squad that captivated Canadians with their play and achieved something that has transcended their sport.

That's a major reason why they've been voted by the CBCSports.ca staff as the Canadian team of the year.

Grown men cry

For head coach John Herdman and his team, it has taken some time but they've finally come around to the full gravity of what they've accomplished.

"It's nice to get these accolades. When we're in the Olympics we didn't really get a sense of what we achieved. And I'm not talking about bronze medals. This has nothing to do with medals. I'm talking achieving something that makes Canadians feel great to be Canadian," Herdman said.

"You can't put it into words, the emotions that people back here felt when we won. But you know what you've done for a country."

Since returning from England, Diana Matheson, who scored the bronze medal-winning goal in the dying moments against France, has seen first hand the impact that the win has had on Canadians.

"Getting stopped in the street, asked for a photo, being recognized, it's no longer just little girls or soccer fans," Matheson said. "I hear from grown men now about how they cried their eyes out when we won, about how great it made them feel.

"When we were in London I'm not sure we really knew what was going on here. But when we landed back in Canada, with all the media and all the people waiting for us, it was like nothing I've ever seen."

TSN's Luke Wileman, the man who called the play-by-play of the game, will be forever linked to the Matheson goal. His single-word cry of "Matheesssson!" as she calmly finished the ricocheted shot put an exclamation point on one of Canada's great sporting moments.

"When I realized that would be the moment the team would win bronze, there was a great sense of pride in what they had managed to achieve. It was an incredible story after the controversial, heartbreaking way they lost to the United States [in the semifinals] a few days earlier," Wileman said.

"It was fantastic to see how the performance from the team throughout the Olympics brought the nation together, and having the honour to call that moment in Canadian soccer history was such a privilege and one of the most special moments in my broadcasting career."

Pressure on

Former national team player and assistant coach Andrea Neil was on hand for the disappointment of the 2011 Women's World Cup, where Canada lost all three of its matches, and viewed this year as a holistic, cleansing moment for the squad.

"A lot of times, to find success you have to first go through struggles. And there is no doubt that at the World Cup we struggled," Neil said. "But having said that, the beautiful success of last summer was not just a success on the field. It got people enraptured by the moment and it became a water cooler conversation.

"What makes it even more remarkable was it didn't matter if it was men's or women's soccer -- it was just a proud Canadian moment."

Herdman said that, more than anything, that's what the team set out to do.

"They felt like they had something left to prove after the World Cup," Herdman  said. "This sounds corny but this team genuinely wanted to leave a legacy."

With legacies come big expectations, and heading towards the next World Cup, one that Canada will host, the pressure will be on this team.

Herdman, for one, welcomes it.  

"I think the attitude now is 'bring it on.' I think that's going to be the mindset from here on in. Forget your fears. We've shown we can do it now. We've broken through that barrier. So as far as the World Cup is concerned, bring it on."

The star of the Olympic tournament and now a celebrity in her own right, Christine Sinclair (who was the pick of CBCSports.ca readers for Canadian athlete of the year, and the choice of Canadian sports media members as the Lou Marsh Award winner) shares the sentiment and adds that the team will not rest on its laurels.    

"As a team, and as a country, we still have a long way to go. We brought home an Olympic medal but the challenge is to do that consistently," Sinclair said.

"We have a great opportunity coming in 2015 when we host the Women's World Cup, and that will be an opportunity to change the game in an even bigger way."

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Kwong: Top 10 figure skating game changers

Skating has had its fair share of scandals. Some personal, some funny and some reveal the origins of lesser known rules. On another level, Pj Kwong counts down 10 figure skating moments that have prompted rule changes.

If you are a fan at all of figure skating you will undoubtedly have moments in your own mind that inspired lots of talk around the water cooler.  

Skating has had its fair share of scandals to be sure, but for this list I also wanted to include other moments. Some are personal, some are funny and some reveal the origins of rules I didn't know about.

Here are my Top 10 figure skating game changers that prompted several rule changes:

1. Sponsored streaker at worlds in 2004

At the 2004 worlds in Dortmund, Germany a spectator identified as Ron Bensimhon of Montreal, hopped the boards during the Ladies free program and started skating around. This was just before American Michelle Kwan was about to start.

He ripped off his shirt to reveal a casino website printed on his chest. A gold tutu appeared from underneath his tear away sport pants.

Fortunately, this was a harmless prank which is why we can chuckle about this now. The image of the security people trying to catch this guy on foot on the ice while he easily slipped away does make me smile.

The fact that five-time world champion Kwan was able to move from fourth to take the bronze once she skated makes me smile even more.

The result: Tightened security and possibly cleats for streaker chasers.

2. 2002 Olympic judging scandal in pairs event

The nuts and bolts of this story involved Russian Olympic champions Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze, co-Olympic champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier from Canada, and French pair judge Marie-Reine LeGougne. LeGougne was exposed in a scenario in which she had pre-determined her result favouring the Russian team regardless of how they skated. She was not alone in favouring the Russians as the final decision was a 5-4 split on the nine-judge panel.

The issue was not the result as much as it was the fact that she had told people in the fall preceding the 2002 Games, including current Skate Canada president and fellow Olympic pair judge Benoit Lavoie, that she would be voting for the Russians at the Olympics. As a result of the collusion, Sale and Pelletier went from the silver position to co-Olympic gold medallists a week later.

The result: A newly proposed judging system was expedited.

3. Tara Lipinksi - USA - 1998 Olympic Champion

In 1998, American phenom Tara Lipinski was 15-years-old when she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic figure skating gold medal in Nagano, Japan.

The result: A new ISU age restriction requiring skaters to be 15-years-old on July 1 prior to the Olympics. The rationale was to try and protect young skaters from concentrating on bigger tricks, causing injury to their still developing bodies.

4. Sonja Henie - NOR - 1927 world champion

There is no doubt that Norwegian Sonja Henie was one of the most decorated skaters that ever lived. She was a three-time Olympic champion, six-time European champion and 10-time world champion. On the way to collecting her first world title in 1927, it was with the support of three fellow Norwegian judges on the panel. This does not take away from Henie's vast accomplishments but simply highlights that the optics were a little tricky.

The result: No more than one judge per country on the judging panel.

Click here to see video.

5. Katarina Witt - GER - 1988 Olympic Champion

The decade in which Witt skated was marked by great skating and costumes that were slowly becoming more and more theatrical. The ISU introduced costume guidelines in order to prevent the emerging Dancing With The Stars outfitting of the sport. Witt was the most glamorous skater of her day and the beautiful dress from her 1988 Olympic short program from Calgary highlighted that glamour for me, but even I can see that the marabou feathers and sequins may have been a bit over the top.

The result:  Costume guidelines for more appropriate athletic wear and less Vegas showgirl.

Click here to see video.

6. Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski - ISR - 2002 world bronze medallists

Israeli ice dancers Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski earned their only world medal, a bronze, at the 2002 world championships in Nagano. Their closest rivals from Lithuania, Margarita Drobiazko and Povilas Vonagas, dropped from third position after the first two segments of competition to fourth overall. It was widely felt that the Israelis did not deserve the medal and a formal complaint was lodged by the Lithuanian Federation. In addition, Bulgarian ice dancers Albena Denkova and Maxim Stavisky, who finished in fifth, started a petition signed by dozens of skaters to try and overturn the final result.

