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Rick It was learned on Wednesday that former Flyers star and current Phoenix Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet could be in some hot water with both the NHL and the New Jersey State Police, after authorities busted a sports gambling ring he helped finance. According to authorities, Operation Slap Shot (real creative title there guys, I guess Operation Icing and Operation Crosscheck were both already taken) uncovered a sports betting system that processed more than 1,000 wagers with a total of about $1.7 million on professional and collegiate sporting events during a 40-day period. Tocchet has been identified as a partner and financier of the ring (along with a New Jersey state trooper), and State Police also say that "Police Academy 5" star and wife of Wayne Gretzky, Janet Jones, placed bets for players on the Coyotes.

No one involved has been accused of betting on hockey games, by the way. All bets were made on sports other than the NHL. So, were not talking about NHL players placing bets on their own games, like Pete Rose did. Still, this could be a major scandal for the NHL. Perhaps even more shocking to me was the fact that I had no idea that Rick Tocchet was still in the NHL! Did you know he was a coach on the Coyotes? And did you know that he and Wayne Gretzky, the Coyotes head coach, were BFFs? It got me to thinking with Tocchet turning to the gambling industry following his playing career (with a little coaching mixed in), what jobs do you think some ex-Flyers may be pursuing now that their playing career is finished, and what jobs do you think some current Flyers may pursue when they hang up the skates?

(Cue the dream sequence sound effects and graphics)

Mike Bullard Dentist (if anyone knows about dental work, it would be ol Gappy)
Tim Kerr Hunchback (years of back problems)
Dominic Roussel Motivational Speaker (centering around teamwork)
Ron Hextall Anger Management Coach (because he always kept a cool head)
Brian Propp Anything but a radio color analyst (damn, too late)
Peter Zezel Teen Magazine Editor (hell, he appeared in enough of those things anyway)
Eric Lindros Mafia Hit Man (fuhgeddaboutit)
Billy Tibbets Unemployed (its hard for a rapist to find a good job nowadays)
Kjell Samuelson Lumberjack (obviously)
Keith Primeau Lets just have Keith be able to run on a treadmill for 10 minutes without falling over before we give the guy a job
Chris Gratton Not sure exactly, but I do know that hed get a promotion then crumble under the pressure of higher expectations
Chris Therien First things first. Lets just get the guy to retire first and then we can figure out a job for him. RETIRE CHRIS!
Garth Snow Sofa Maker (hey, the guy likes padding)
Donald Brashear Professional Swimmer (just like the NHL, hed be the only black guy out there)

Those are just a few. And hey, lets make this interactive. Make sure to click on the forums link, reply to this column and add a couple of your own! You can use any current or former Flyer. Maybe theyll check in sometime if theyre low on ideas or worried about what theyre going to do when they decide to retire. In the end, theyll thank us.

In the meantime, Tocchet is expected to be arraigned within the next 7-10 days and will most likely be suspended by the NHL for his role in the gambling ring. And Rick, if you do end up having to do a little time in the pokey, tell Billy Tibbets we all said hello.

The Winter Olympics....

Once again the fishing world has been ignored.

As I sit watching a spine tingling, heart thumping, always tension packed Olympic Curling event competition, I can't help but wonder why a fishing event has never been represented in the Olympics.

What are they trying to say?

Are they saying that there is no athletic prowess involved when trying to flick a #12 Adams to a 20 inch ring created by the kiss of an 18 inch Rainbow trout!

Is the firing of a high powered rifle after skiing around on a pair of wooden planks any more demanding than fording a riffle packed stream and tossing a chunk of powerbait deftly into the "honeyhole" pocket containing an 8 inch stocker?

I see no difference.

But then I'm an idiot.

Or am I? Let's at least take a look at some future options for the winter Olympics, that can finally give the fisherman his due when it comes to skill and athleticism....

1) What event shows stamina and grit more than ice fishing? I propose a winter Olympic event that is comprised of ice fishing. In this event, contestants will be timed on their ability to saw a hole in 8 to 10 inches of a frozen lake surface, run in sneakers across the frozen ice to a designated staging area where they will grab up a rod, and stool, and sprint back across the ice to the open hole, bait up, and sit for hours in a fierce northern wind. The athlete then will hopefully, eventually catch a fish, pull his fish from the ice hole, drop it in a bucket, and sprint again across the ice, into a 1975 Ford pick- up truck, drive across the finish line to the cheers, flag waving,and cow bell jingling of his fellow countrymen.

