We first learned about big changes ahead for the game at a February 2004 general managers meeting that got minimal media coverage.A handful of us who regularly cover the NHL beat -- Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger, David Shoalts, Al Strachan, me and perhaps a few others -- went to Henderson, Nevada, that year to cover the three-day GM gathering. I distinctly remember how few people were there.One day, NHL executive vice president Colin Campbell sat down in a small room in front of us and started reeling off the GMs recommendations: no more red line, the introduction of a shootout, a total crackdown on obstruction, etc. It was the heart of the drastic package that would change the look of the NHL after the league emerged from the 2004-05 lockout.I recall our jaws collectively dropping to the ground. The changes were massive.One specific rule recommendation stood out, if only because it was the one that ultimately ended up on the cutting-room floor: awarding three points for a regulation-time victory. The idea at the time was to go to a 3-2-1 point system in conjunction with the shootout after first asking the AHL to experiment with it.Somehow, when the NHL emerged from a yearlong labor dispute with a rebooted look for 2005-06, the three-point win was gone.Why? Because the league rightfully figured out that sticking with the 2-1 point system would artificially create even more parity. Thats exactly what has happened ever since the shootout-loser point came into effect. No more tie games means more points are awarded almost every night to every team that wins or at least makes it to overtime.The GMs kicked around the 3-2-1 point system again when they met in March 2007, but it was panned and canned once and for all.It never had a lot of legs. It had some support, but not much, Brian Burke, who was at both those 2004 and 2007 GM meetings, said Tuesday from his Calgary Flames office. I researched this quite a bit. I read a very detailed study about English soccer, which I forwarded to the league. The basic conclusion of this study is that it had no impact on results, that players were properly incentivized to win the game regardless.Still, I bring this up today because I believe its time the NHL re-examined the idea. One look at the standings reveals just how close teams are. The salary-cap system, 12 years out, has produced exactly what commissioner Gary Bettman figured it would: total parity.Some people think parity is a dirty word but its not,?Nashville Predators?GM David Poile said on Tuesday. Its great. Its made the races very close. It keeps everyone in it much longer.Still, as of Thursday, 15 teams were separated by no more than three points. That means that half the league is essentially tied. Isnt it time, now that we have true parity with the talent base forcibly spread among 30 rosters, to allow at least some of the cream to rise to the top? It seems fair to me that teams that actually win games more handily, in 60 minutes, and dont rely as much on extra time to collect points, should be rewarded.It would also allow teams to rally late in the season. As it stands now, its difficult to make a charge up the standings because teams in front of you are picking up points almost every night. But if a team were to get on a regulation-time victory surge, that would make a difference.We have looked at it and even put it forward as an option with our league [two years ago], but it didnt get any traction with our group, both with hockey and business people, AHL president Dave Andrews said.Andrews thinks the idea has merit, however. He believes that the third-period product might be augmented with the carrot of three points on the line for a win in 60 minutes.The KHL --? in which Mike Keenan coached for several years -- uses the 3-2-1 point system.They do have the three-point system in the KHL, and I think it separates the groups a little bit more than the two-point system, Keenan said Tuesday. The better teams accelerate their positions by [having] the three points as a possibility. Thats the biggest difference Ive seen. I like it.I think people like to have dynasties and theyre not going to get them now in the NHL. You saw the separation in the KHL with the better teams. But it also allowed fans to cheer for true underdogs, Keenan added.Burke is still not buying the 3-2-1 system for one second.You will have teams mathematically eliminated from the playoffs by Christmas. I really think so, said the Flames president of hockey operations. I have zero interest in that. None. Id rather put a sharp stick in my eye.I get his point, and perhaps hes right, but again I argue that the true roster parity in todays NHL will ensure that no teams get left behind that early. And awarding three points for a 60-minute win would serve to better reflect reality, is all.I understand your point, but I think this falls into the category of: If it aint broke, dont fix it, Poile said. The system works.I contend that the reality in a true, parity-driven league is that a few elite teams would gain more comfort in the standings, but I believe there would still be a very close race for the rest of the pack.We have true parity already. We dont need to artificially insulate it anymore. Jordan 1 Retro High Og . Scott Kazmir allowed four hits in seven shutout innings, Michael Brantley hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning and the Indians maintained their hold on an AL wild-card spot with a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night. Air Jordan 4 Royalty . 4 Villanova with a 96-68 drubbing on Monday. Wragge hit 9-of-14 from behind the arc, matching Kyle Korvers school record for 3-pointers in a game set in 2003, as Creighton (16-3, 6-1 Big East broke a conference record with 21 treys in the rout. http://www.airjordan11spacejam.fr/air-jordan-11-pas-cher/jordan-11-retro-low.html . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Jordan Spizike Noir .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. Jordan 13 Homme Pas Cher . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. ALAMEDA, Calif. -- When the game is on the line in the closing minutes, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr looks for inspiration in an unusual place.Instead of trying to emulate quarterbacks known for late-game heroics like Ken Stabler or Tom Brady, Carr looks to the basketball court and Kobe Bryant for a player to imitate.In my head, Im a big Kobe fan, Carr said Wednesday. That Mamba mentality. You have to go out there and you have to do it. Ive studied him and watched him forever. Thats always been my mindset when I get into close situations. They dont always work out, but thats where my mind is at.Carr delivered in the clutch in the opener at New Orleans, driving the Raiders 75 yards in the closing minutes to throw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts with 47 seconds remaining. He followed that up with a 2-point conversion pass to Michael Crabtree that gave Oakland a 35-34 win.Carr said the key in those situations is slowing the game down and making sure small things like footwork and his eye placement are proper so the results follow.I definitely have worked on it, Carr said. Theres times where I get emotionally hijacked, then Ill try and force something and do something. I just tried the whole game to be my same competitive self just with the same mentality good or bad. I felt that being able to stay that way kept my mind in a good spot throughout the whole game.The comeback in the opener marked the sixth time in two-plus seasons that Carr has a led a fourth-quarter comeback. He had a strong performance in all as he shows even more improvement at the start of his third NFL season. He completed 24 of 38 passes for 319 yards, while committing no turnovers and taking no sacks. He threw the one TD pass and also converted a pair of 2-point tries that helped lead Oakland to the win.ddddddddddddThe Raiders look to follow that with another win in the home opener Sunday against Atlanta (0-1) as they seek their first 2-0 start since the 2002 seasonWe came away very impressed, Falcons coach Dan Quinn said. We knew that he was a nice athlete but having the vision to (know) where to hitch up, when to scramble, when to convert, those are the things that come with some maturity, you know, `Where this is a time where I can go take my shot to run it for a first down. He totally captured that part.Before the late drive to win the game, Carrs most notable play might have come with his legs when he scrambled 11 yards to convert a third-and-9 in the second quarter. He capped the run with a summersault flip over defender DeVante Harris and followed that with an emphatic first-down signal.Carr injured his hand in last years opener when he tried to stiff-arm Cincinnatis Adam Jones on a scramble and coach Jack Del Rio wants him to be more cautious when he runs because he is too important to the team.Its really hard, especially in the flow of the game, Carr said. Coach was happy that I stopped trying to run people over and use the stiff arm. Now he said, `Unless its for the Super Bowl, stop flipping over people, too. I think everyones heart dropped when I did that, I think mine did too.Game notes RT Austin Howard returned to practice after missing the opener with a sprained right ankle. ... OL Menelik Watson (groin) and Matt McCants (knee) missed practice after leaving last weeks game with injuries. ... 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