The result: Another blemish in an already troubling 2002 season.

7. Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir - CAN - 2011 Grand Prix Final

At the Grand Prix Final in Quebec City, a glitch in the judging computer software undervalued one of Virtue and Moir's lifts by .50 in their free dance. Had they been correctly scored, they would have won the free dance segment of the competition by .45 ahead of eventual Grand Prix Final champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S. It would not have been enough however to have earned them the gold medal.

The result: The official results stand in keeping with ISU regulations.

8. Shae-Lynn Bourne and Victor Kraatz - CAN - 2001 Grand Prix Final

This was a strange one. At the time, the Grand Prix Final in Kitchener, Ont., required a short program and two free programs from the competitors. The second free program was worth 50 per cent of the total score.  I was one of the PA announcers and was also doing Bold-type commentary. The Canadian skaters won the second free dance, ahead of French rivals Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat. At the end of the event, the big scoreboard in the building had the French team as the winners, while my TV graphic showed the Canadians as the winners.

Needless to say, the board in the building was taken down quickly to try and determine the reason for the two different results. What they figured out was the computer program being used to calculate the results in-house had not taken into account the extra value for the second free dance - and under the old 6.0 system - the French team had taken it. The TV network had hired its own computer calculation team that correctly factored the scores, which explained the different result at the end of ice dance. During the next event, about an hour later, I got the chance as the PA announcer to let the excited crowd in-house know that hometown favourites, Bourne and Kraatz had been officially declared the winners.

The result: Only one scoring feed going to both the big board in the building and TV.

9. 1996/1997 ISU Champions Series Final - Men's event

The Champions Series Final was the Grand Prix Final predecessor, and was held in early 1997 in Hamilton, Ont. The six-skater men's event was unbelievably exciting and I was lucky enough to be rink side as the PA announcer. It would be the first time that quads were performed by three different skaters in the same event: Russians Ilia Kulik, Alexei Urmanov and Canadian Elvis Stojko. Stojko won the event and also had the distinction of becoming the first skater to perform a quad/triple jump combination.

The result: Quads were well on their way to becoming normal but still spectacular fare for elite skaters.

10. Casablanca - Kurt Browning - CAN - 1993 Canadians

Copps Coliseum was packed for the Canadian nationals that year and the men's event was the highlight with a planned showdown between Browning and Elvis Stojko. When people think of Kurt Browning, they often think of his 'Casablanca' program, which was new for him that season. He took his starting position in a white jacket and blue shirt that would subsequently be changed to white shirt and bow tie. His pantomime of stubbing out a pretend cigarette was acting perfection. The program put together by Sadra Bezic was beyond innovative.

ISU vice president David Dore recalls the performance this way: "I remember that night in particular because I felt that this was a big change in skating. Up until that time nobody had ever, to my recollection, taken on a complete character for 4:30. I realized for the first time that I was seeing something new. It was like he [Browning] had assumed the skin of another person. It was unbelievable - Humphrey Bogart personified."

It was as if Browning didn't just skate having the music as a layer of his program. The music, choreography and character were so intertwined as to become inseparable. Browning would go on to win worlds in Prague in 1993; the final one of his four world titles

The result: Already well-known in skating circles, Kurt Browning became a performance legend.

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Don Cherry thinks NHL may be playing into NHLPA's hands

Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League may have put themselves in a sticky situation.

At least that's what Don Cherry thinks.

The never bashful Coach's Corner commentator weighed in on the current NHL labour situation on his verified Twitter account (@CoachsCornerCBC) on Saturday night, and says that by submitting the latest offer in collective bargaining, the league may be playing right into NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr's hands.

"A few days ago I was talking to a buddy who wants to know what's gonna happen with the lockout," Cherry tweeted. "I tell him we're gonna see who really wants To end this and start the season.

"How come he asks? I said whoever puts in an offer will put himself in a sticky situation because the press, And fans will think he has caved in. Sure enough Bettman comes in with a new offer and yes it looks like he has weakened..."

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed on Saturday the league had submitted a comprehensive CBA proposal to the players in hopes of coming to a resolution in the now months-long lockout.

Cherry added he doesn't believe Bettman was pressured by the owners to reach out to the players' association as some reports had suggested, but that the commissioner truly wants the players to get back on the ice.

He also said this might be exactly what Fehr was hoping for.

"…So Bettman has put himself in a situation just made for Fehr," Cherry tweeted. "He knew when He put in the offer this would happen. But I believe he did it to save the season. Fehr naturally will say this isn't good enough and Squeeze for more.

"But like I said 2 months ago after the association squeezes the last drop it will be settled. The only dark cloud I see Is if the association pushes too hard we could go off a cliff."

The two sides held a series of informational conference calls on Saturday, according to multiple reports, and are expected to have more of the same type of sessions on Sunday, Daly confirmed.

So far, 625 games have been cancelled due to the lockout.

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Canadian juniors survive late burst by U.S.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ryan Strome scored for Canada in a 2-1 win over the United States at the world junior hockey championship Sunday.

Canada (3-0) faces host Russia on Monday in a battle of unbeaten teams for first place in Pool B.

The top team in the pool gains a bye to the semifinal.

Malcolm Subban stopped 36 shots in Canada's net for his third win of the tournament.

Defenceman Jacob Trouba replied for the Americans.

U.S. goaltender John Gibson, who plays for the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, made 30 saves.

Canada was short two forwards in the game because they were serving suspensions.

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Friedman: NHL needs to keep cool with Donald Fehr's tactics

Donald Fehr is an infuriating opponent, writes Hockey Night in Canada's Elliotte Friedman. He stalls, he delays, he takes longer water breaks than a camel at a Saharan oasis. That's why it will be very important for Gary Bettman and Bill Daly to control their frustration.

The word of the week is "patience."

We've all got lockout fatigue. Fans, sponsors, players, coaches, executives and media. As one GM said Saturday: "I hope this ends, because we're all tired of it." But this isn't going to be easy.

It would be criminal not to have a season based on where things stand. But, it doesn't mean Donald Fehr is going to deviate from his plan. He's controlled the tempo of these negotiations for some time now, and he's convinced the players that waiting is the best strategy.

They're tired, but they're listening.

That's why it will be very important for Gary Bettman and Bill Daly to control their frustration. Fehr is an infuriating opponent. He stalls, he delays, he takes longer water breaks than a camel at a Saharan oasis. He's already slowed down this process, asking for more clarifications on the NHL's latest offer, meaning actual negotiations will start later than the league wanted.

At least Bob Goodenow yelled back at you.

But, the NHL's lead negotiators can't get caught up in that now. The endgame is littered with landmines and they will need to keep their cool.

Here's one possibility: I think the players want to have an exhibition game or two. Some guys haven't played a game this year, while others need the opportunity to win a job. All those guys who've improved in the AHL this year -- "two or three guys per team," according to several executives -- have the advantage.

The problem: I'm not sure the league wants anything to do with this idea. I could hear eyes rolling over the telephone when I brought it up to a few people. How much of a problem is this going to be? No idea. But it shows the kind of last-second issue that will add aggravation to the next week.

(Suggestion: if exhibition hockey actually occurs, let people in for free. Holy Mother of God, gouging fans for those would be an awful idea.)

There's a story Fehr tells that should be repeated right now. During one of his MLB battles, the owners and union were getting close to a deal, when a couple of the players told a reporter they couldn't wait to get back and play. The league read those quotes and pulled the offer. (I've looked for the specific story, but can't find it.)

