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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Your territory? Forget about it

CHIEFS

The lead story in The S-R sports section today was sort of loopy.

In a nutshell, the CHL's decision concerning Trevor Lewis is idiotic on about three different levels.

Either the three leagues that make up the CHL have territories or they don't. If they do, then the leagues have to respect them. If they don't, then kids are fair game.

But there was one line in Jeff Bunch's story about the situation that really stood out:

"David Branch, OHL commissioner, is current president of the CHL."

Let me get this right. An OHL team signs a kid from the WHL territory, and the league approves it. Then the league commissioner, who approved it, also is part of the group that hears the appeal.

With rules like that, the Bush Administration could tap every phone in America and Donald Rumsfield could decide the lawsuits.



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