My 'Other' Sport.

You ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you I am an insanely huge baseball fan, and have been for almost 38 years. In the last ten years I latched onto a second love of sport to take me through the fall and winter months while awaiting the start of a new season. That sport is hockey.

I have Geri to thank/blame for that. Back in 1997, there was always a Thunderbird game to watch at the Key Arena in Seattle. The team was part of the WHL. The Schuh man was good about explaining to me the intangibles that make the sport so special. The playoffs would always be interesting especially when the Portland Winterhawks were the opponent. Having Patrick Marleau and Bret DeCecco as players made the games fun to watch.

2001 I came to Texas and saw my second pro hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres (My first game was in 1985 with the Kings and Jets at the Forum) and my love affair went pro.

One of the many things I find so enjoyable about this sport on ice is the symmetry and ability of lines of players passing a puck around in the hope for a score or a clearing. Add an occasional hard hit and the contradictory sight of this game really grows on you. Poetry and violence.

It is indeed very rare to watch a team score four goals in a game, much less in one quarter, yet that's what the Dallas Stars did on Friday night. Let me tell you, the first two and a half periods appeared very lax to Stars fans. Nothing seemed to work.

In the 53rd minute the Stars would hit paydirt to make the deficit 3-2. 53 seconds later Dallas would tie things up. The Blackhawks (a team that got whomped a year ago 9-1 in Dallas) answered back with another goal two minutes later. It was then in the space of 39 seconds that the Stars would score twice and hang onto a thrilling, unbelievable 5-4 win! In that 4th period alone Modano, Ribeiro, Morrow, and Boucher came alive and attacked the net with ferocity.

The Stars advance to 6-1 in this young season with a roadie at Phoenix later today before returning to play three against the Canucks, Red Wings, and Kings next week. Screw the Cowboys, my ticker is onto the pulse of what might very well be a very special season in Dallas.

I am more interested in who the last team was to host and All-Star game AND win the Stanley Cup in the same year. I am guessing it was back in the days of the 'Original Six'. Geri, wherever you are, thanks for that initial invite 2/11/97.

PS- Note to that idiot store clerk who wanted to get away with boasting of a terrorist plot at football stadiums. You mentioned all the stadiums that were to be attacked. Which would have been fine except you mentioned one city-New York! Earth to hoaxster: The Jets left Shea Stadium in 1983, and the Giants left Shea in 1975!!! That was when I knew we were dealing with a dumb cheesehead who no doubt still lives at home with Mommy. Beware your Wisconsin grocer...

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will