Free Between a Jock and a Hard Place by Mona Ingram Page B

did as she was told, aware that behind her on the big screen the game was starting. She couldn’t watch, but it wasn’t necessary. She could tell from the groans of the crowd every time the Canucks missed the net. The first period ended with no score.
    “How come you’re not watching?” Zoey motioned for more drinks, then turned back to Claire. “Jack was terrific.”
    “I’m so afraid he’ll get injured. I don’t think I could stand to watch that.”
    “Oh, My God. I forgot to tell you. The other blog came out today. The guy really blasted you.”
    “He did?”
    “Big time. Randy is beside himself with excitement. At last count there were over a thousand comments.”
    Claire tried to call it up on her phone, but the second period was starting and she couldn’t concentrate. “I’ll read it later,” she said, wondering just how bad it could be.
    A momentary silence fell over the bar when San Jose scored a goal. The high octane energy of the crowd fizzled a bit, and then deflated even more as San Jose scored a second goal two minutes later. The rest of the period was hard fought, but neither team scored.
    In the third period, Jack made a beautiful pass resulting in a goal, but at the end of the game San Jose had defeated the Canucks, ending their bid for the Stanley Cup. Claire made her way home, hoping that Jack would call but knowing that he wouldn’t. She let herself into her apartment and went to the computer. Might as well hear all the bad news at once.
    The blog was prefaced by a short intro from Randy:
    “Look out for the fireworks! Here’s today’s blog in response to last week’s anti-violence rant.”
    She took a deep breath and started to read.
    “When I was asked to present the opinion of a hockey insider on the issue of violence in professional hockey, I assumed it would be in response to accurate, reasoned arguments...not some irrational drivel plucked from the air.
    First of all, let’s clear something up. Yes, I’m a guy. I like to think I’m a gentleman, but there’s a limit to my patience. As they say in hockey, the gloves are off.
    The anti-blogger has trotted out the same tired old arguments that have been recycled over and over for the last decade. How about getting your facts straight, or is that too much trouble?
    Hockey violence was getting out of hand, I admit that. But the previous sentence is in the past tense for a reason. Does this blogger even follow hockey? To quote him, “I don’t think so”. Anyone who follows hockey would know that the NHL has appointed a new Head of Discipline to review serious infractions.
    The new appointment and the harsher penalties are working, people. Those players acting as enforcers have admitted publicly that they are now approaching the game with renewed thoughtfulness, and that each time they make a hit, they consider the results.
    From an insider’s point of view, this is major, and bears repeating. The enforcers in the game are making a conscious decision to play the game in a more responsible fashion. Are they going to continue to hit, and to protect their star players? Of course, but to a man they speak of restraint.
    Has the anti-blogger spoken of this? No. Why? Could it possibly be to make the anti-blog more sensational? Wait a minute...that would be like fighting to make the game more sensational, wouldn’t it?
    One final thought: Anti-blogger says that the fans have been conditioned to expect fights. An insulting comment if there ever was one, and I take offense on behalf of fans everywhere. Shame on you, anti-blogger. Shame on you.
    NOW, let’s hear what the readers have to say. I look forward to it.”
    Claire slumped back in her office chair, stunned. She felt like she’d been thrown to the wolves. How could Randy have printed this? She read it again, her heart pounding. What had she gotten herself into? She ignored the niggling little voice in the back of her head whispering that there might be something to what the