More challenges? Perhaps a couple of fellas name Swen and Ole can sit across from the contestant and constantly be throwing a verbal barrage of "You Betcha's" and "Don't ya know's" at the athlete, as he or she agonizingly attempts to coax a fish out of the water.

Talk about grit!!

Of course the Norwegian contingent might not have a problem with this and be at a decided advantage.HOW do you say "you betcha" in Norwegian anyway?

We will all watch as the hole starts to skim over with ice,and the athlete frantically chips away at the hole to keep it ice free.All the while precious time clicks away as the fish only nibbles at the bait.

They can even hold this event indoors at the Olympic Hockey or Figure Skating venues. It might even make the hockey games more interesting with a few holes in the ice, and figure skating?PLEASE... a double axle into a gaping hole in the ice will add more excitement than Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan living in the same trailer park. Or they can leave a few frozen fish on the ice to help add to the Olympic ambiance.

The events could also easily be held as a "two man" competition with one athlete fishing, while the other builds an ice shack.

If the extreme thrill of the Downhill is your cup a tea, imagine if they hold the event on thin melting ice. The now famous runs of Franz Klammer and Hermann Maier will pale in comparison to the crackling of ice beneath the ice fisherman's stool as he scrambles for shore before disappearing into the frigid waters.

Talk about the agony of defeat....

2)Boat Slalom. Never mind the luge, bobsled, or skeleton(which at first glance appear to require the two major athletic skills of courage and alcohol), try standing up in a drift boat while running a classIV rapid with a 40 pound salmon stripping line off of your reel, hell bent for return to the ocean. Yes, athletes in ten layers of clothing including the mandatory flannel outer jacket, will try to stay afoot while "the driver" navigates the boulder choked channel of a stream. Not only are the contestants timed in this event, but style points are given for the degree of difficulty the athlete shows while doing "gunnel grabs", "spins", and the ever popular "aerials". Throw in a number of slalom gates, and you have the making of an event made for television. Fall in or lose your salmon, and it's sorry Charlie--see you in four years.

"OOOHHH, tough break Vern--Elwood has been training all his life for this moment, and to see it all go overboard in one instant is heartbreaking...."

3) No offense to our Canadian friends north of the border, but --CURLING!!! CURLING!! A combination of bowling on ice and a group of shop keepers trying to keep the storefront spiffy.

Gawd, the winters must be awful up there.

Outside of the obvious "sex appeal"of the Olympic Curlingevents, the only thing more thrilling would be to watch Dick Cheney go quail hunting.

But, given that there is a place on the podium for chiseled curling athletes, I'm sure we could find a spot for the skilled athleticism of the Winter Fly Tying Team !This event would obviously be dominated by the American squad, which has trained year round in a meat locker in Detroit. Size #28 midge after miserable size #28 midge, the Americans have relentlessly been training, by tying these little buggers to 8x tippet--in a meat locker kept at 14 degrees below zero.

That's minus 26 celsius for our European competitors.

There at the Olympic Fly Tying arena, in frigid weather, teams of fly tiers will take to the vice, and tie up various flys. We will watch pained expressions and complete intense concentration as athletes try to get their fingers to work in the icy cold. We will hold our breath as they try to get the hackle and dubbing just right. Precious time will tick away as they blow on their hands, and we watch split screen images of just where the Olympic hopefuls lost time along the way.

Of course,in this two day event, athletes will be judged on speed, style,difficulty, and the ability to catch and release fish.

So, here's to the athletes of the XX th Olympiad, and I will see you fishing rod in hand, in Vancouver in 2010.

Water filters. Pretty simple concept, right? Turn on your tap, let the dirty water run through the filter and into your glass goes some nice clean contaminant free water. And in theory it is a simple process. Unfortunately picking a water filter is not so simple as their are many different ways to filter your water and many different types of filters to filter your water with. So which ones are best? The answer to that question is probably eternally elusive but at least in this article we're going to review some of the different types of filters that there are so you can make an informed decision.

