THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Showing an inability to maintain any kind of sustained success, do you see any way this Blues team fights its way into the playoffs this year?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
The Blues could have woke up this morning only three points out of a playoff spot. But after their 3-2 loss to Vancouver, they’re five points out of the eighth spot in the West with 54 points. Either way, the team is not in terrible shape. After 53 games last season, they had 50 points. But that team, of course, had to go 19-6-4 in its final 29 games, including 9-1-1 in the last 11 games, to sneak into the playoffs

Does this Blues’ team have that kind of run left in it? It’s highly unlikely, but then again it was last year, too. The difference this season is that the Blues aren’t on the top of their game like they were at this time last season. True, it was a one-goal loss last night in Vancouver, which has the best home record in the league. But the Blues were terribly inconsistent, like they’ve been most of the season, and that hardly bodes well for a repeat of last year.

DAN O’NEILL
On one hand, given they are five points removed from a playoff spot, given they still have 29 games remaining, it would be silly to say there is no way this team “fights” its way into the playoffs. Of course it can still make the playoffs.

On the other hand, 12 teams in the 15-team conference have more points than the Blues. On the other hand, this team has been unable to sustain any kind of momentum and, to this point, its performance under the new coach — while I like him quite a bit — is not altogether different than its performance under the old coach.

On the other hand, does it matter much if the Blues do make the playoffs?

They fought their way into the playoffs last year only to be swept out in four games. For a number of reasons, some of them tangible, some of them intangible, it just isn’t happening this year, and it won’t happen in the playoffs either.

Nothing represents that better than Erik Johnson’s rush in the closing moments at Vancouver. He skates the length of the ice … beats Roberto Luongo … and the shot hits the under side of the crossbar and caroms out.

The season, in a nutshell.

JEFF GORDON
I am skeptical, to say the least. The challenge is similar to what we saw last season. Climbing past multiple teams is difficult. The Western Conference appears to be more difficult this season — although Calgary’s recent collapse did aid the Blues bid. I’m guessing that Detroit and Anaheim finish out well, which could throw up the roadblock. The Blues will have to win at the same sort of rate they won last year — and that is extremely difficult. This team is one slump away from falling by the wayside. Given the team’s collective lack of firepower, how can they avoid that slump?

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
Sure, there’s a way. They’re 5 points out of the last spot in the West with 29 games remaining and even with last night’s loss they’re 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and they’ve been robbed of points three times since Davis Payne took over, losing three one-goal games directly because of bad calls or non-calls by the referees.

Anaheim scores the game winning goal (with an empty netter following later) after Barrett Jackman gets taken out in front of the Blues net. No call, Ducks score with 2:40 left. Ottawa scores the game winning goal on the power play after a joke of a tripping call on T.J. Oshie. Now last night Vancouver wins on a lame slashing call that doesn’t come until after Henrik Sedin does his best Charlton Heston over-acting routine. I know officiating is an issue teams can’t control but when you have three blown calls (or non-calls in the Jackman case) late in games that lead directly to game-winning goals it’s not unfair or whiny to acknowledge points were lost on those calls. The men in stripes have cost the Blues at least three points in the last couple of weeks.

The Blues need to do a better job on the power play, they need to get outstanding play in net and they need to turn their home record around the rest of the way if they’re going to make it to the playoffs again. It would also be nice if they’re able to get points when they earn them.

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THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Nashville’s come-from-behind shootout victory over the Red Wings Thursday night has made tonight’s Blues-Columbus game all the more important. The Blues need a win. Assuming the Note can pull this one out, who needs to be the team’s three stars tonight and why?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD

Keith Tkachuk: A lot of eyes will be on ‘Big Walt’ tonight, and I am talking about guys in the locker room, not fans. The target of much postseason criticism, Tkachuk must be a leader tonight in a pressure-packed situation. He may not finish with two goals and two assists but his presence better be felt.

T.J. Oshie: You could pick any one of the three kids, but I picked Oshie because of the way the crowd feeds off him. If the “kid line” has success, the Blues will have success.

