I feel sorry for Chris Chelios. His inability to hang up his skates and retire from the National Hockey League, in my opinion, has tarnished his reputation.

At the ripe old age of 48 years old, Chelios has recently been signed by the Atlanta Thrashers. Hockey fans will always remember the American born defenceman as a two-time Norris trophy winner with the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks.

Nowadays, Chelios is a shadow of his former self and before signing with the Thrashers, was toiling in the minors with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.

There are exceptions however to professional athletes playing well past 40 years old. Athletes like Brett Favre, who at 40 years of age, had one of his best seasons in the National Football League as quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings this past football season. Let's not forget the great Gordie Howe, who at 49 years of age, scored more than 30 goals for the New England Whalers of the now extinct World Hockey Association during the 1978-79 season.

But unfortunately for Chelios, a man who averaged nearly a point-per-game during his prime, will instead, hope he's on the ice for the Thrashers and not a healthy scratch.

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I’m not surprised at what the Slovakia men’s hockey team accomplished at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. This is a team that has last year’s Norris trophy winner on the blueline (Zdeno Chara) and two elite forwards in Marian Gaborik and Marian Hossa. It also had a number of players either playing in the NHL or used to play in the league. This is a hockey country that is on the rise.

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Speaking of the Olympics, anyone watch the closing ceremonies?

Weren’t you touched by the glorified rock concert that took place at the end?

Alternative rock bands Hedley, Simple Plan and singer Avril Lavigne showed the World what Canada is all about.

OK, um . . . what?

I understand Neil Young, I somewhat understand Alanis Morissette and the band Nickelback.

But Simple Plan? Again. Um. . . what?