I have no doubt he is all over his current clients to be careful what they say. It's close. But we've got a wavy ride ahead.

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Vanderbeek: Life lessons from the hill

Many would argue that for something to be a life lesson, it has be hard to endure and even harder to overcome. If that's the case, then ski racing (often to its detriment but usually to its benefit) is riddled with life lessons

Recently I was at a Christmas party that was filled with enthusiastic, well intentioned and successful group of parents who happen to be raising ski racers. Their desire to soak up knowledge and advice from me (I know...what were they thinking!) was quite astounding.  They asked questions such as, "Is it always this hard (referring to their kids' struggles)? How to help them through it? How to keep up their kids' motivation? Is it possible for them to balance school work and ski racing?"

This spawned the idea for this article. Parents, do not fret, for even if your child doesn't make it to the Olympics, they will have taken with them a few good life lessons from their time on the ski hill.  

Many would argue that for something to be a life lesson, it has be hard to endure and even harder to overcome. If that's the case, then ski racing (often to its detriment but usually to its benefit) is riddled with life lessons.

Since this is the season for list making, I thought it was only appropriate to tow the party line. Here is my list of 'Life Lessons learned by all Ski Racers':

• Sometimes, you finish last. As perfect as you've always been told you are ... the clock doesn't lie.
• The art of negotiation. Teacher: "You're going to miss how much school?"  Racer: "Yes, I know it's a lot, but I swear it's not a vacation!"  Stewardess: "You have how much luggage?"  Racer: "Yes, I know it's a lot, but I swear there is only one pair of skis in there."
• Grit. No matter how advanced technology gets or how much money you have to throw at mother nature, your toes, hands, and face, will still freeze at -30 degrees Celsius.
• Bigger is better, don't tell my husband but it's true. Ski racing is one of the few sports that encourages both men and women, girls and boys, to eat, be healthy, and be strong.  Gravity is your friend, embrace this and grab another dessert!  
• Healing. Hot chocolate by a warm fire really can heal wounds. Marshmallows never hurt either.  
• Plumbing doesn't reach everywhere. Suck it up princess ... if you gotta go at the start, you gotta go. Popping a squat to pee never hurt anyone, although your southern cheeks may get a bit rosy. 
• Patience. Just because you've worked hard doesn't mean you're going to win.  Success takes patience, hard work at the right things, learning from others, and picking yourself back up again, and again, and again, and again...
• Discipline. How do you miss seven months of school out of 10, yet still finish high school with honours? This is for dedicated ski racers to know, parents to agonize over, and young adults to find a way.  
• Accept feedback. If you've ever watched your parents out on the dance floor then you know sometimes you look different than you feel. Listen to your coach.
• Self direction. All the coaching and feedback in the world only goes so far. Out on the race course you're alone, eventually you will have to stand (or carve in this case) your own path. 
• Talent isn't enough. No one signs up to ski racing and becomes an Olympic medalist in 10 years or less. That means, you have only one option to get there. Work! Hint: working at the right things is the trick, otherwise even with the 10,000 hours you won't get there.
• Re-invention. What made you fast at 12 years old won't work when you're 20. You have to evolve and grow as an athlete and a ski racer. Plus, FIS keeps changing the equipment rules, so your skills have to change with it. 
• You fall down. Everyone falls down, and on the ski hill it's literal. Ski racers are very good at picking themselves back up, dusting themselves off, and doing it all over again (hopefully better the next time around of course).  
• Spacial puzzle solving. The team van doesn't pack itself. I'm going to pack what? Into where? And it's how heavy? Somehow, it always fits and we always make it to our destination. Groaning and complaining will occur ... ear plugs recommended for coaches/parents.
• Toughness. Racer to concerned guidance councilor: "No, I did not run into a bully at recess,  I really did give myself these bruises." Sometimes the fastest way around a gate is to not go around it at all.
• Do no eat yellow snow. See item 6, enough said. 
  

When we look back on our lives and pick out our best stories to tell they are never the stories where things came easily. The best stories and friendships are forged through adversity and hardship.  

Let's just say, ski racers have a lot of good stories to tell.

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Friedman: NHL sides still have plenty of work to do

Here's the best advice received about yesterday's NHL offer to the NHLPA: "Don't be optimistic. Don't be pessimistic. There is still plenty of work to do." That's good advice. Hockey fans have received enough kicks to the gut.

"Don't be optimistic. Don't be pessimistic. There is still plenty of work to do."

As of Friday night, here's where things stand: the players (and their lawyers) are poring over the 300 pages sent over by the league. Basically, the package consists of three separate pieces.

First, there is a summary of the key points. Then, there is a "Memorandum of Understanding," which contains more detail (Its inclusion is interesting, because, in 1995, the two sides played through an M.O.U. with the full CBA not signed until August).

The final part is a detailed offer complete with the expected legalese. That receives the closest scrutiny. Whoever in the NHL writes the "summaries" does a great job, as one player joked that what's written in them often sounds much better than what is in the legalese.

That's why the players are being so cautious and careful in their reactions. Scheduled for Saturday is at least one conference call where the NHLPA will ask specific questions about the legal document. It's what you'd expect: "What exactly does this mean?" or "We interpret this line a certain way, do you agree?" 

It's tricky stuff, because big disagreements can take the train off the tracks. That happened with the NHL's first make-whole offer, which sounded great until the players realized it was coming out of their own pockets. 

And, then it's about finding out how much wiggle room there is. It's still a very good deal for the owners, who are getting the two biggest victories - a 50/50 split and some kind of term limits on contracts, although we're still haggling the details. But, they want be careful about not losing the "fine-print fight" like they did in 2005.

Issues to look out for

Here are a couple issues to watch for:

• Buyouts: This was the most newsworthy item of the day, because, for the first time, the NHL agreed to one compliance buyout per team to get down to a $60 million US cap for 2013-14. The (potential) trap is that, while the money would not count on a club's cap, it would count against the players' share of HRR. There was some grumbling about that, absolutely. Is it impossible to solve? Well, there is some precedence for it, as the NHLPA has proposed that the salaries of players sent to the minors count against the cap, not HRR. It probably comes down to how much the NHL is willing to negotiate because it affects...
• Escrow: This remains the toughest "solve" for me. The players don't want 25 per cent escrow payments, but the owners won't accept any caps or protection that adds any more financial risk to their books. This is why I'm in 100,000 per cent in favour of the eight-to-10 year CBA proposed by the league, because the only way this number will be mitigated is with a long-term deal that won't freak out sponsors. Anything less will make escrow worse. And, even though the NHL moves towards the players in each new offer, I'd be shocked if the owners bent on this one. Of course, so many of my predictions during the lockout are setting accuracy records.
• Contract terms: Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly is getting beaten up today for his, "The hill we will die on" comment about length, but the NHL did not move past seven years. Will the extra year (for signing another team's free agent) really solve the logjam?

So, in addition to getting on the same page when it comes to interpretation, there's the question of whether or not there is room to negotiate or if this is another "take it or leave It" proposal. 

The players have learned to wait those out, which tends to be a successful strategy, so it's kind of pointless for the league to try.

Sooner or later, you gotta negotiate to get a deal done. When you really look at the actual amount of time spent doing that over the past six months, the number is absurdly low. 

If it stays that way, this isn't going to work.