Chris Mason: Simple … if Mason isn’t one of the Blues’ 3 stars, the team’s chances of winning are tremendously diminished.

BERNIE MIKLASZ

Chris Mason: Do we really need to explain why? The goaltender has been the Blues’ firewall during the team’s comeback charge, starting 31 consecutive games and posting a .916 save percentage through that stretch. He’s 3-1 vs. the Blue Jackets since taking over as STL’s No. 1 goalie. Mason has to be stingy tonight.

David Backes: For as well as he’s played, Backes has missed a chance to really shine against the Blue Jackets this season. He has one goal and is a minus-2 against them in five games. The thing is, Backes has had plenty of scoring opportunities against Columbus; his 17 shots on goal are the most by a Blues player vs. the CBJ this season. Backes has to cash in tonight. When he scores goals, the impact is obvious; the Blues are 15-6-6 this season when they get a goal from their future captain.

Jay McClement: He’s probably the most underrated Blue. Usually assigned to shadow the other team’s top line, McClement has done a fine job of limiting the potential damage inflicted by the top guns. He’s played well against CBJ this season. It’s imperative that the Blues get a stellar performance from the McClement, Alex Steen and B.J. Crombeen checking line.

There’s also that Oshie fellow. Rick Nash has heard of him.

DAN O’NEILL

Chris Mason needs to be the No. 1 star because, bottom line, the Blues can’t win without stout goaltending. Mason bounced back with a good performance against Phoenix, but he has been a little vulnerable to the soft goal in recent games.

T.J. Oshie needs to be the No. 2 star because he simply has been the team’s best player for the past several games. Oshie is the straw the stirs the drink, to put it in Reggie Jackson terms.

Jay McClement needs to be the No. 3 star. The McClement line was the Blues’ best in Phoenix and McClement has been a two-way star down the stretch. He will need to win key faceoffs and keep the Rick Nash-Manny Malhotra line under wraps.

JEFF GORDON

Chris Mason needs to be the first star, obviously. Goaltending is everything at this time of year. Mason sprung a few leaks in recent games, but now it’s time to get into playoff form. This game offers that opportunity.

The atmosphere at Scottrade will be highly charged. Since Barret Jackman figures to be on the ice against Rick Nash much of the night, he needs to be a star.

And T.J. Oshie will have a target on his back, again, so he must be ready to play a great (and alert) game.

TOM TIMMERMANN

Repeating a theme, the Blues can’t have a bad game by Chris Mason. In a game like this, you need your goalie to be your best player.

As for the other two people who need to step up …

A good game for Brad Boyes, who despite having three goals and two assists for the Blues against Columbus is even in plus-minus, would bode well for here and down the line.

And another big game for David Backes would mean he’s staying hot. The Blues caught a break that Columbus clinched its playoff spot the other night. This would be a much tougher game if Columbus was playing to clinch its first playoff spot. Now the Blues will have a big edge in emotion.

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)

I’m not sure if this will be as adventurous as when they actually pick the three stars down at the Scotttrade Center, but I‘ll give it a try.

My gut tells me to pick Cam Janssen only because that would mean he’s in the lineup — but we know that’s not going to happen. The team shouldn’t need him to get the building rocking tonight anyway. With the way the Blues have lacked intensity in the opening period of recent games though, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to throw him in there.

Since he’s excluded here’s my 3 stars for tonight. Maybe a little off the cuff, but c’mon, I can’t be that predictable.

Carlo Colaiacovo: I have a felling this guy will have a strong game tonight and will bury at least one PP goal. He’s rested after sitting out practice yesterday and I know he’s fired up to be in this position. This kid is driven and I expect him to deliver this evening.

Keith Tkachuk: As the leader of the Blues he needs to step up tonight and do just that … Lead! The playoffs are so close to being a reality for this club and I feel it would only be fitting if it was Big Walt who stepped up and had his biggest game of the year in the most important game. Wait, didn’t we say the last game was the most important? And the one before that?

Patrik Berglund: He’s due! The trend as of late is that Berglund shows up big once every four or five nights. Something tells me he’s in for a big game. The Blues will ask the youth to rise up and I have a feeling the Friday Night Lights will shine the brightest on this kid. Wasn’t it Columbus netminder Steve Mason who stole this kid’s Calder Trophy?

