Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. @kfraserthecall do you think reducing carcillo suspension was right?? I sure dont agree with bettman!! — david grosnick (@dgrosni) June 3, 2014 David:As a man that wears the "stripes" yourself, I am certain you endorse the following statement contained in the Leagues press release following Commissioner Bettmans ruling on the Daniel Carcillo appeal: "The National Hockey League does not and will not, under any circumstances, tolerate or condone the abuse, physical or otherwise, of our on-ice officials. The strict and proper enforcement of Rule 40, therefore, plays a critical role in safeguarding the integrity of the game by maintaining a safe and respectful working environment for our officials." From that release I point to the phrase, "The strict and proper enforcement of Rule 40" as a foundation in rendering a fair verdict in this matter. As such, I personally agree with the Commissioners thoughtful and well laid out decision to revise the initial rule application and relative category that was determined by the game officials from 40.3 (Category ll, not less than ten games) to 40.4 (Category lll not less than three games). For the complete Commissioners opinion, please click here. I maintained a public position from the outset of this incident that a violation under the definition of rule 40.4 (Category lll) had been committed by Daniel Carcillo as he attempted to free himself from the grasp of Linesman Scott Driscoll in an emotionally charged moment. Through the testimony provided by all parties at the appeal hearing the following statement from the Commissioners opinion is most pertinent to his final determination: "Here, Messrs. Carcillo and Driscoll, as well as the NHLPA, agree that he Players application of physical force was solely for the purpose of getting free of Linesman Driscoll. That conclusion is supported by my review of the video footage and by the fact that there was no history of bad blood that would suggest that the Player bore any personal animus against the Linesman that might motivate his actions. I thus conclude that the application of physical force was "solely for the purpose of getting free" of the Official." The agreement by Driscoll in this statement, with regard to Carcillos "purpose", is an important admission of fact in the appeal process and to derail any potential ill feelings from the officiating fraternity that they are not adequately being protected by the League. This, coupled with the fact that Commissioner Bettman recognized Carcillos actions were not "accidental" and more serious than a "push or shove" to properly calibrate Carcillos suspension to six games should satisfy all parties and maintain the strict and proper enforcement of rule 40. By revising this offence to Category lll the suspension could have ranged from three to nine games. With everything taken into account, I support the Commissioners decision to reduce the initial 10-game suspension of Daniel Carcillo to a meaningful six games under the revised category. Jordan Clarkson Jersey .Leicester won 25-21 in a heated European Rugby Champions Cup group match on Sunday.Toulon said on its website on Wednesday that it decided to open an investigation after Leicester complained about the behaviour of prop Martin Castrogiovanni and fullback Delon Armitage. 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Players wrapped themselves in flags from around world, a reminder that the San Antonio Spurs look far beyond the border to build champions, as confetti fell from above. Painfully denied 12 months ago by the Miami Heat, this victory party was worth the wait. "It makes last year OK," Duncan said. The Spurs finished off a dominant run to their fifth NBA championship Sunday night, ending the Heats two-year title reign with a 104-87 victory that wrapped up the series in five games. "We had a great first quarter, but from that point on they were the better team, and thats why theyre the champions in 2014," said LeBron James, who led the Heat with 31 points and 10 rebounds. San Antonio erased an early 16-point deficit and routed Miami for the fourth time in the series, denying the Heats quest for a third straight championship. A year after the Spurs suffered their only loss in six finals appearances -- a heartbreaking seven-game defeat -- they turned the rematch into no match at all. 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The Spurs won four titles in nine years, but hadnt been back on top since 2007, making Foreigners "Feels Like the First Time" an appropriate song choice after the final buzzer. Duncan and Popovich have been here for all of them, and it was the fourth for Parker and Ginobili, who with Duncan are once aagain the reigning the Big Three in the NBA.dddddddddddd Chris Bosh finished with 13 points and Dwyane Wade just 11 on 4-of-12 shooting for the Heat. The painful conclusion to last years NBA Finals served as the fuel for this one, powering the Spurs to a league-best 62-win season and a rematch with Miami -- the first in the finals since Chicago beat Utah in 1997-98. Round 2 went to the Spurs, but both teams have challenges to navigate if there is to be a rubber match. San Antonio will face questions -- as it has for years -- about the age of its core, and whether Duncan, Ginobili and Popovich want to stick around. The Heat will brace for the potential free agency of James, Wade and Bosh, and will need younger, fresher pieces around the three All-Stars if they all stay. But this moment belongs to the Spurs. Playing a methodical, albeit winning, style for many years made San Antonio respected, but never beloved. The Spurs were TV ratings killers, casual viewers finding them not much fun to watch. But Popovich opened up the offence a few years ago, making the Spurs an easy-to-like, tough-to-beat group that thrives on ball movement and 3-point shooting. "You showed the world how beautiful this game is," Commissioner Adam Silver told the Spurs during the postgame award ceremony. A decade and a half after winning their first title in 1999, when Duncan was in his second season, the Spurs remain the NBAs model organization, a small-market team that simply wins big and hardly ever does it with a high draft pick. 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