Probably the most common water filters are charcoal. The charcoal is actually gotten from coconut husk. The charcoal absorbs the impurities out of the water. Charcoal water filters make up about 95% of all the water filters in use. The reason is because they are simple to install, relatively cheap and remove most of the toxins found in the water. An average charcoal filter will last between 6 and 9 months before it has to be replaced. Some charcoal filters are enhanced by the use of silver which gives you extra antibacterial protection. Charcoal filters are probably the best buy for the money.

Not quite as common are what are called reverse osmosis water filters. These filters use a fine membrane to filter the water through an osmotic process. These filters, unlike charcoal filters, take everything out of the water, leaving them totally pure. These filters are installed under your sink and require a serviceman to come out every few months to install a new membrane. There is some debate as to how beneficial these filters really are since they also take all the good minerals out of the water as well.

Another type of water filter is the distiller water filter. These filters use electricity to heat the water to its boiling point. The impurities are left in the boiling container and then the purified condensed water drains back into a clean container. These filters require an enormous amount of power and don't give an immediate supply because the boiling process must be completed first. There are reports that claim that distilled water is not good to drink long term because it actually takes nutrients from your body because of the unnaturalness of the water.

Then there are ionized water filters. Ionized water is water that has been electronically altered by being run over by positive and negative electrodes. The water then becomes ionized by separating the water and the minerals in it into alkaline and acidic water. You end up with 70% alkaline water and 30% acidic water. Both waters have excellent properties. The alkaline ionized water is used for drinking and is a great antitoxin for the body. Acidic ionized water is used primarily for bathing and is supposed to be very good for killing bacteria.

In our next article we'll go over some additional types of water filter and treatment systems.

When people commit crimes, the government seizes their property associated with the commission of the crimes. This means the government seized property becomes auction goods for the general public to bid on. At a government seized property auction, property can include the following:

VEHICLES:

The most common government seized property auction is easily vehicles. Luxury cars, SUVs, pickup trucks even boats, RVs, ATVs, snowmobiles and motorcycles are government seized auction property available in your area. Since vehicles have a documented value you can check against the Kelley Blue Book, it is easy to calculate your savings when bidding on this type of government seized auction property. Be sure to check out government seized auction vehicles in your area.

REAL ESTATE:

Drug dealers and tax cheats have to live somewhere too, right? Some of the most expensive government seized auction property available for sale is real estate. Vacant land, cabin getaways, suburban houses and mansions are some of the private use real estate available at government seized auctions. Commercial property can include car dealerships and customization shops, restaurants, ranches, retail space, and anything else you can imagine. Government seized auction property often sell far below fair market value. For more information about government seized auction property inside with DEAauctions.com.

HOUSEHOLD HOODS AND FURNITURE:

All those criminals have things they no longer need when they go to jail. You can buy their government seized auction property for pennies on the dollar. Area rugs, appliances, bedroom and living room sets are all government seized auction property you can bid on. Big-screen TVs, video games and pool tables are some of the recreation property available at government auctions. Make crime pay for you! Click here for your helpful hints to bidding at government seized property auctions near you.

ANTIQUES AND FINE ART:

If you like antiques and fine art, but your budget doesnt allow you to indulge this pastime, government seized property auctions were madefor you! Oriental rugs, listed painters, sculptures, Chippendale furniture, Stickley and Tiffany glass could be yours for Martha Stewart Living prices! Government seized auction property includes art and antiques you may not be able to otherwise afford. Be sure to find bargain priced art and antiques at a government auction near you.

DESIGNER CLOTHES AND JEWELRY:

The fabulous designer duds once donned by people now wearing orange jumpsuits everyday can be had for unbelievably low prices. Government seized auction property includes some of the best name brands on the market today. Versace. Prada. Burberry. Vera Wang. Ralph Lauren. Nautica. Jewelry by Tiffany, Harry Winston, Bulgari, and Cartier can all be yours at government seized property auctions. Dont hesitate click here for more information about government seized property auctions near you.

DIRECT ACCESS TO THE MOST COMPLETE INFORMATION

Some of the more common auction items include:

used autos marine vehicles jet skis aircrafts homes real estate commercial property farm equipment industrial business electronics computers antiques art coins stamps appliances guns travel collectibles clothing crafts boats bikes motorcycles mobile homes jewelry toys cars trucks mopeds bicycles cameras televisions clocks furniture unclaimed property abandoned property personal property office furniture condominiums town homes commercial property vacant land single family homes machinery tools hardware building suppliesand much, much more...