Bonus Round … T.J. Oshie gets the Hard Hat!

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)

The first name that comes to mind is Chris Mason. The team’s surge in the standings has directly coincided with his taking over as the #1 goalie, so it is impossible to overstate how important his play is to the team. The Blues need him to come up big again tonight.

You know T.J. Oshie will have a great big bullseye on his back tonight as Rick Nash will certainly try to get some payback for Oshie’s big hits on him in the last two games between these teams. The Blue Jackets might be better off just not going there because Oshie feeds off that kind of stuff. He’ll have a big game on both sides of the ice tonight.

David Backes needs to be the Blues’ version of Rick Nash tonight, providing consistent offensive pressure against Jackets’ goalie Steve Mason and bringing a physical presence, as well. He’s been amazing down the stretch and, like Oshie, he feeds on these big moments.

Columbus can lock up the 6th spot in the West with a win tonight and the Blues can clinch a playoff spot with a win and some help from Minnesota in their game against Nashville, so both teams will be breathing fire when they hit the ice. Game on.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: The Blues are riding a five-game winning streak and currently sit in the eighth and final playoff spot. What do you think the keys to this late-season push have been?

JEREMY RUTHERFORD
You can point to many stats, but in my mind, the Blues are in the eighth spot in the Western Conference today for two reasons:

No. 1 — Preparation: This is Andy Murray’s top trait, and he gets a lot of help from assistants Brad Shaw, Ray Bennett, Rick Wamsley and Scott Masters (video). The Blues go into each game like a high school student taking a test with a cheat sheet. Their detailed preparation gives them a better chance of executing with less talent.

No. 2 — Team chemistry: The Blues have had decent team chemistry the past few seasons, but nothing like this season. The players in the Blues’ locker room genuinely care for each other and each other’s success on the ice. The Blues are one unit taking the ice each night, not 20 talented individuals with varying agendas.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
Obviously, it starts with Chris Mason in goal. The Blues have the NHL’s best winning percentage since Jan. 3 and it’s no coincidence that Mason is No. 1 in the league in save percentage during that time (.925). The Kid Line has been incredibly effective; the star power of T.J. Oshie, David Perron and Patrik Berglund is shining through, just as Blues’ management predicted.

But there are other important factors. Defenseman Jay McKee is a +14 since Jan. 3 and has really stepped up his play. The return of Andy McDonald and defenseman Roman Polak from injuries has been a big help. Defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has sharpened the Blues’ passing out of their zone, and he’s been a positive presence at the point on the power play. And while Brad Boyes is a minus-20 for the season, he’s a +1 since Jan. 3. And Boyes’ timing is good; when he scores a goal the Blues are 9-2 since Jan. 9.

Let’s not forget center Jay McClement, who is playing the best hockey of his career. McClement is often on the ice against the other team’s top line, but since Jan. 3 he’s at even in the plus-minus, is winning more than 50 percent of his faceoffs, and has nine goals and four assists. McClement is probably the team’s most unsung contributor.

And kudos to coach Andy Murray for holding this team together during the blitz of injuries.

JEFF GORDON
No. 1: Goaltending. This has been the team’s Achilles heel for some time. Chris Mason has been awesome. It all starts there.

No. 2: The kids are producing. Patrik Berglund got his second wind. T.J. Oshie is crushing people. David Perron is scoring big goals. The future is bright, yes, but the kids are good right now. Their recent play has been remarkable.

No. 3: The makeshift has held up, against all odds. Mike Weaver is playing great. Jay McKee has made himself a plus. Barret Jackman is holding up against top lines. Roman Polak is showing great poise for a young player. Give all these guys credit for pulling it together.

DAN O’NEILL
The key to any success in hockey starts with, and most heavily depends upon, goaltending. Like pitching in baseball, like quarterbacking in football, goaltending is the cure for any problem, the problem in any cure.

