Baseball and Hockey and "Changes"

$local_milb opening day was a rain-out... as in, it's still raining 2.5 hrs after the game was supposed to start. So, opening day is now tomorrow. Maybe it won't rain again.


And, NHL - tonight is, possibly, Mike Modano's last home game as a Dallas Star (possibly as an NHL player). There's one more game for the Stars tomorrow night, then that's it, b/c they're out of the playoffs. (If they're higher than 11th in their conference, I'd be surprised - I haven't checked lately.) If he's planning to retire, he says he's not deciding until sometime in the summer.

This makes me sad. Mike's why I started watching the Stars. He's one of the few players who hasn't moved away from the team the whole time I've been following them. Langenbrunner is in NJ; Nieuwendyk retired; Ludwig retired; Sydor left, came back, left again; Zubov's path is a lot like Sydor's, 'cept he's now retired from the NHL and playing in Russia; Hatcher left for Detroit, then retired... all gone. :( Morrow and Lehtinen are about the only other ones left. Though Nieuwendyk is part of the management staff for Dallas and Ludwig is doing some commentary stuff. =) It's just not the same.

I've been to about eight NHL games - 2 NY Rangers, the rest Stars - so I've gotten to see my boys play (including Gretzky at those 2 Ranger games - why d'you think I went? XD). But with this year - 3 of these guys might not be back next season. (Lehtinen and Turco, along w/ Modano)

I think what makes it harder to deal with is that since the whole 'hullabulloo' between ABC/ESPN and the NHL regarding televising, I haven't been able to watch games like I used to. (online streaming wouldn't have been much help until a year or so ago, b/c we still had dial-up - even radio broadcasts were annoying on dial-up) I want my hockey guys to stick around for a while longer.

The nice thing is, Modano wants to keep working with the Stars organization, so, he likely won't go far. But, I think a lot of what he'll do will depend on whether or not the Stars decide to renew his contract or not.

Gotta wait and see.


minor ETA: I'm better than 1/2-way through Changes... it's really hard to read and watch hockey at the same time... reading and other TV, no problem, reading and hockey? Harder. Why?

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Mike Modano

I love Mike Modano. For so many reasons. After Gretzky, he's the reason I've stayed interested in hockey. He's fast, he's awesome on the face-off and with passing. And hey, the guy can score! #1 American-born hockey player? Yeah, he's got some talent.

He's also just damned good at being a hockey player.

At the American Airlines Center (where the Stars play), during the third period, they played a tribute recapping Modano's career. The arena erupted into applause that lasted for something like three minutes. This included 'hockey applause*' from the Ducks as well as Modano's teammates. Three minutes. (at least)

During this, Modano's sitting on the bench, head down, trying not to fall apart emotionally. He didn't quite make it. He's tough - played in the Stanley Cup finals with a broken wrist - but not that tough. However, remember what I said about him being a damned fine player? Yeah, he takes a minute, then gets on the ice and two shifts later TIES THE GAME! The guy can play. The goal wasn't pretty, but it was beautiful!

Ironically, that goal was sent up for review. The commentators were all 'Are they even gonna answer the phone on the other end on this one?' Potentially Modano's final career goal...


Yeah - I stopped reading my Dresden book to watch this game. That's a feat there. I love Dresden, but Modano playing some fucking awesome hockey? Yeah - trumps. =)


( Back to hockey... end of game stuff after this )

Okay - gotta go finish Changes...









* tapping sticks on the ice or boards

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