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NHL sides to review new CBA proposal by phone: reports

The two sides in the NHL labour dispute are planning to discuss a new offer from the league by phone on Saturday afternoon, multiple reports say.

And if all goes well, they could get together by the end of the weekend — tentatively in New York, according to The Associated Press — for the first face-to-face meetings since Dec. 13 with hopes of putting together a new collective bargaining agreement and avoiding a cancellation of the season.

These breakthroughs come after the league presented a comprehensive proposal to the players' union on Thursday night and the NHLPA held its own meetings by conference call with the executive board and negotiating committee on Friday afternoon.

"This is going to be an interesting weekend," a player, who wished to remain anonymous, told CBC Sports.

'We want to be back on the ice as soon as possible.'—Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner

Owners, facing mounting pressure to avoid a second cancelled season in eight years, made the new offer to the players on Thursday night.

Bill Daly, the league's deputy commissioner, confirmed the offer had been delivered, but would offer no insight.

"We are not prepared to discuss the details of our proposal at this time," he said in a statement. "We are hopeful that once the union's staff and negotiating committee have had an opportunity to thoroughly review and consider our new proposal, they will share it with the players. We want to be back on the ice as soon as possible."

Are you optimistic there will be a hockey season?

Elliotte Friedman of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada says the new proposal includes changes to term limits of the deal, with a previously withdrawn $300-million US make-whole provision on contracts back on the table.

There would also be one compliance contract buyout — that would help players transition from the previous system where they received 57 per cent of revenue to one that pays them 50 per cent — per team that does count against the players' overall share in revenue, but does not count against the salary cap.

In addition, sources say the length of the new CBA would still be 10 years, as the league preferred, with a mutual buyout at eight.

The Canadian Press reports the league's offer calls for player contract limits of six years. The owners had originally wanted five. However, teams would be able to re-sign their own players for seven years.

Friedman also confirms that within the league's offer, a 48-game season has to start no later than Jan. 19. There are reports that the NHL wants a deal in place by Jan. 5, allowing for a week of legal paperwork to be completed in order to open training camps on Jan. 12. By this scenario, there would be six days of camps before the season begins.

However, a source told The Canadian Press that the deal is contingent on the NHLPA signing off on a new CBA by Jan. 11.

Coach's Corner commentator Don Cherry believes the NHL's offer is a good step forward.

"Nice move by the NHL. They came back and bent a little with the $300 million back on. Moving to 6 year [contract] signing instead of the 5," Cherry tweeted.

"They were the first to say lets negotiate. Fehr will likely come back with an 8 year deal and settle on 7. He will not go for the 10 years."

Hundreds of games cancelled

Friday is Day 104 of the NHL lockout. All games through Jan. 14 have already been cancelled.

So far, 625 contests – more than 50 per cent of the schedule – have been wiped out, along with the Winter Classic featuring the Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Detroit on New Year's Day, and the all-star game at Columbus, Ohio.

Most of the recent action in the lockout has been pointed toward the courts, after the players gave their blessing to filing a disclaimer of interest that would dissolve the union.

CBC Sports columnist Tim Wharnsby said this would open the door for the National Hockey League Players' Association to file antitrust suits against the league.

NHL lawyers were also busy, launching a class-action suit in Federal Court, and an unfair labour practice complaint with the U.S. Labour Relations Board.

The threat of antitrust lawsuits set the groundwork for deals in the National Football League and National Basketball Association last year.

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Wharnsby: Canadian junior J.C. Lipon suspended 1 game

Canada's 6-3 win was far from easy, but Canada now has gone a perfect 15-0 in the three world junior tournaments affected by an NHL lockout. Here are five matters from Canada's second win in Ufa, Russia on Friday.

A desperate Canadian junior team survived a Slovakian scare in its second game at the 2013 World Under-20 Championship on Friday and because of another suspension they will face the United States with only 11 forwards on Sunday.

The Canadians survived a horrible opening 30 minutes to score a 6-3 come-from-behind victory. They clearly didn't believe what they saw two days earlier when a pesky Slovakia managed to push the host Russians to overtime only to lose 3-2.

Five-minute majors and game misconducts to Canadian forwards J.C. Lipon, in the first period, and Anthony Camara in the second period were causes for early concern. Lipon was suspended one game for his hit to the head.

Slovakia scored a power-play goal during each major penalty. The second was with Canada facing a 5-on-3 disadvantage and gave Slovakia a 3-1 lead with less than 30 minutes remaining in the game. 

The final goal from Slovakia was the wake-up call Canada needed. Even though they were down to 10 forwards, the Canadians finally started to speed up their game with pinpoint puck movement to put their opponents back on their heels.

Canada now has gone a perfect 15-0 in the three world junior tournaments affected by a NHL lockout.

Here are five matters from Canada's second win in Ufa, Russia:

1. Canada already has been without third-line centre and returnee Boone Jenner. He served the second of a three-game suspension for a late hit in an exhibition game against Sweden last Saturday and isn't eligible to return until Canada's last robin-round game against Russia on Monday.

Because Jenner and Lipon spend time killing penalties, Canada will want to be ultra-disciplined against the U.S.

2. How did I see the two hits? I felt Lipon deserved a five-minute major and game misconduct, but did not feel he warranted the one-game suspension. But the IIHF usually tacks on an extra game with these sort of five-minute major and game misconduct penalties.

Lipon, a forward with the Kamloops Blazers, definitely elbowed his opponent in the head and was worthy of his checking to the head infraction. Camara, a Boston Bruins prospect from the Barrie Colts, did not deserve his penalty from a CHL or NHL perspective.

But this obviously is a tournament under IIHF rules. Still, Camara's hit wasn't a charging major as called well after the fact by Czech referee Pavel Hodek and his Finnish officiating partner Jari Levonen. With the advantage of slow-motion replay, Camara's shoulder hit Slovakia defenceman Patrik Luza.

Camara claimed afterward that an on-ice official told him his hit was clean. But even incidental contact is a no-no under IIHF rules. He should have been penalized for a head check.

IIHF checking to the head and neck area rule 540 states, "A player who directs a check or blow, with any part of his body, to the head and neck area of an opposing player or 'drives' or 'forces' the head of an opposing player into the protective glass or boards, shall be assessed at the discretion of the referee, a minor and a misconduct penalty; a major and game misconduct penalty; or a match penalty. When injury occurs, a match penalty must be assessed.

Since the Camara hit was called charging and not a head check on the ice, it would have been hard for the IIHF to levy supplementary discipline to the Canadian forward.

Luza had his head down, but Camara did not charge at him. He was gliding when he floored his opponent, who was cut from his visor, taken off the ice on a stretcher and hospitalized for precautionary measures after he suffered a concussion.

3. Often frustrated by embellishments from opposing players in international play, both Canadian forward Mark Scheifele and defenceman Doug Hamilton drew penalties with drama skills of their own in the second period that resulted in power-play goals.

It's not a habit the Canadian kids want to get into, but the flops certainly played a role in Canada's turnaround on Friday.

4. Scheifele was knocked down and battered in this game, but the Winnipeg Jets prospect was a force. He scored the go-ahead goal in the final minute of the second period and continued to exhibit his move to right wing has been seamless.

His Barrie Colts coach Dale Hawerchuk, who also moved from centre to wing for Canada in various international tournaments (see 1987 Canada Cup) helped Scheifele with the adjustment in practice earlier this month.

