The Caps have reached an agreement with Clear Channel Communications to broadcast all 82 Caps games, plus play off games, on Clear Channel Stations – including SportsTalk 980.  I encourage them to respect the NHL, to respect the game of hockey, to love our fans and root for our success.  Dave Pugh – the new general manager of Clear Channel has given me assurances that our partnership will be productive, and that as someone who has just moved here from Detroit, he appreciates the game of hockey.  I believe in him, and this new partnership. 

Kono has retired.  He is what an NHL hockey player should be all about:  determination, grit, leadership, love and respect for the game.  We will all miss him, and his wild-eyed stare.  We all wish him well.

Welcome, Jason Whitlock, a great addition to the AOL Sports team. Whitlock is a smart, passionate voice and someone who will bring straight talk to the fans with accuracy and candor. Enjoy.

Mapquest introduced new draggable maps today and the gold Rush integration is very cool too.

Gotta love Alex Ovechkin, standing up for a teammate in Philly. The Flyers come to DC tonight for another preseason game.

Here is a wonderful story about a very special person.  Joseph Lekuton taught both of my children at the Langley School in McLean.  He is one of a kind – sincere, driven by hope, and I won’t be at all surprised if one day he becomes president of his country.  The world would be a better place if he were.

A cool blog from the Washington Post – it’s true. I read this almost every day, it is well written and celebrates all sports, NOT just the Redskins. Way to go Dan.

Here is a nice article in Sports Illustrated highlighting Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. As I have been saying, for more than a year, the NBA should market Alex and Sidney like they did Larry Bird and Magic Johnson back in the 80′s. These two great players entered the league together and their careers will continue to be intertwined as they play against each other many times in the playoffs. The NHL is fortunate to have two generational stars growing up together.

AOL Pictures is now offering public photo galleries.  Users can continue to share their photos privately, but they can also now share them with anyone on the web.  You can browse the galleries, comment on photos, and even subscribe to other people’s photos.  Check it out.  It’s very cool.  

Like many of you, I was frustrated that I couldn’t watch the game on broadband last night. The vendor in Philadelphia had technical issues and neither Caps fans, nor Flyers fans, got to watch a bruising and fun game.

I did listen to the game on Internet radio and then spoke to people in our organization that were at the game, and it was good to hear that the team is looking fit, tough and playing hard and fast and with purpose. Having young legs and being able to roll four lines will become more and more important in the new NHL. Our young players can really skate, we just lack the experience and team chemistry that will come with time, but I can say that the players aren’t  intimidated by the Flyers anymore. Beating the Flyers in Philly is definitely a morale booster – now we are as big as they are and we have points in 3 of the 4 games we have played this exhibition season. We haven’t had much success in Philly over the last 10 years and I am hopeful the next ten years we turn the tables. Time will tell.