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NHL

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to cancel the 2004-05 season as early as tomorrow and no later than Thursday. Bettman said last Wednesday that if the two sides were not drawing up a new collective labor agreement by the end of the weekend that the season would be cancelled.
-- Globe and Mail

Bettman is furious at NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow for not giving him a way out. He can barely believe the PA hasn't constructed a weekend, stop-the-clock offer. The commissioner can't get over the fact that the players are actually listening to the individual responsible for increasing their salaries a zillion percent over the last 10 years instead of the league executives, owners and general managers, who, of course, only want to be partners with them.
-- New York Post

Lost in all the conference calls of the last week was Bettman's backhanded compliment to the players regarding their resolve to lose a year of pay over a philosophical disagreement. "I respect our players," Bettman said last week. "They're prepared to forgo $1 billion in salaries this year alone and maybe hundreds of millions -- if not a billion -- next year. You've got to respect that. I don't always understand it, but I respect it."
-- Philadelphia Inquirer

There was speculation that a player revolt had developed against Goodenow over the weekend. But the several players and agents contacted yesterday denied such a development.
-- Globe and Mail

Bettman and Goodenow were not included in yesterday's secret meeting, which lasted five hours and was said to have made zero progress.
-- New York Post

Over the weekend, there were reports of a new union proposal being prepared, but none were presented. A union spokesman, Jonathan Weatherdon, said, "Rumors to that effect were quite false."
-- New York Times

The NHL delivered a memo to each of the 30 clubs that lifted the gag order on owners talking about the lockout and owners and GMs from contacting players. Stars owner Tom Hicks was the first to hold a news conference. Among the highlights of his comments was that the league planned to introduce new rules to the game in the summer. Several players confirmed yesterday that they had been contacted by their clubs in the past 48 hours. But no player appeared to be swayed by the conversations.
-- Globe and Mail

One player agreed to divulge his conversation with his club's GM on the condition he remained anonymous. "I like our general manager, but he really didn't shed any new light on the situation," the player said. "He told me that being a former player he cared for the game and didn't like the direction this [labor dispute] was going for the players. He was concerned about the long-term future of the game. "I told him that I was also concerned. Then I asked him when could we expect a serious offer from the owners, one that we could actually put to a vote, and he didn't have an answer for me."
-- Globe and Mail

Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk challenged the NHLPA to put management's proposal for a hard salary cap to a secret vote by the players because he feels, contrary to the assertions of their union leaders, they would accept one. "I think the best solution would be to get these 700 guys in a rink somewhere and get them to vote on this, individually and confidentially," Melnyk said.
-- Globe and Mail

Mario Lemieux has been saying for months -- repeatedly and convincingly -- that he has no plans to give up his playing career anytime soon, even if the 2004-05 season is snuffed by the NHL's labor dispute. Lemieux could be back in a competitive setting in little more than two months as a member of Team Canada at the world championship in Austria. He is not ready to commit to playing in the world championships, which begin April 30, but he isn't ruling it out, either.
-- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Soccer

Manchester United's directors admitted they were powerless to stop Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm Glazer from making a bid to buy the club even though they called his plans potentially "damaging." The directors said they were unlikely to recommend any offer from Glazer but shareholders would ultimately have to decide whether to sell shares. They described Glazer's proposed price of 300p a share in cash, or about £800m, as "fair."
-- The Guardian (UK)

United's board gave a strong condemnation of Glazer's plans for the club, which are thought to include large increases in commercial revenues: "The board continues to believe that Glazer's business plan assumptions are aggressive and that the direct and indirect financial strain on the business could be damaging."
-- The Guardian (UK)

Glazer, who is likely to be given access to the club's books today, is ready to kick United chairman Roy Gardner off the board. The American tycoon will act if directors do not back his £800 million takeover. Glazer is also targeting chief executive David Gill for the exit door.
-- The Sun (UK)

Star striker Ruud van Nistelrooy could return for Manchester United's FA Cup match at Everton on Saturday if he comes through training without a problem this week.
-- The Guardian (UK)

United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is close to agreeing a new contract -- just 18 months after joining the club. The 20-year-old's performances have consistently improved this season and the Portugal international, who signed a five-year-deal in August 2003, is turning into one of United's main attacking threats. "The Manchester United board have already made an offer to renew but I'm trying not to think about it a lot," he said.
-- Manchester Evening News

Michael Owen hinted he could leave in the summer if he does not get more playing time. "The past few weeks have not been perfect and I'm a bit low," said Owen. "I want to play 90 minutes every week and until I hang up my boots I will always want to do that. "It's not the best way to prepare for the next World Cup." Owen is a star striker on England's national team.
-- The Daily Mirror (UK)

Thierry Henry underlined yesterday that he would like to end his career with Arsenal. "I would like to stay here but it is up to the people involved," Henry said. "If it was only up to me, no problem, but we all know how it is in football. If you stop scoring goals, someone young can come along and kick you out. But I have no desire to play abroad. I'm just passionate about the game and my team."
-- The Guardian (UK)

Samuel Eto'o is expected to be named African Footballer of the Year on Tuesday for the second time in a row. The Barcelona striker is the hot favorite to edge Didier Drogba of the Ivory Coast and Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha.
-- Reuters

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