5. Canadian defencemen Morgan Rielly (a goal and two assists) and Xavier Ouellet (two assists) were lauded for their offensive contributions, but London Knights blue-liner Scott Harrington continued to be Canada's steadiest defenceman in his own end.

His teammates recognized his effort against Slovakia. He was awarded the Canadian cape after the game as the team's internal MVP.

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Quiz: Know your U.S. college bowl games

Even for the hardcore football fans, a look at some of the U.S. college bowl games over the holiday season requires a second, or maybe third, glance.

Naming rights for bowl games have become great sources of revenue for college football. As a result for these partnerships, some players over the next two weeks will be competing for the honour to claim a bowl prize with an unusual sponsor attached to it.

So while NFL players compete for the Super Bowl, Minnesota and Texas Tech will play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl of Texas. That's just one of over 30 bowl games this season.

How well do you know your U.S. college football bowl games? You think you can tell the real games from the fake ones?

Click here to take our quiz.

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Wharnsby: Unsung heroes lifting Canada at Spengler Cup

There are some unheralded players like Jacob Micflikier, Geoff Kinrade, Maxim Noreau and Travis Roche on Canada's roster among the out-of-work NHLers, and they're helping carry the workload for Team Canada.

The Canadian team for the 2012 Spengler Cup has been fortified with some star talent because of the 103-day-old NHL lockout this year.

But there are some unheralded players on Canada's roster among out-of-work NHLers like Jason Spezza, Patrice Bergeron, John Tavares, Tyler Seguin, Jonathan Bernier, Carlo Colaiacovo, Devan Dubnyk, Sam Gagner, Matt Duchene, Cam Barker and Ryan Smyth.

Lesser-known players like defencemen Geoff Kinrade, Maxim Noreau and Travis Roche as well as forward Jacob Micflikier are having the time of their hockey lives in Canada's run at a 12th Spengler Cup championship. Canada followed up a 2-1 overtime loss to Adler Mannheim in its tournament opener on Wednesday with an impressive 5-0 victory over the host HC Davos on Thursday.

Kinrade, Noreau, Roche and Micflikier took time after the win against Davos to relay their stories.

Geoff Kinrade (Nelson, B.C.)

There was a shortage of Canadian defencemen playing in Switzerland this winter and that opened the door for the likes of Kinrade, Noreau and Roche.

The 27-year-old Kinrade played for the BCHL's Cowichan Valley Capitals before he enrolled at Michigan Tech. After his fourth and final season of U.S. college hockey, Kinrade signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, finished his year with a 10-game AHL stint with the Norfolk Admirals before he was called up for his only NHL game on Apr. 9, 2009, a 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals.

The six-foot, 195-pound Kinrade then signed with the Ottawa Senators, spent two seasons with the AHL Binghamton Senators and won the 2010-11 Calder Cup in his second year there.

"At the end of the second season in Binghamton, I was told that my coach nominated me to be called up [to play for Ottawa]," Kinrade said. "But instead the Senators took care of their draft picks. I understand. I wasn't angry. But it told me that I wasn't in their future plans."

So he went to Europe. After a stint with Pizen HC in the Czech Republic, he found a new home in Switzerland with Bern and made it all the way to the league final, only to suffer a heartbreaking loss to Zurich in Game 7 on a controversial last second goal.

This is the first time Kinrade has pulled on the Canadian sweater.

"It's a dream come true," he said. "In my career, I've bloomed late. When I was eligible for the Canadian under-20 team I wasn't even close. But to be part of this team the last few days has been surreal." 

Jacob Micflikier (Winnipeg)

Micflikier played for Team West at the 2000-01 World Under-17 Challenge in Pictou, N.S., but after four seasons at the University of New Hampshire, where he played with current NHLer Daniel Winnik, the five-foot-eight, 180-pound forward bounced around with nine different pro teams in the past seven seasons.

He has gone from the AHL Springfield Falcons to the ECHL Stockton Thunder, back to Springfield, on to the ECHL Florida Everglades, then to the AHL Rochester Americans, back to the Everglades, then to Albany River Rats, Charlotte Checkers and Hershey Bears, all of the AHL, before he settled in Switzerland with Biel at age 28 this season.

After scoring 29 goals and 61 points in 78 games with Charlotte in 2010-11, the Washington Capitals were impressed and signed him to a one-year contract, but Micflikier has yet to play in an NHL game.

"I had some opportunities in Europe and I figured with the lockout this would be the smart move rather than stay in North America," he said. "It's been pretty special to be able to play with [Canada at the Spengler Cup]. It's a cool feeling playing on this team with a roster like this and even more special to be in the locker room with all these guys either."

Micflikier enjoyed a strong game against Davos playing on a line with Jason Williams and Duchene.

Maxim Noreau (Montreal)

Noreau suited up for the QMJHL in the Subway Super Series versus Russia when he was a junior and was pegged to play for Canada in the Spengler Cup a year ago, but instead he returned home over the holidays to take care of a back injury. This has been his first experience playing for Canada.

Unlike Micflikier, the 25-year-old Noreau has played in six NHL games for the Minnesota Wild.

The Wild signed Noreau as a free agent to a three-year entry-level contract after he went undrafted. In his last two of three seasons in junior with the Victoriaville Tigres, Noreau was an offensive force on the blue-line with 43 goals and 144 points in 149 combined regular season and playoff games.

The six-foot, 194-pound Noreau continued his offensive ways in the AHL with the Wild's affiliate, the Houston Aeros. He scored a total of 50 goals in four seasons and helped the Aeros advance to the 2010-11 Calder Cup final against Binghamton.

Noreau made the move to Europe after that Calder Cup final and has played for HC Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss League the past two years.

"I know I came over here to play when I was younger than most [Canadians]," he said. "It was a tough decision. I signed with Ambri-Piotta as a backup. We were negotiating with the New Jersey Devils, but it didn't work out. I haven't given up on the dream.

"I felt that this was a good opportunity to come over here and get plenty of ice time. I'd love to get another shot in the next couple of years. I was too nervous the first time. I feel more confident now. Being around these guys this week, I know I belong. I have the itch again and I know I'm not that far off."

Travis Roche (Whitecourt, Alta.)

Roche has been paired with his Bern teammate Kinrade in this tournament so far and the two have been steady. Both chipped in assists in the win over Davos.

Also undrafted, he is the most experienced of the four NHL-wise with 60 games with the Wild and Phoenix Coyotes. This is his third Spengler Cup for Canada. He first suited up for Canada at the 2002 Deutschland Cup.

Roche played junior with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL and then played at the University of North Dakota, where he won an NCAA championship in 1999-00 and lost to Boston College in the final the following year.

He signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Wild in 2001 and helped the Aeros win the 2002-03 Calder Cup championship. The six-foot-one, 200-pound Roche was named a first-team AHL all star with the Chicago Wolves and helped the Wolves advance to the league final.

Roche played 50 games for the Coyotes in 2006-07, but he was once again a full-time AHLer the following season in San Antonio. So he packed up and headed for Switzerland and the 34-year-old Roche has been with Bern since the 2008-09 campaign.

"I said to myself I didn't want to play in the AHL past my 30th birthday," he said. "I already was being chirped as being a 40 year old. Europe has been a good move for me. It's a tremendous place to raise a family.

"This week has been fun. You never know how a team like this is going to mesh. But today was a good step."

