HOCKEY CLUB FILES SUIT

The Metallurg Magnitogorsk, a Russian hockey club has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Penguins and the NHL, according to a recent AP report out of New York.

The Russian club maintains rookie Evgeni Malkin should not be allowed to play in the NHL at this time because he is still under contract for $3.45 million to the club in his native country for one year.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, demanded unspecified damages from the Penguins and the NHL.

The 20-year-old Malkin, who left the Russian Super League team during August's training camp in Helsinki, Finland, cites a Russian labor law that permits an employee to leave a job by giving two weeks notice.

The lawsuit, however, was filed after a ruling by a Russian arbitration panel that Malkin remains under contract to his native club. It maintains that the NHL as well as the Penguins violated antitrust laws by conspiring in a group boycott and by refusing to deal with Russian hockey clubs pertaining to player transfers.

Dave Burkey

TERRORISM AND SPORTS

There is an AP report out of Sydney, Australia that terrorists plotted to kill the English and Australian cricket teams by pumping poisonous gas into their dressing rooms at an Ashes test last year.

I don't know what an "Ashes test" is, but I know what terrorism is, and this is definitely yet another case of it, only this time affecting the sports world.

It seems the only reason the plot didn't go forward is because one of the two attackers happened to be a cricket fan and apparently had a change of heart.

Nevertheless, security personnel at stadiums and sports arena's all over the world should take notice. It's only a matter of time before these wacko suicide attackers and terrorists decide to brew up another plan sometime somewhere.

Dave Burkey

YANKS FALL SHORT AGAIN

The New York Yankees and their 194 million major league leading payroll will not make an appearance in the World Series this year as they couldn't even get past the Wild Card Detroit Tigers in the post-season.

Poor George Steinbrenner with his All-Star lineup of A-rod, Jeter, Posada, Damon, Abreu, Sheffield and Co. Manager Joe Torre has got to be wondering about whether he's going to keep his job right about now.

However, the Yankees have a lot of company as the Boston Red Sox ($120 mill.), Los Angeles Angels ($103 mill.), and the defending champion Chicago White Sox ($102 mill.) failed to even make post-season play.

The Oakland A's however have advanced to the ALCS with a mere $62 million payroll .

Dave Burkey