Observations….

. Could there be a better venue for a high school basketball tournament than the Bangor Auditorium? I think not. It’s old and the bleacher seats are uncomfortable but they’ve made some noteworthy improvements and you simply can’t beat the atmosphere. The fans are right on top of you. It’s like playing in a fish bowl. It must be an adrenaline rush to burst onto the court for pregame warmups.

. Blame it on my hockey mentality but why must a foul be called when there is incidental contact and no advantage is gained? Can’t referees wait a split-second like they do in soccer? In soccer, if a foul is committed but the team with possession of the ball maintains possession, play is allowed to continue. There would certainly have to be some modifications to that thought process in basketball involving the severity of the foul but it’s worth contemplating. If I’m trying to steal the ball and give the ball-handler a slight shoulder bump which doesn’t even impact the dribble, why must that be whistled?

. Has it donned on you that the University of Maine’s men’s hockey team and the Boston Bruins have a lot in common? Both can beat anybody on a given night but both can lose to anybody, also. The goaltending can be spectacular but it can also be suspect. Each team has a very tall defenseman: Boston’s Zdeno Chara is 6-foot-9 while Maine’s Simon Danis-Pepin is 6-7. Each team has some explosive forwards but they will have games when they aren’t able to finish and wind up losing a game they should have won. Each team has had games when they haven’t taken care of the defensive end of things and have suffered an embarrassing loss. The difference is that if the playoffs started today, Maine would be in the NCAA Tournament but the Bruins wouldn’t make the NHL playoffs. But that could change.

. Winslow’s Black Raiders will certainly have a say in matters but Orono and Brewer could be on a collision course for the Eastern Maine Class B hockey championship. If that happens, it would be a dandy. Orono’s top line of seniors Tony Raymond, Chris McConnon and Sean Babin is one of the best in recent memory. It is a dynamic, highly skilled line that can also be physical if need be. It can transition you to death. The Witches counter with forwards like the energetic and talented Reid McLaughlin, sniper Dylan Fitzpatrick and two-way standout Prentiss Swett. Both teams have good second lines and resourceful third lines along with a steady defense corps and reliable goaltenders.

. Could there have been a better way to open the Nextel Cup season than the Daytona 500 on Sunday? Mark Martin was certainly the sentimental favorite but Kevin Harvick certainly earned the razor-thin win with his dramatic surge at the end. That helped erase the embarrassment of the multiple suspensions for cheating but NASCAR needs to continue to scrutinize its teams. There’s an awful lot of sponsor money hinging on performance and teams will certainly push the envelope to be successful and lock up sponsors.

. It’s time to look into a shot clock for high school basketball. There is nothing more frustrating in sports than watching a team spread the floor and play keep-away while protecting a lead. I realize there will be an expense involved and you’ll have to find somebody to run the lock but it’s well worth it.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.