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Ron MacLean: Red Wings, Leafs key to resolving NHL lockout

Two stories and too much time got me thinking.

The first was Barcelona soccer star Lionel Messi scoring his 91st goal of 2012 last week. As you know it arguably became the benchmark for the greatest goal-scoring campaign in history.

Those who would be detractors point to his world-class Barcelona teammates such as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets and Pedro as being the only reason for Messi's exploits.

The second story was from Christine MacDonald in the Detroit News, exploring the possibility that since 1980, Olympia Entertainment — owners of the Red Wings — had a lease of Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena which promised the city of Detroit a 25 per cent share of cable TV rights for live events. The city hasn't been able to collect.

There were various estimates as to the amount owing ranging from just north of US$10 million to $70 million. There was confusion over who was at fault. Whether it was oversight by Olympia in failing to pay, or city incompetence in failing to collect.

It was ironic that the story surfaced at the same time Olympia wishes to use up to $12.8 million a year in tax dollars to fund a new downtown arena.

Connecting the dots

Here's how they connect.

Messi is fortunate to play where you can still assemble greatness. Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch knows about this too. He saw it with his Detroit Tigers this year and he has surely realized it with the Red Wings.

Ten years ago, Ilitch's Wings featured several players with superstar pedigree among the twenty skaters they iced each night en route to the Stanley Cup, including Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Federov, Igor Larionov, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Chelios and Dominik Hasek.

Ten of the greatest players ever were on just that one team.

They squeaked by an equally star-studded Colorado team which ended up signing three of its crucial pending free agents in Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy and Rob Blake in the summer of 2001.

Why? Because it was smart business.

Mike Ilitch has to see the foolishness of the owner's lockout. I realize you might doubt that when according to payroll charts in Jimmy Devellano's book The Road to Hockeytown, in 1984-85 — at a time the only reason you bought a ticket in Detroit was to see the kid "Stevie Y" — Yzerman was only the 15th-highest earning Red Wing.

Or that by 2003-04 after Yzerman had delivered three Cups, he was just the sixth-highest earning Red Wing — Lidstrom, Curtis Joseph, Shanahan, Hasek and Chelios all made more — and during the lockout in 2004-05, Yzerman was only the fourth highest-paid Red Wing despite 20 years of NHL service.

Shameful. I don't blame Illitch, because Yzerman was always inclined to take less to sign more stars, but you could argue until the cows come home about the fairness of it all.

The Red Wings were supposed to be gearing up for this year's cash cow (alright I'll get off that) in the Winter Classic. Their opponent was Toronto.

Ten years ago the Maple Leafs' roster included Mats Sundin, Alexander Mogilny, Mikael Renberg, Gary Roberts, Robert Reichel, Darcy Tucker, Shayne Corson, Curtis Joseph, Jyrke Lumme and Tomas Kaberle.

Rolling out the finest

Like Detroit, they've known what it means to roll out some of the finest. From 1993 to 2002 they were in the Conference final four times, but since the 2004-05 lockout they have not made the playoffs.

It's not for lack of spending in the front office, though. Brian Burke, Dave Nonis and Cliff Fletcher have 23 scouts listed on their website. The Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings have 14, while the Calgary Flames have only 11.

Like Olympia, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment has gone big time, with NHL, NBA, AHL, and MLS teams. It also owns the Air Canada Centre, condominiums, restaurants and bars, and a couple of regional sports networks.

And Rogers Communications and Bell just paid $1.3 billion for a 75 per cent share of MLSE. Bell also owns 18 per cent of the Montreal Canadiens, and paid for the arena naming rights in Montreal. Rogers got the arena nameplate in Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Rogers has opened the vault for their Toronto Blue Jays. This year's payroll is at $125 million.

Why? Because it's smart business.

Classic resolution

And Toronto and Detroit are the two teams you should beg to do what is right and do it now.

Make it a classic resolution. Lead Gary Bettman out of this silliness. Stop with the clumsy bookkeeping Olympia Entertainment or "how can I trust you, let alone give you tax breaks on a new arena?"

Promote the best game by hiring the best players and paying them what they deserve. As is what should have happened with Yzerman.

In Toronto, go public with your remedy to the lockout, use your clout and pay the right people. If you don't think it's about the players, think of Lionel Messi in Barcelona. Think of best on best. Watch the world juniors in Ufa (how strange that UFA is "unrestricted free agency" in our world).

And think of these moments:

Paul Henderson in 1972. Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky in 1987. Mike Richter in1996. Sidney Crosby in 2010 and the countless brilliant performances at the world junior showcase, from Jordan Eberle to Jonathan Toews.

Every one of those moments has something in common: No owners.

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Canadian juniors beat Slovakia after early wake-up call

UFA, Russia — Ryan Strome scored a pair of goals as Canada came from behind to beat Slovakia 6-3 at the world junior hockey championship Friday.

Canada improved to 2-0 in Pool B and faces the United States on Sunday.

Defenceman Morgan Rielly had a goal and an assist for Canada, who trailed 2-0 after the first period. Ty Rattie, Mark Scheifele and captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored.

Defenceman Xavier Ouellet assisted on two Canadian goals. Goaltender Malcolm Subban stopped 25 of 28 shots for his second win of the tournament.

Canada was down to 10 forwards by early in the second period. Two were slapped with game misconducts and Boone Jenner was serving the second of a three-game suspension.

Marko Dano scored twice and Tomas Mikus also scored for Slovakia. Adam Nagy turned away 24 of 30 shots in Slovakia's net.

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Sports in 2012: The bad and the ugly

To read about the inspiring, smile-inducing and praiseworthy moments from 2012, go here.

Just months removed from a shocking cluster of hockey fatalities, the tight-knit Canadian amateur sport community was rocked by the deaths of freestyle skier Sarah Burke and skicross competitor Nik Zoricic just weeks apart early in 2012, both while engaged in athletic endeavour. If the zeal in which some mainstream news organization pursued the tragedies involving athletes they'd undoubtedly never heard of was a bit off-putting, their lives and contributions were well worth remembering.

There were necessary questions to ask, as well. Zoricic's family called upon the sport's governing body to conduct a thorough investigation and to ensure optimal safety conditions. Burke's death brought into focus the very question of risk in sports. By all accounts, it was a manoeuvre she'd performed countless times.

In the United States, the fall from stature of two of the bigger, more esteemed names in all of sports marked the year that was. Lance Armstrong and Joe Paterno, and the scandal involving the New Orleans Saints — it was clearly illustrated that the past can come back to haunt.

You hear the one about the 12 dirty cyclists?

Roger Clemens was found not guilty in a court of law, if not public opinion, to charges of perjury to Congress regarding the use of performance enhancing drugs. Armstrong did not appear at any such courtroom or panel, choosing to not engage in a defence of the United States Anti-Doping Agency's allegations of PED use for years, as well as pressuring other riders to follow suit. There were evidently 11 cyclists lined up, among 20-odd witnesses, to contradict his image as a clean rider due to passing hundreds of drug tests.

It was a dishonourable business all around. USADA praised the "courage" of the 11 who squealed, er, were pressured to come forward. A couple of them have seen fit to write books. The head of the cycling union wished Armstrong's name would never be mentioned again. As if the body was oblivious all those years to what was underfoot. As if the sport, which receives a wholly disproportionate amount of media attention in relation to its popularity, would have received half that amount without Armstrong's seven Tour de France wins and comeback from testicular cancer, harkening back to Major League Baseball's averted gaze as the press revelled in the 1998 home run record chase.

