"Get over yourself, Gary"

Let's face it-the NHL is dying.

???In the U.S. many would rather watch the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA sports and NASCAR over Canada's beloved game.

???While there are a variety of reasons that the league is spiraling towards nonexistence, the main problem lies in Toronto.

???The problem sits cozy in his office, making decision after decision that slowly kill what is left of the hockey league.

???I'm talking about commissioner Gary Bettman.

???Bettman proved his incompetence as the head of the league when it came to recent problems with players heading to Montreal for the NHL's All-Star Game.

???The commissioner and the league are enforcing a policy, which states if players decline to show up to the game after being named to the All-Star teams, they must miss at least one game before or one game after the All-Star weekend.

???Because of this, injured players such as Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby and Detroit's Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk are now getting hurt because of the ruling.

???Gary, you are such a weasel. Where do you come up with this nonsense?

???While Crosby made the trip for only pre-game events, Lidstrom and Datsyuk cannot due to injuries suffered in recent games prior to All-Star Week. Now, the Red Wings are short two stars for their first game back against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

???It's absolutely appalling that Bettman has the nerve to force such a policy on players who have paid their dues to a league that doesn't necessarily pay them back.

???Lidstrom, who is suffering from elbow problems, has won the Norris Trophy six times. He is one of the faces of the game that the NHL cannot afford to shadow with this stupidity that Bettman is covering him with.

???Also, why does the policy only apply to the general all-stars? Columbus goaltender Steve Mason skipped the YoungStars game because of supposed back spasms, but will not be hurt due to the policy-it only applies to those who are to take part in the main game itself.

???Bettman is already hated by 99 percent of the NHL's limited fan base and this little "policy" of his isn't going to help matters.

???Don't get me wrong-I understand his thought process. Fans pay to see these stars in action and to not have them play will take away from the game. But is it fair to hurt a team and, perhaps, their playoff chances, in the process?

???While Detroit should have no problem getting into the playoffs, this policy could kill teams that are right on the hump. Columbus could easily beat Detroit and use those two-points to propel into the playoffs while other teams are on the outside looking in.

???A good solution? Just fine the players.

???We live in a world that's all about the green, so by making these players pay the NHL for not attending would make more sense than not letting them play in a game that could change the entire playoff picture for the league. At the end of the day, every point counts.

???This would reprimand the players by digging into their wallets, versus reprimanding the fans by having their team lose an important game or have a team get an easy win that will hurt them in the long run.

???Until then, Bettman will continue to make stupid policies and stupid decisions as he digs the NHL into a deeper hole. Granted, he might think he's actually doing the league justice, but he really isn't.

???He's a plague that needs to be stopped.