ABC As Easy as 123

I'm sure everyone is ready to start playing soon, and on September 1st it all begins. Although most have taken a much needed rest and break from hockey, I have not. Actually, I did take a long 3 day weekend to vacation in Akron, Ohio visiting the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, but then it was back to business.

Immediately after the Championship game, I spent countless days dealing with the press and their questions about the legitimacy of the Kryptonite team. The accusations of illegal coffee levels on the team would not go away so testing of the players began. Although all players passed the testing, rumors still continue to spread that team owner & Cup O Kryptonite owner Matt Johnson has designed an Espresso "cover up" drink to hide any excessive levels. This is still being investigated.

Beyond the scandal and controversy, the pressing issues of the facility needed to be addressed. The Puck Hawgs were not content with their locker room facility and had many demands of upgrades that needed to be met or they threatened to leave the league. The value of the Hawgs to the ABC League cannot be measured so all accommodations have been met and some of which include individual custom oak sections, therapy pool, 8 life fitness cycles, 2 massage training tables and a fully stocked cooler of Coors Light for each game.

Prior to the start of registration, I needed to make sure certain personnel issues were addressed as well. With Blaine Barker's retirement from the league, the champion Kryptonite team was in need of a replacement. The Cup o' K scouts were feverishly looking and found a potential candidate in Scott Anderson. Scott was not an unknown and is a 15 year veteran of the BHL (breakfast hockey league). As Johnson and Anderson began talks of a contract, the deal went south in a hurry. Anderson was asking for a league high 17 year deal, while Cup was persistent in a "game by game" option in hopes Blaine would have a change of heart. As league arbitrator, I was asked to step in and negotiate a fair deal for both parties. In the end, Anderson earns a 1 year deal paying 4.25 dollars. As a signing bonus, the team agrees to massage his legs after each win, and a full sponge bath with any shutout.

Other items I had to deal with included acceptable team names and jersey colors. Team Red Alert believed that there fan base was dwindling and a new marketing strategy suggested that a name change was in order. They came up with the name "Terrifically Fantastic Hockey Team & Best on Planet". This was quickly rejected as it would not fit on the website, stat sheets and made jersey cost $625/jersey unaffordable by all. The alternate name of "Funky Pickle" will be used.

YDD decided that baby blue was so 2009, and the the name YDD was often mistaken for Young Dirty Dads, a name & jersey color change was suggested. Team captain Whitaker submitted black, white & red for colors and felt that an Indian head and name of "Blackhawks" would be better received. After much debate on potential copyright issues, attorney Whitaker agreed with me that sticking with YDD was a better idea.

The final debate of league start time was probably the most heated. Most players pushed getting the start times to be 10:45 PM, midnight & 1:15 AM. They argued that this schedule would allow more socializing and drinking time prior to game starts. The fact that many players could not stay after games had them believing that starting games later would allow everyone an opportunity to hang out prior to a game even though most would not make any of the actual games. I decided against this and a similar schedule will be kept.

All in all, a busy yet productive summer has made me hungry to play. Now that politics, paperwork & pressing issues have been resolved, its time to get ready to drop the puck.