Armstrong was stripped of those seven titles, lost major sponsors and was forced to resign the chairmanship of his charitable organization Livestrong, which has raised hundreds of millions for cancer research (He's still on the board).

If it felt like the deck was stacked against him or that he was a totem or scapegoat, he didn't exactly cut the most sympathetic figure despite his philanthropic deeds. He was belligerent, obfuscating — a test for EPO did not exist throughout his years at the top — and there was nothing to back up the claim some of his supporters posited, that every single team was engaged in widespread doping and it was necessary to keep up.

Armstrong transcends sports and has legions of supporters still. Americans are remarkably open to second acts for their celebrities, but it usually requires some kind of repentance first, which doesn't seem to be for Armstrong. You almost wish you could fast forward 10 or 20 years from now to see what his life has become.

As ever in modern sports, eye-popping performances from men and women of all ages raised suspicion of improper means. There was 16-year-old Chinese girl Ye Shiwen winning two Olympic gold medals in the pool, and boxer Juan Manuel Marquez (working with former track and field PED peddler Angel Heredia) discovering the fountain of power at 39, blasting Manny Pacquiao into unconsciousness when he hadn't knocked his rival down in three previous 12-round bouts.

Baseball already had its so-called "steroid era", so what do we call this period, in which top players Ryan Braun — who successfully appealed in January — and Melky "Fake Website" Cabrera were ensnared by positive tests?

Integrity again came into question in soccer, dogged by match-fixing and improper betting allegations in several spots around the globe. Even a non-prestigious Canadian league was vulnerable, as brought to light by a CBC investigation. Meanwhile, a large faction of fans of Russian champion Zenit St. Petersburg beseeched their club to not pursue any dark-skinned or homosexual players.

The ills of horse racing were exposed in a superlative New York Times series. Those pesky details were swept aside as Canadian news outlets fairly cheerleaded I'll Have Another's Triple Crown chances due to the modest connections the horse had to this country.

When the horse pulled out on the eve of the Belmont Stakes due to injury, more cynical horse racing observers raised their eyebrows. The horse's trainer was due to serve a suspension for an excess carbon dioxide level in another horse, which can lead to injuries. Then there was the matter of a boffo stud fee that could be jeopardized by a catastrophic injury. The horse was sold a month later to a Japanese consortium for $10 million US.

Lions in winter

When the Penn State child sex abuse scandal first broke in the latter half of 2011, it seemed a story that would dominate the sports headlines for years to come. While lawsuits and a criminal case against school administrators await, it was amazing how quickly and definitively the two biggest featured names in the scandal receded from view.

Jerry Sandusky exercised his right to a speedy trial, and just months later was put away for essentially for the rest of his life. The predator displayed an unbelievable amount of obtuseness and lack of self-awareness in interviews along the way.

Legendary Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno died in January, mere weeks after the scandal first broke publicly. If he was given the benefit of the doubt by some in the early stages of the scandal, it was clear by the release of the Freeh Report in July that senility, "old world Catholic values" and being "just a football coach" weren't cutting it as explainers for his inaction over a period of years. In his last major interview, Paterno flat-out lied about what he knew, and when, according to the report, which called him a player in the "active effort to conceal." His famed statue was soon removed from the the school's stadium.

Razor burn

Paterno was arguably the most powerful college coach ever in the U.S., but too many reign over their fiefdoms, usually with impunity. Married father of four Bobby Petrino – who previously left his only NFL coaching job via Dear John letter — got caught out in Arkansas, however, riding a motorcycle over the bridge he burned. He crashed the bike, with his twentysomething girlfriend aboard. He didn't mention the passenger to authorities at first, and it was later revealed that he had helped get her on the school's payroll after a sham job selection process.

But apparently it's a really important priority for Western Kentucky to be good at football. Just over seven months later they hired Petrino as coach, to the tune of $850,000 US per season. Lock up your co-eds, Hilltoppers!

The tainted

The New Orleans Saints found out that on-field actions from years ago had consequences. The afterglow of a championship season in 2007 less than two years removed from Hurricane Katrina was replaced for many in 2012 by a patina resulting from their bounty scandal. Head coach Sean Payton incurred an unprecedented season-long suspension for approval of a system in which handsomely paid athletes were enticed with the prospect of three- to five-figure cash bonuses to injure their union brothers.

But even commissioner Roger Goodell didn't come out unscathed. Insulated by years of unilaterally imposing discipline on players for off-field behaviour, he failed to appreciate how thorny and complex the Saints case was for him to fly solo (although two arbitrators initially upheld his ability to mete out punishment given the terms of the 2011 NFL CBA). In the end predecessor Paul Tagliabue, vacated Goodell's suspensions for four players.

The Saints story broke as the subject of long-term concussion damage got increasing media play, and over 3,000 ex-players put their names to lawsuits accusing the league of concealing information for years about the risks of head trauma.

For good measure, Goodell saw his league's product degraded by a lockout of officials, with replacement refs making a mockery of the end of a Packers-Seahawks game.

Tragic, for the innocent

Maybe it ultimately wasn't a factor, but It was impossible not to at least think about concussions when it came to Jovan Belcher, an NFLer only known to the most devoted fans before Dec. 1. The word tragedy was thrown around quite a bit after the murder-suicide committed by the player. The fact the Chiefs linebacker apologized and thanked his coach and GM before ending his life humanized him more than, say, Rae Carruth. Had it been a stockbroker or electrician who had fired nine shots at the young mother of a now-orphaned child after a night spent chasing another woman, we don't have speculate whether that particular descriptor would have been used.

When Torres goes up, players fall down

Did you think this compilation of lowlights would not include hockey?!

Remember the NHL's spinning wheel of justice? It seems like years ago, but it was indeed this one. Brendan Shanahan put a face and explanation to the league's discipline rulings after years of opaqueness in the process, but that didn't make some of the decisions any easier to comprehend.

After the Senators and Rangers, and especially Penguins and Flyers, paid homage to the 1970s-style woolliness in the first round of the playoffs, you knew the proverbial book was going to be launched at the next offender. Enter serial concussion-deliverer Raffi Torres of Phoenix. Torres left his feet, hit high and made contact late on Chicago's Marian Hossa in an April 17 game. Torres got a 25-game suspension, later reduced by four.

How damaging was the hit? Hossa, who had played all 84 of his team's games up to the point, was cleared for contact only days ago. Of course, he's missed precisely zero NHL games in 2012-13 due to the second significant work stoppage in nine years.

NHL says no to Big Mo

The current lockout could provide fodder for years to come for MBA students looking to study examples of brand self-sabotage.

Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr conducted breezy interviews in the spring, blithely pooh-poohing the notion that the two sides should probably start getting serious ahead of the September expiration of the collective bargaining agreement. Bettman was decidedly less sunny about the notion proferred by Fehr that the same CBA could hold sway and the league's stars head for 2012-13 training camps while the sides worked towards a deal.

Clearly the $3.3 billion US revenue figure too often touted by some fans and pundits masks real problems of imbalance around the league, which features a handful of powerhouse clubs and just as many, if not more, precarious franchises. But the last few years have also been marked by a sublime Olympic tournament, the emergence of several new stars, improved U.S. television ratings, and the entrenchment of the Winter Classic as a huge revenue and awareness driver for the league.

