Commercial timeout

Just when I had forgotten how obnoxious NHL Center Ice's "Puck Heads" commercial is, DirecTV airs this television version of a toothache during its free preview this week.

It's bad enough that the Center Ice package excludes most pre- and post-game shows (save for Hockey Night in Canada) as well as rerunning games, but to subject existing subscribers to that nonsense runs the risk of further alienating less-than-thrilled customers.

Thank God, though, for the mute button. At least I don't have to listen.