Dear Anwer Man,

What is the deal with players sitting out part of the season and then deciding to sign? Should there be a rule against this or does it harm anything?

Bob (Maryland Heights, MO)

Bopper, we are seeing more and more of this the past couple of seasons. Yours truly has written about Shanahan in the recent past but that is totally different scenario. He isn’t doing this voluntarily. He needs to just lower his price. Who does he think he is? Some hooker who let’s you pay double to go bare back? Sheesh!  To me they are just spoiled brats.

This season it was Mats Sundin dragging his Euro Phruit feet. One week we he’s headed to Montreal, the next it’s he’s a Ranger but oh wait, Vancouver offered his ass $10 million so he’s headed West after the long road trips are over. He finally signed.

Is the guy good? Sure he is. Would I want him on the Blues? Nah, I’ll pass. We already have one bald-o on the team and he’s a goalie. Too many bald dudes and it looks like a pride parade. Not that there is anything wrong with a pride parade. I enjoy them. There is always good food and everyone is really friendly to me. You can’t argue against a good back rub can you?

Last year was saw Scott Neidermeyer and Teemu Selanne sit out because “they just couldn’t decide if they wanted to play”. Bullshit. Yeah, I can see how it would be hard. You know, making all that money to play a game. A game. Oh, and live like a rock star and just have the Pelts jump in line outside of the locker room for a chance to take you for a ride. Boy that would get tiring after a while.

Is it me or does Selanne’s helmet look like someone sat on the front of it with their bare ass? Just makes him look like a jerkoff even more.

The real issue I have with these guys is what sort of message does it send to their teammates? To me it says, “Yeah guys um, I’m not real sure right now. You go ahead and get started and when I think I’m ready I’ll jump in midway through. Good luck for now and take care. Okie dokie?” You what else it tells me if I’m their teammate, “You guys go first. My vagina hurts right now and my breasts are sensitive so I’m going to take a breather.”

The three main guys who have sat out are all top players and leaders on their team. Sitting out doesn’t scream “leadership” so forgive me if I find it easy to lose respect for them. Should there be a rule to block any of this? I don’t think so but there should be an unwritten rule that if you pull a move like this, the team will move on without you.