Registrierung » Sept. 17, 2000. He got his first hit that

TORONTO -- If the NHL ever chooses to add a second team in Toronto, that expansion franchise has to hope the Maple Leafs Stanley Cup drought continues. Speaking in a hypothetical sense on the topic of a second team in the hockey-mad market, commissioner Gary Bettman said its one thing to consider. "If we decided that we were putting a second team in Ontario, and the year the team was supposed to start, the Leafs won the Cup, that second team wouldnt exist," Bettman said in a conversation with George Stroumboulopoulos at a Canadian Club luncheon. Stroumboulopoulos, the new host of "Hockey Night In Canada" and a self-professed Montreal Canadiens fan, interrupted Bettman to say, "Thats a big hypothetical." Bettman continued: "Thats part of the dynamic because the attention gets diluted, either two ways or three ways, and when you have historically established teams with great histories and traditions, the second team -- even if the first team isnt having tremendous success at the time -- the second team will never quite get the premier coverage." A recent Twitter report by Howard Bloom of Sports Business News said the NHL would expand by four teams, one each in Quebec City, Seattle, Las Vegas and Toronto, by 2017. Bettman took issue with that report, which noted the expansion fees would add up to $1.4 billion, because it "under-priced" what that would be worth. Bettman on Monday reiterated that the NHL has no current plans to undergo a formal expansion process. But expansion was still a hot topic, given the leagues financial success and unbalanced alignment. "What most people say to me is well, theres 16 teams in the East, 14 in the West. Whats wrong with you? Cant you count?" Bettman said. "And I say yes I can count but I also can tell time and we finally have all 16 teams in the Eastern Time Zone in the right place. But you dont expand just to fulfil somebodys notion of symmetry. Its a very important business decision to make, and you do it for the right reasons at the right time." A second team in Toronto, even in the Eastern Time Zone, could theoretically play in the Western Conference for the sake of balance. The Leafs played in the West until the 1998-99 season. But that wouldnt solve every problem. "When you see markets with two teams or three teams, the first team can do pretty well and the second team not as much, even if it has on-ice success, and the third team about the same," Bettman said. One team is always going to be more popular, like the New York Rangers despite trailing the Islanders and New Jersey Devils in Stanley Cups over the past 30-plus years. Asked about territorial exclusivity on the part of the Leafs, Bettman said all it would take to approve any expansion franchise is a three-quarters vote, or 23 of the 30 teams. "Nobody has a veto," Bettman said. Of course the NHL is several steps away from even getting to that point. The league continues to listen to expressions of interest from several markets, but Bettman reiterated there are no current plans to expand. "I know people think I have this list tucked away in a vault with cities lined up," Bettman said. "We dont." "This is an important business decision if youre going to expand. In addition to being one involving a lot of money, its a fundamentally important decision if youre going to do that." Cheap Mike Piazza Jersey . I kind of got a taste of being able to pick a suit with the draft lottery, I went with the bow tie. Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . Head coach Corey Chamblin announced on Monday that Avon Cobourne had been hired as the defending Grey Cup champions new running backs coach. http://www.cheapmetsjerseys.com/?tag=che...martinez-jersey. -- The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Graham Harrell to the active roster from the practice squad and placed tight end Andrew Quarless on injured reserve. Cheap Darryl Strawberry Jersey . While the pair of Spain internationals return, midfielder Xavi Hernandez will not be included in the squad after failing to recover from a muscle strain to his left leg. Cheap Mets Jerseys China . His absence against the Celtics comes a day after he scored 43 points in the Heats 100-96 win at Cleveland.PHILADELPHIA -- Jimmy Rollins passed Mike Schmidt as the Philadelphia Phillies hits leader with 2,235 when he singled leading off the fifth inning Saturday against the Chicago Cubs. Schmidt, a Phillies TV analyst for Sunday games, retrieved Rollins bat after the milestone single to right off right-hander Edwin Jackson. He greeted Rollins with a high-five and hug at first base. The entire Phillies team then came out from the dugout to offer congratulatory hugs and handshakes. Once the Phillies left the field, Schmidt took Rollins hand and held it in the air to the cheers. The pair was then given a standing ovation as fireworks erupted from the large video board in left field. The 35-year-old Rollins received a loud ovation when he came to the plate his first two times up Saturday, but he grounded out to first on the second pitch he saw in the first inning and lined out sharply to first in the second. The switch-hitter led off the fifth batting from the left side and drove Jacksons 3-1 offering sharply into right field for his record-setting hit.dddddddddddd. Rollins was drafted in the second round of the 1996 draft and made his debut with the Phillies on Sept. 17, 2000. He got his first hit that day, a triple off Chuck Smith, at Veterans Stadium. In 15 years with the Phillies, the 5-foot-8 shortstop has won four Gold Gloves, made three All-Star teams and was the 2007 NL MVP. He was a member of the clubs 2008 World Series championship team. Rollins already tops Philadelphias doubles list with 466, and he is in the top 10 of nearly every offensive category in club history. He entered Saturday second in extra-base hits (782), total bases (3,539), games (2,014), at-bats (8,327), and third in steals (435), runs (1,280) and triples (109). Rollins is one of 19 players in major league history with at least 400 doubles, 100 triples and 200 home runs. He is fourth all-time with 46 leadoff homers. ' ' '