Chris Mason has given up some soft goals of late (follow the bouncing puck), but he has continued to make numerous clutch saves and give the Blues a chance. While Mason plays well, the Blues have to be effective on the power play. Special teams are crucial. For that to happen, they need more frequent contributions from their veterans, i.e. Brad Boyes and Keith Tkachuk.

Last but not least, they need T.J. Oshie and David Perron to keep taking whatever vitamins they have been taking, and share them with the rest of their teammates. They have been terrific over the last couple of weeks.

TOM TIMMERMANN
Chris Mason. 4-0-0 in the past four, 1.72 GAA, .930 save percentage. You can point at some other things, but without Mason, the Blues are cooked. Goalie play is a fickle matter, but you’ve got to give the Blues management credit for farming Manny Legace out and riding Mason. Talk about making the right choice.

KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
The biggest key of all in the Blues’ 5-game winning streak is that every single player on the team is contributing. That’s a little broad in scope, so I’ll narrow it down a bit below, but it is absolutely true. Everyone is pulling their weight.

As Bernie Miklasz noted in his “5 Minutes for Blogging” entry today, the offensive re-emergence of the “Kid Line” has been a driving force in this late-season push. T.J. Oshie has been leading the way with dynamic offensive play, gritty corner work and an amazing physical presence (Paging Mr. Nash, Mr. Rick Nash. Please come pick up your pride at the customer service counter.) Patrik Berglund and David Perron have elevated their games right alongside Oshie and it’s been a thing of beauty to watch.

It should also be pointed out that goalie Chris Mason continues to play at an elite level. Even though he’s not getting any rest, Mason is still carrying the mail. In this 5-game winning streak he’s stopped 126 of 135 shots (.933 save percentage) and made some absolutely huge saves, including in the shootout against Columbus with the game on the line.

Finally, the defensemen need to be recognized for the consistency of their play. They’ve been rolling with the same 6-man unit for a while now and they’re doing a solid job night in and night out. It may be an unofficial St. Louis pastime to find some poor defenseman and nitpick his every move, but right now there isn’t much to complain about.

It’s great to see it all come together, isn’t it?

ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, Team 1380)
There has been an absolute revival of Blues hockey in St. Louis and it has been pretty amazing to get an up-close and personal view of what has taken place. There are several keys that have allowed the Blues to skate their way back into contention.

First off, head coach Andy Murray doesn’t let these guys off the hook when they make a mistake. He holds them accountable and doesn’t allow them to become complacent or satisfied.

Since the turn of the New Year the Blues have been one of the top hockey clubs in the NHL. You can’t be a playoff team in this league without goaltending and quality special teams. The Blues rank in the top ten in both power play and penalty killing percentage. Thanks to the consistent play of goaltender Chris Mason, the Blues also have climbed all the way into the top ten in goals against average. It wasn’t too long ago the team was ranked 26th in the league in GAA.

The team is playing their system almost to a “T.” How good is this team playing defensively? The Blues have done an outstanding job of controlling their scoring chances against. They don’t give up many chances, which allows the team to be in virtually every game. How many odd-man rushes or breakaways do you see the Blues allowing from game to game? (The goal by Antoinne Vermette the other night for Columbus was a player showing incredible explosiveness and beating two guys to a loose puck.)

The Blues have the ability to counter and score better than we’ve seen in recent seasons. When they create a turnover or force a mistake they have skilled players who can make you pay offensively.

The Blues became a bigger team by adding guys like B.J. Crombeen and Brad Winchester and they use their size very well. Management deserves some credit here, as well, for pulling off a two-for-one trade in which they’ve added two professionals in Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. This move was a major turning point for the season.

The bottom line is this team was picked to finish last at the start of the year and have used the underdog role as motivation. Throughout the last 30 games the Blues and coaches have maintained a level headed approach which has their focus where it needs to be.

Did I mention Oshie, Perron, and Berglund?

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Gateway Tech’s Sheldon Richardson, ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 4 high school player in the nation, has already committed to Mizzou but reportedly is still considering an official visit to Miami this weekend. Should a player who has already committed still be visiting other schools?

