Alright, NHL…I try not to be so critical of you but more often than not, I just don’t get you. I never understood ties, I still don’t understand why you use points rather than wins and losses, and I don’t know why you’re letting your championship series be split between broadcast TV and basic cable.

I know it was tough to get a TV contract for your product, and Versus came through for you. It’s an NBC network, so I get that they’d have the option to broadcast your games on the parent network. Why air games 1 and 2 on NBC and then 3 and 4 switch to Versus? This is not right for your fans, even the casual ones that really just want to see the finals.

The ratings were actually pretty high for game 1, but the series could end in one of the Versus games (obviously, I don’t want this to happen as a Flyers fan). I can’t believe that doesn’t cut into your viewership, and ultimately hurt your league.

I spent some time this season criticizing the performance of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. I was told I owed them an apology, but I’m not sure that’s entirely true.

The Nets were terrible this year. They broke the all time loss record to start a season at 0-18, and were on pace to break the Philadelphia 76ers all-time worst season record of 9-73. They avoided that particular distinction by winning 12 and losing only 70. This is bad, but really is it any different from the Sixers miserable record of 27-55 this year? I don’t think so, both teams lost a lot and their seasons ended right along with everyone else that didn’t make the playoffs.

Considering the way the NBA Draft Lottery works, there was some cynical speculation that the Nets may have aimed for the worst record in the league (but not the worst of all time) in order to pick first. I don’t believe this is the case. I don’t want to think any team would ever really try for this by tanking the entire season. Regardless, that’s not what happened as The Nets will pick 3rd in the Draft. Ironically, the Sixers will choose 2nd just behind the Washington Wizards on June 24th.

The Phillies were scheduled for an inter-league series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Toronto’s Rogers Centre over the last weekend in June. The dates coincide with the G20 summit also hosted in Toronto, and after a lot of back and forth MLB has acquiesced to the City of Toronto’s request to move the game. So now, the Phillies will be playing an away inter-league game in Philadelphia under American League rules.

What does this mean? The Phillies will bat in the top of the inning, and we’ll see a Designated Hitter in the game for the first time ever at Citizen’s Bank Park. This may even be the first time this has ever happened at any National League Field. It’s like everything will be turned upside down! No word yet on whether the Phillies will wear their road uniforms or use the visiting dugout.

Is it the biggest deal in the world? No, although Jeff Francoeur and the Mets may think it is since it gives the Phillies three extra “home” games. No NL East team is within three games of the Phillies record at the moment, and we’ll see if the Mets or any other team is at the end of the season. Regardless, this is one of those bizarre things that I just have to see for myself. Tickets are on sale now.

Before Apple even announced their new iPhone OS and it’s multitasking capabilities, MLB’s AtBat application worked around the issue of keeping things going while using your phone for other tasks. Thanks to Kevin, I discovered that the audio feeds from AtBat can be left running in the background using Safari/Quicktime in the 2010 version of the application. This allowed us to continue our text message conversation while listening to the game.

AtBat was already rocking my world in that I no longer hate day games that I can’t attend. I’ll be able to listen to the next Phillies day game on 4/28 against the Giants while I work. I don’t need to be at my desk checking updates on a computer or within ear shot of my speakers to know what’s going on. I can’t believe I’m this impressed with what is essentially the same technology as AM radio.

Another special treat: there’s currently an ad running in the app that reads “AtBat is the #1 Sports App. Thank you. Enjoy MLB.TV for FREE on 4/24 and 4/25 (BLACKOUT RESTRICTIONS APPLY).” I would never buy an MLB.TV subscription since the blackout restrictions wouldn’t allow me to watch the Phillies, but I’ll check out a free game any time.