Welcome to the Year of the Mule in the NHL.
All right, perhaps that's a little harsh. Maybe these guys aren't stubborn but, damnit, is it that hard to come to a decision?
First Scott Niedermayer can't make up his mind, pulling a soap-opera routine as dramatic, and almost as lengthy, as season three of The Sopranos.
Then Teemu Selanne tries to upstage his Anaheim teammate before making a splash in his return to the Duck Pond.
And now the so-called Peter Forsberg drama, also known as the Foppa Watch, has pretty well reached the comedic stage.
Hey Peter, allow me to help out - you're special, but you're yesterday's news. We know who you are, but we speak of you in the past tense, like paisley and the bread box. You're Arsenio Hall with a protective cup. Milli Vanilli on skates. Monica Lewinsky holding a stic - oh, never mind, bad analogy.
Make a decision and allow the rest of us to shrug our shoulders and get on with the important part of the hockey season.
I mean, this is well beyond annoying. A news report out of the City of Brotherly Love suggested that the Flyers were loading up on orthotic supplies in anticipation of a Forsberg return.
Define irony.
In the past week or so, Forsberg, like that lucky dude on The Bachelor that gets to choose the hottest of hot babes and shack up for life with her, has been scratching off some pretty sexy names off his list and now, apparently just the Flyers and Avalanche remain. Just when you thought you had this thing pegged, reports over the weekend said the Blackhawks were casting bedroom eyes towards Flop - I mean, Foppa.
There is no doubt Forsberg can still make an impact, however minimal, which must have Flyer fans planning the parade route down Broad Street. Philly is perhaps one significant player away from being in position to make a serious charge this spring, but Forsberg is one hit away from hobbling out of the Wachovia Center and into retirement.
I'm starting to think that Forsberg wants nothing more than to return to Philly but is having some serious doubts as to whether or not that wonky foot of his is going to hold up.
So, yes, the unknown factor in a Forsberg return has plenty of fans waiting on edge, perhaps rightfully so.
But this is getting to be a little much.
Then again, with the dramatic entrances we've witnessed this season, no one should really be surprised.