VAHE GREGORIAN
For whatever reason, the college football culture seems permissive of visits after commitments are made, especially for high-level recruits like Richardson. That said, when somebody gives his word, and in fact gives it a second time as he did, it just seems wrong to take another visit. At some point, your commitment should mean you’ve taken everything else off the table and you mean it, even if it’s not written yet.

STU DURANDO
NCAA rules make this possible, so there’s nothing to stop a recruit from doing it. So it should absolutely be allowed. This happens in dozens of instances every year. The problem is that schools and the media hound these kids for decisions for months and many make announcements when they’re not fully equipped to do so. Another problem is that coaches don’t respect a recruit’s committment and continue to call in hopes of getting him to make a visit. It’s just a part of the grimy side of recruiting.

JEFF GORDON
In an ideal world, a commitment is a commitment. It would be nice if kids — and coaches — stood by their word. But they don’t. The recruiting game is too volatile for that. Since coaches renege all the time (and even pull scholarships from struggling players), I can’t blame a top recruit for keeping his options open until he actually signs on the dotted line.

BRYAN BURWELL
As a former mediocre college athlete who was recruited by Division I, mid-major and Division II schools, I am sympathetic to the difficult task that every 18-year-old kid like Sheldon Richardson is dealing with. I think a lot of times there are outside pressures on these kids to commit to the in-state school even if they don’t want to go there. Often the pressure is so great that some kids figure the best way to deal with it is to make a verbal commitment to the local school and that allows them to then investigate the other schools they might have a genuine interest in. I have no problem with a kid exploring other options after a verbal commitment. It’s too critical a decision to handle, a choice that could affect the rest of a young athlete’s life. So if he or she is having second thoughts about a verbal commitment, I say make sure. Take the extra visit.

KATHLEEN NELSON
They are children. Coaches and fans can fall into the trap of treating a huge talent in a super-sized body as an adult. Deep down — well, pretty close to the surface, actually — the big talents betray themselves as 17- or 18-year-olds. These are big decisions, and we shouldn’t expect teenagers to make adult commitments. Even adults — such as COACHES — don’t stick to their university commitments. And we shouldn’t be surprised if youngsters change their minds.

BILL COATS
In an ideal world, no. Your word should be your bond. But that’s not how it works these days. The bottom line is, this is a big decision and kids should strive to identify the best place for them. If that means more visits after making an oral commitment, so be it.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

GETTING DEFENSIVE: When Barret Jackman first came up with the St. Louis Blues, I think many fans saw a future superstar. Jackman was tough, aggressive, physical and showed some puck-moving abilities. But he also had a couple of other studs playing along the blue line with him (you know who I’m talking about.) Before you know it, Jackman began struggling with injuries and found himself on a bit of an island as some bigger-name players retired or moved on. And he began to hear it from the fans.

Now a veteran at the ripe old age of 27 and wearing an “A” on his sweater, Jackman has come full circle. His play caught my eye early this season … a rejuvenated pep in his step. And as the defensive corps kept losing one player after another to injury, it seemed to me Jackman elevated his game a little more each time. No, he doesn’t brawl as much as he used to (I think that’s a good thing, actually), but he’s got just enough nastiness in him to keep opponents honest. But most importantly, I think he’s just really stepped us as the leader on the defensive end of the ice.

Testing my theory, I asked Blues reporter Jeremy Rutherford to send along the following inquiry to team president John Davidson:

Many fans are seeing Barret Jackman in an all-new light this season. With so many injuries, he’s really seemed to take control in the defensive zone. Can you comment on Jackman’s play this season?

As usual, JR came through. And here’s what JD had to say:

“This is the best I’ve seen (Jackman) play since I’ve been here . . . the most consistent I’ve seen him play. His puck decisions have been better, he knows how to leverage bigger people along the boards and in the corners. I think he’s had a good year.

“He reminds me of a throwback . . . a player who plays hard, plays bigger than what he is, never complains about anything. Gets banged up, bruised up and never misses time. You don’t see him sitting around a medical room. There’s no maintenance to the man. He just a throwback. He’s one of those character people on and off the ice.

“I’m glad he’s played well . . . he’s been given an opportunity this year to have a lot more ice time, a lot more important ice time, and he’s done his part for us.”

