NHL labor situation? Just get it resolved, guys

Just wondering:Do NHL owners know what they'll be up against when they finally settle in to negotiate a new collective-bargaining agreement and there across the table sits #8230; Donald Fehr.NHL players:How happy are they to have a guy negotiating for them who during his tenure with the MLB players union saw average salaries rise from just less than $300,000 to just more than $3.4 million?NHL fans:How happy are they to hear Fehr say that the season could start even without a labor deal in place?Make it happen ... or else:It could get a little ugly, but here's hoping they can work something out because the league cannot, cannot afford another work stoppage.BTW:Am I the only one who thinks the Blackhawks are going to make a big splash in the next few weeks?Ridicu-List:Tim Tebow is ranked as one of the NFL Network's top 100 players in 2012.Jay Cutler isn't.And this was voted on by NFL players?!Marve-List:Jim Thome homers to tie Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the all-time home run list with 609.The best part is that it won't be long now before Thome passes him by.Bring your Sox to K.C.:Just how many White Sox players should be on the all-star team?I'm thinking you can make a real good case for four, at least, including one lanky lefty and a certain first baseman by the name of Paulie.Meanwhile on the North Side:It looks like Steve Swisher will be the lone Cubs representative #8230; again.This is jeopardy:If Jeff Samardzija is the answer, I don't want to know the question.Speaking of which:Good luck to Alex Trebek during his recovery from a mild heart attack.What is get well soon?Random observation:After a couple of days spent golfing last week, I've come to the conclusion that if we're really serious about curbing violence in our society, everyone should dress in golf clothes.It's simply impossible to look or act like a tough guy in a polo shirt and khakis.With the 29th pick ...:The Chicago Bulls select a player who probably won't be of much help next season, but hopefully will be down the road.The Rizz Kid?:If Anthony Rizzo played for the White Sox and was just called up from the minors, what nickname would Hawk christen him with?Seeing the light:With extreme heat now blanketing them, officials at Churchill Downs in Kentucky opted to run their final three race cards at night instead of during the heat of the day.That's good for everyone involved.Gee ...:Wouldn't it be sweet if a certain local racetrack had the option to do the same, if need be?Good summer reading:Veteran local trainer Christine Janks has written a very interesting, angry and thought-provoking piece on the use of illegal drugs in thoroughbred racing.Check it out at the paulickreport.com. Yeah, that was great:Remember that one time when athletes, particularly baseball players, at least tried to make a pie to the face resemble an actual pie?Now it's just shaving cream on a towel.Mmm, shaving cream on a towel.And finally, a question for PBS:Just how many tenors are there, and do they all get their own specials during pledge programming?