NHL Labor Peace at Last?

Yes the NHL lockout is over....

Oh no, it's not.

That's right, you read me right.  Look, we're all happy (well some of us are anyway) that there is an agreement on the horizon.  At least we want to be.  But let me ask you this--how many times have we been given hope only to be left hanging like a teased and jilted lover?  Yeah, you all know what I'm talking about.

It comes to this--it is NOT over.  Not until all the I's are dotted and the T's crossed.  Not until there's an officially signed agreement that's wet with the ink from the pens of BOTH Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr. Not until a majority of the 700+ members of the NHLPA have officially given their approval.  Not until a damn schedule that works around the NBA, gazillions of concerts, and other such gatherings is meticulously worked out.

And most important of all, this thing damn sure isn't over until I see a man with a striped shirt and an orange armband drop a one inch thick, six ounce disk made of frozen vulcanized rubber at center ice in an official NHL game.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hate to be the one throwing ice water around in a whorehouse, but I will believe it when I finally see it and not one second before.  Much like how Mr. Henry Kissinger once said--peace may be at hand, but it is still not in hand. But assuming we are coming in for a smooth landing, there is one gentleman we NHL fans ought to be thanking. And that's Federal Mediator Scot Beckenbaugh.  The man definitely deserves our undying gratitude for his tireless work. Or at least a new pair of wingtips.