Guest writer Paul Hennessey says it has to stop, and has some suggestions for cracking down on people who abuse the officials and abuse the sport of hockey.

Editor's note: Pete played for Oklahoma State Univesity. In a game I worked behind the plate (State vs. OU) Pete swung very hard — and broke an aluminum bat! What I'm saying is, I wouldn't want him mad at me. The next time he came up, there was a pitch and I yelled: Two!" He looked at me and said: "Two?" I said: "Yeah, Pete. Too. Too damn low to be a strike."

Now that may not have happened. But if it didn't, it could have.

[Hockey contributor] Tim Renneberg told us his friend Shane complained about how tough officiating baseball can be. Tim professed disbelief. While he didn't actually dismiss Shane as being a lunatic, he offered strong arguments as to why hockey is the hardest sport to officiate.

Having worked four sports, I have a different view. Come inside to see which I think is the toughest.

Note: A glitch in the software prevented us from showing Paul's photo, and a winter holiday kept the CTO from fixing it. Pardon the error, please.

So when people from Europe want to come and visit the "country" on holiday and want to bring their equipment with them, you welcome them with open arms.

We wouldn't accept short cuts in physics class, so why accept them in a hockey referee's clinic. Tim Renneberg really, really wants to know.

Tim Renneberg? Sure, you remember: He's one of our premier hockey writers, back from a long hiatus.