The truth is often unpopular.

Just ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who has taken “a lot of bullets” from fans and players alike, while implementing new safety-related rule changes over the past few seasons.

Its one thing to be ostracized for futility, as pro sports commissioners warrant from time to time. Goodell, on the other hand, should be praised for having the courage to address the player's health, first and foremost, despite the criticism he faces.

Some of the rule changes that have occurred on his watch include: illegal hitting of a defenseless receiver, eliminating helmet to helmet contact, increased fines for flagrant hits, moving the kick-off up to the 35-yard line, and protection of passer rules, aimed at safeguarding the quarterback.

Football fans complain about the rules “pansifying” the game, but after further review (pun intended), the game hasn't changed for the worse. Scoring is up, kickoffs are an adventure, there are still plenty of bone-rattling hits, and the game is just as exciting as ever to watch. Maybe even more so, if you like fast-paced action.

Remember, most of the rule changes are designed to keep players from getting concussed, and today's players are bigger, faster and stronger than they used to be. Changing the rules slightly to reflect this is absolutely the right call.

And while I applaud Goodell's vision for the NFL, the professional sporting world is missing the mark when it comes to another important issue.

Commissioners David Stern (NBA), Bud Selig (MLB), Gary Bettman (NHL) and Goodell are some of the most influential men in sports.

And that's the problem.

They're all men.

There are plenty of accomplished female candidates that should be considered the next time a commissioner's seat becomes available.

I spoke with Dr. Ellen Staurowsky, a professor in Sports Management at Drexel University, and frequent guest on ESPN, last week about the issue, and she hit the nail on the head.

“We're behind the times relative to other professions. It's just not part of our imaginations to think this way.”

Staurowsky offered up an admirable choice as well.

“If the test for a commissioner is longevity and achievement in a particular sport, someone like Kim Ng, senior vice president of Baseball Operations for MLB, would seem to be a viable candidate.”

Ng routinely emerges as a general manager candidate for professional baseball franchises, a position that shockingly, has never been filled by a woman.

With more women viewers watching pro sports than at any time in history, it makes sense for the sporting community to step up to the plate and make this decision sooner rather than later.

Are you listening Major League Baseball owners?

The Avs are beasts against the East

Unfortunately, they play in the Western Conference.

The Avalanche are now 8-1 playing outside of their conference and they've beaten most of the top teams in the east along the way.

Taking care of business in their conference, and more importantly, in their own division, is where the problem lies. The Burgundy and Blue were 1-9 in their division going into last night's game against Minnesota.

The good news: Making the switch to Goaltender Jean Sebastien Giguere appears to be turning their season around for the better.

Jeff Sauer is a longtime western Colorado resident and former Roaring Fork Valley resident. He can be reached at soprisjeff@yahoo.com.