The NHL chose to throw all of that significant momentum away in order to ensure its owners don't continue to commit to contracts beyond their budgets and lifespans. This league alone seems to be carrying the torch for the not-lamented 1981-1995 era when the sports labour picture was fractious, work stoppages were frequent, and replacement players were even used on occasion.

Yes, football and basketball had recent lockouts. But in those sports the sense of partnership and collaboration to grow the game never seemed to be completely extinguished. Even when those unions decertified, there was never any real belief the sports would implode.

Contrast that to the NHL, where just one negative negotiating session threatens to derail like a speeding boulder headed towards a glass house whatever soupçon of goodwill that has been mustered amid a backdrop of decades of dysfunction between the two sides.

In memoriam

In no particular order, some of the significant athletes and contributors to sport who died in 2012.

Baseball: Gary Carter, Marvin Miller, Johnny Pesky, Eddie Yost, Dave May, Pascual Perez, Lee MacPhail, Marty Springstead, Kevin Hickey, Pedro Borbon, Dave Boswell.

Basketball: Dan Roundfield, Orlando Woolridge, Jack Twyman, Dwayne Schintzius, Rick Majerus.

Boxing: Emmanuel Steward, Angelo Dundee, Johnny Tapia, Corrie Sanders, Hector Camacho, Carmen Basilio, Teofilo Stevenson.

Football: Alex Karras, Junior Seau, Freddie Solomon, Steve Van Buren, Darrell Royal, Ernie Warlick, Jerry Brown, Warren Hudson, Cal Murphy, Eric Harris. Alex Webster, Ron Erhardt, Stacy Robinson, R.C. Owens, Greg Mohns, Bud Riley.

Hockey: Ron Caron, Herb Carnegie, Vladimir Krutov, Ron Stewart, Emile Bouchard, Valeri Vasiliev, Jerry Toppazzini, Paul Cyr, Fernie Flaman.

Soccer: Giorgio Chinaglia, Harry Keough, Piermarino Morosini, Miguel Calero, Dave Sexton.

Other sports: Barbara Ann Scott (figure skating), Margaret du Pont (tennis), Milt Campbell (decathlon), Mark Lenzi (diving), Jeff Blatnick (wrestling), Alex Oen (swimming), Chris Sanderson (lacrosse).

The press, etc.: Chris Economacki, Beano Cook, Tom McKee, Budd Lynch, Pat Connolly, Jim Huber, Trent Frayne, Leroy Nieman, Steve Sabol, Barry MacKay, Randy Starkman.

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Cherry hits back at Nail Yakupov for calling Canadians 'dirty'

Don Cherry isn't happy about Russian sniper Nail Yakupov's comments regarding Canadian hockey players.

The Hockey Night In Canada commentator used Twitter to respond to a report Yakupov told a Russian website that Canadian players are "dirty."

The No. 1 pick of the 2012 NHL by the Edmonton Oilers, Yakupov played two seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Sarnia Sting, collecting 80 goals and 80 assists in 107 games.

"I see where Nail Yakupov said Canadian hockey players are dirty," Cherry tweeted Wednesday. "Let me see... We let him take a Canadian kids (sic) spot in the Canadian Hockey League, let him learn his hockey in our program, treat him royally, give him great coaching so he can go number one overall and he calls us Dirty."

Canada will meet tournament hosts Russia on Monday in the final Pool B round-robin game for both teams the world junior hockey championship in Ufa.

Cherry, who has a long history of criticizing European players, added: "I could care less what Nail thinks of us, what bugs me, he took a Canadian kids (sic) spot in the Canadian Hockey League."

Cherry has more than 104,000 Twitter followers.

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Pinterest: Celebrity sightings at NBA Christmas games

The Laker Girls dance squad perform during a break in the NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Knicks 100-94. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

Recording artist Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers attends a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics wears Nike sneakers during the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on December 25, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Boston Celtics defeated the Brooklyn Nets 93-76. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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The shoes of J.R. Smith #8 of the New York Knicks are shown during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

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The shoes of Steve Nash #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers are shown during a game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

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A detailed view of the shoes of Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the NBA game against the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Lakers defeated the Knicks 100-94. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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A close-up of the seasonal Nike sneakers of LeBron James #6 of the Miami Heat as he plays against the Oklahoma City Thunder during a Christmas Day game on December 25, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/Getty Images)

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A close-up of the seasonal Li Ning sneakers of Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat as he plays against the Oklahoma City Thunder during a Christmas Day game on December 25, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/Getty Images)

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A close-up view of a player's Nike sneaker, featuring holiday decorations, before a Christmas Day game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

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A close-up of the sneakers worn by Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Clippers during a Christmas Day game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

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A close-up of the PEAK sneakers worn by Shane Battier #31 of the Miami Heat before playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder in a Christmas Day game on December 25, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/Getty Images)

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A close-up of sneakers worn by DeAndre Jordan #6, right, and Willie Green #34 of the Los Angeles Clippers during a Christmas Day game between the Denver Nuggets and the Clippers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

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A detailed view of the shoes of Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers during warm-up prior to the NBA game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Nuggets 112-100. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

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Matt Barnes #22 of the Los Angeles Clippers rises for a dunk against the Denver Nuggets during a Christmas Day game at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

(L-R) Khloe Kardashian Odom, Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian cheer from the sideline during a Christmas Day game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

Actor Billy Crystal looks on as the Denver Nuggets play the Los Angeles Clippers during a Christmas Day game at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West attend the NBA game between the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. The Clippers defeated the Nuggets 112-100. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

An employee dressed as Santa Claus pays a visit to Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers before a Christmas Day game against the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noah Graham/Getty Images)

Benny and the Elevators perform on Christmas during a game between the Chicago Bulls and the Houston Rockets on December 25, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The Houston Rockets defeated the Chicago Bulls 120-97. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson attends an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Lakers won 100-94. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Comedian Richard Lewis attends an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012. The Lakers won 100-94. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets shoots against Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls during a Christmas Day game on December 25, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Gary Dineen/Getty Images)

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Jeremy Lin, left, and Donatas Motiejunas of the Houston Rockets present patients of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago with presents prior to the start of a Christmas Day game against the Chicago Bulls on December 25, 2012 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Gary Dineen/Getty Images)

Dwyane Wade #3 of the Miami Heat plays defence against Thabo Sefolosha #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during a Christmas Day game on December 25, 2012 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/Getty Images)

Producer Lou Adler poses for a photograph after putting on new shoes during halftime of a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Actor Samuel L. Jackson attends a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Recording artists Chris Brown and Rihanna attend a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

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Former NBA player Willie Naulls attends a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Actor Lawrence Fishburne, centre, attends a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Comedian George Lopez smiles for a photograph during a game between the New York Knicks and the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks and Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers battle for positioning at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

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Steve Nash #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers hands gifts to a child before taking on the New York Knicks at Staples Center on December 25, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Knight of the Brooklyn Nets distributes gifts to fans during the game against the Boston Celtics on December 25, 2012 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Ray Amati/Getty Images)

Recording artist and actress Darlene Love sings at halftime during the Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics game on December 25, 2012 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Ray Amati/Getty Images)

Rajon Rondo #9 of the Boston Celtics defends against Deron Williams #8 of the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center on December 25, 2012 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

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