– There you have it. Round Two’s observations are confirmed by the team president himself. I jest. But thanks to JR for gathering the info and to JD for taking the time to address the topic.

“CHUCKY” VOWS TO RETURN: In his first public comments since his firing as Tampa Bay head coach, Jon Gruden tells ESPN that he has no doubt he’ll coach again, whether “it’s the NFL, college, high school or, maybe, I’ll just be the best damn flag football coach in the history of Florida. I’m now head of the FFCA — Fired Florida Coaches Association.”

There’s little doubt Gruden will return to an NFL sideline. Coaches who have won Super Bowls (Tampa, 2003) have a way of finding jobs. Especially someone like Gruden, who in 11 seasons as a head coach (4 with Oakland, 7 with Tampa) has had only three teams finish with sub-.500 records.

His NFL coaching record speaks for itself. His relationships with some players, however, not so much. In the ESPN article linked above, former Buccaneer Simeon Rice says Gruden is a “scumbag” who wasn’t truthful with him. And Gruden has a long history of clashing with his QBs.

Nonetheless, Chucky’s return is guaranteed. So that cute, little visor he wears will become vogue once again on an NFL sideline …. somewhere, someday. Man, I hate that visor.

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TENNIS ANYONE?

SERENA TOPS THE LIST: According to Bloomberg News, Serena Williams passed Annika Sorenstam as the top prize money-earner in womens sports history after securing a place in the Australian Open finals that guarantees her a paycheck of $660,000. That would bring Williams total to $22.7 million for her career if she loses, and even more if she collects the $2 million winner’s check. Here’s a look at the top seven money-winners all-time in women’s sports:

1. Serena Williams: $22.7 million (if she loses in finals.)
2. Annika Sorenstam: $22.6 million
3. Lindsay Davenport $22.1 million
4. Venus Williams $22.0 million
5. Steffi Graf $21.9 million
6. Martina Navratilova $21.6 million
7. Martina Hingis $20.1 million
(Sources: Bloomberg News, WTA, LPGA)

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STAT OF THE DAY

39 — The record for fewest NHL games needed to score 50 goals from the start of the season. Wayne Gretzky did it for the Edmonton Oilers in the 1981-82 season. And he did it in grand style, scoring five goals in his 39th game of the season to reach the 50-goal plateau. Gretzky went on to record an NHL-record 92 goals that season. (SOURCE: “Hockey’s Top 100”)

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Of the five current finalists for the Rams head coaching position (Jim Haslett, Steve Spagnuolo, Rex Ryan, Leslie Frazier, Jason Garrett), who would you consider to be the front-runner for the position and why?

JIM THOMAS
Too close to call. General manager Billy Devaney has played his cards very close to the vest during the search process. But if you’re going by who Devaney has known the longest and probably knows the best, it’s Steve Spagnuolo.

BERNIE MIKLASZ
If Steve Spagnuolo wants their job, the Rams should hire him. He’s an excellent motivator who commands respect. He developed as a strategist under Philadelphia defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, the best in the league. And teams that have hired former N.Y. Giants defensive coordinators as their head coach have been pleased with the results: Tom Landry, Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and John Fox all ran the Giants defense before ascending to the head-coach level.

BILL COATS
At this point, I don’t think there is a true front-runner. But I do think Steve Spagnuolo is in a good position, based on his long relationship with Billy Devaney and his strong reputation around the league. He was probably the “hottest” head-coaching candidate when the process began, and he’ll be hard to bypass.

JEFF GORDON
My favorite is Rex Ryan. Unfortunately for the Rams, Ryan appears to top the New York Jets’ wish list — and New York trumps St. Louis. So we’ll see. Jim Haslett sold me on the idea of upgrading the defense and building the offense around Steven Jackson. Ryan could make that happen AND bring fresh eyes to this leadership position. Ryan has more than paid his coaching dues. He has proven he can be a team guy and work within an organizational framework. And yet he has the charisma to rally all the Rams workers and become the new face of this franchise.

