Sports Redux: Shoulders and Skulls

In an ideal world, NHL league disciplinarian Colin Campbell would take a look at the video of Penguin Matt Cooke hitting Bruin Marc Savard on Sunday and acknowledge that such a hit - one that resulted in a Grade 2 concussion and an unclear timeframe for the Bruins playmaker - was one that warranted a suspension. In an ideal world, one of the four officials on the ice would be looking at the part of the ice from whence a puck was just barely fired. In that ideal world, the Bruins wouldn't have to be taking a look at the roster to figure out who they're going to brutalize go after for retaliation when the Penguins make their way to the Garden on March 18.

It appears that we don't live in an ideal world, Campbell isn't an ideal disciplinarian, Cooke's "it was shoulder to shoulder" claim might be taken as fact and Sydney Crosby has reason to be nervous next Thursday.

However, first comes the Maple Leafs...again. (Phil Kessel still sucks, although we're growing increasingly tired of stating this obvious-in-Boston fact.)

The Red Sox brass seemingly decided that the middle of Monday's Red Sox-Cardinals spring training showdown (a 7-6 Boston win that featured three perfect Beckett innings and a Sox no-no going into the seventh) was the perfect time to showcase their commitment to the Remember Lugo Approach, one that's about short contracts. A total of 13 players were signed to one-year deals and, tucked into the list, were names including Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Daniel Bard.