BRYAN BURWELL
I would assume based on what public comments we’ve gleaned from GM Billy Devaney that Steve Spagnuolo is the guy. But it’s hard to say what will happen once Spagnuolo gets in the room in Los Angeles.

KATHLEEN NELSON
Steve Spagnuolo. A quick check of headlines showed that “Spagnuolo” popped up far more in our archives than any of the rest since the search began — and he wasn’t even available to talk. He and Devaney go way back, so Devaney has to know that they are on the same page. Plus, he’s finally available. The anticipation has built, as if he’s the last present you open Christmas morning.

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MIDDAY NEWS AND THOUGHTS

THE ROCKET’S RED GLARE: That glare would be the spotlight of a grand jury’s probe into Roger Clemens’ alleged “extensive” use of steroids. According to the New York Daily News, after considering evidence that one source called “overwhelming,” prosecutors are expected to ask the grand jurors to indict the Rocket on perjury charges.

Sure, some of us like to poke fun at Mark McGwire’s testimony before Congress (I did so in this space just yesterday), but McGwire may end up being the smartest of them all when it comes to this whole performance-enhancing mess. His refusal to “talk about the past” may be the one thing that keeps him out of grand jury’s crosshairs … something others such as Barry Bonds and Clemens are finding increasingly harder to do.

THE NEXT BLUES CAPTAIN: Alright, Blues fans, I need some help with a running dialogue I’m having with a friend about who will step up to become the St. Louis Blues next captain. This discussion is not based on any discontent with current captain Eric Brewer, so I’m not interested in another diatribe on that topic. More so, we’re looking a couple years down the line to see which Blue is most likely to personify this team and rise to the challenge of leading the club.

To me, of the guys currently on the ice there are two obvious names in the discussion: T. J. Oshie and Barret Jackman. Oshie’s young and has seen somewhat limited ice time this year due to injuries, but there’s no denying the sheer ability of Furnace Face and the effort he brings to the ice. And don’t discount him just because he’s young. Jonathan Toews is already the captain of the Blackhawks and he won’t be 21 until April. Oshie turned 22 in December. There’s a lot to be said for a guy who brings Oshie’s energy to every shift.

Jackman … remember when he was a budding young defensive star? And remember how his star seemed to fall from grace? Injuries played a large role in Jackman’s downturn in performance in recent seasons, but he has really lifted his play this year while surrounded by a ton of youngsters due to the team’s rash of injuries. And Jackman has become a major presence in the locker room and a stand-up guy with the media. He’s already got the “A” on his jersey, does it make sense he takes the next step?

And now for my darkhorse … David Backes. My appreciation for Backes’ overall game grows more and more as we get into this season. He goes into the corners, he hits as much as any forward in the league and, now … finally … he scores, too. There’s no denying Backes’ presence on the ice. I commend the Blues for stepping up and matching the offer sheet made on Backes this past offseason. Am I out of my mind thinking he could don the “C” someday for this club?

I know it may seem careless to leave Erik Johnson out of this discussion and he may be the obvious choice when the time comes, but for now I’m focusing on guys who are actually on the ice. Still, if you think Johnson’s the man, let me know. I’d really like to hear from fans of the team on which player you think will rise to the top and become the future captain.

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SOMETHING TO PONDER

DO NFL TEAMS REALLY NEED A BAILOUT? The Associated Press is reporting that as one of his final acts, former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt signed off on $25 million in state tax credits for the Kansas City Chiefs to aid in renovations at Arrowhead Stadium and to help subsidize the Chiefs training camp move to Missouri Western State University.

It’s funny how life circumstances can change one’s perspective. I’m such a sports-lover that once upon a time I allowed myself to be pulled along by a ring in my nose in thinking states and cities needed to do whatever possible to keep teams in town. But in our current economy — where many people already have lost their jobs and many pray to hold onto the one’s they’ve got — do our government entities really need to be giving handouts to billionaire owners? Doesn’t the Average Joe already pay enough in admission prices and concession ransom to help professional teams? Do they really need our tax dollars, too?

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STAT OF THE DAY

625 — That’s how many $40,000-a-year jobs could be saved or created with $25 million.