Brethren within the Galleria

One of the drawbacks of fall weekends is knowing that 19 hour workdays await in the name of football, college and pro. It also means there will be a veritable plethora of other events trying to get your attention in North Texas, from NASCAR to hockey to basketball to even soccer...Trying to multitask is a true ability in the A.D.D world of information overload one must subsist in.

I begin by giving multiple kudos to my fellow Dallas Stars friends and fans. I know that when you say Texas, you think football and bright lights and the like. I know that there will never be another sport to so dominate one state like the pigskin does. Too bad...

There is one mighty strong silent majority in the name of a sport that has it's roots in Canada and gets little love in viewership. A sport that I discovered when baseball season ended and I needed something to get my mind out of the mullygrubbing stage.

I discovered that hockey fans are a loyal, rabid, passionate, steeped in tradition bunch. They also have a boatload of stats to sponge up just like baseball. There's always a plan of attack, a strategy. All of this done on ice skates with a weapon called a stick and a puck that is to be put into a net. Once enjoyed live you're hooked!

Saturday there was a Meet and Greet amongst season ticket holders and players at the Dallas Galleria. Despite 90 degree weather and the threat of rain, a huge fan base filled up three floors of the Galleria for an autograph and a photo op with men like Brendan Morrow, Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, and the like.

It took two hours but I finally got Mikey Mo's penmanship and a photo with Stephan Robidas. I then took pics of the rest of the team. Along the way I came across some familiar faces like the Ice Girls, Jeff K, Celena Rae, the Havoc Fanatics, and my favorite Zany Lady, Miss Stephanie!

Much like a union, I am finding hockey fans to be an interesting fraternity for the love of the game and for love of the team. In the last six years I am becoming more and more comfortable getting to know Dallas' finest. This Friday night there will be a new uniform unveiling. I will be dressed to the nines and ready to get up close and personal with my fellow Stars fans. I had a blast on Saturday and wanted to just say 'THANKS!' to those who took the time to speak and hang with me. I await the next six months...

Not sure what was the bigger story this weekend. Tigers dominance on the Golf tour, A Rod's tater slamming road show by day, The return of a well resodded Moss, Randy Moss, with a fine Broadway review in Gotham City, Tony Romo and Eli shooting bullets in a prime time shootout, Auburn losing to Southern Florida, or Michigan again 'Lame Ducked' in the House. Which reminds me...

How many batteries does it take to run a Wolverine?

One Double A :)

I do not expect Terry Glenn back anytime soon. Sam Hurd played well in his absence. Terrell Owens looks healthy. I am impressed at his ability to just suit up and play this year. I believe he will have an amazing 2007 campaign. Tony Romo had mid-season form, and yes I like his swagger. If Dallas can pull off the win in Chicago in two weeks, I may change my tune on their playoff chances. Marion Barber appears to be gaining some swagger.

Adrian Peterson, take a bow! Talk about proving the critics wrong! Neck problems? Tell me where! My Vikes may very well have a fortuitous season awaiting them in 2007. The old school in me remembers the many times Minnesota would start a season strong, then fade at the end. 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985...Odd years...2007...I'll worry later.

It took a long rain delay and some strange events, yet by virtue of having won 12 of 14, the Texas Rangers are now in a tie for third. Now only six games below .500 I believe an 83 win season is do-able, from a 23-42 record back on June 1st. I love it! Poor Kevin Millwood has had more bad luck with rain delays during the first inning. Weird.

I have yet to see the play where Buffalo Bill player Kevin Everett was hit and taken off on a stretcher, perhaps never to play again...Reminded me of what happened to Mike Utley 11/24/91, Darryl Stingley 8/12/78, Todd Hart 25 years ago tomorrow in a game with UCLA-Long Beach State. I will hope for the best. With all the speed and hard hitting befitting the athlete of today, you would think the occurrence would be more common. I hate saying the word paralysis...

Led Zeppelin in 1975 released a double album called 'Physical Graffitti'. One song which I truly enjoy is 'Ten Years Gone'. Tomorrow will be my ten year anniversary of not drinking or drugging. By the grace of a bigger force than I, I live today. That makes me happy. It doesn't mean that life got easier, only easier to be accountable for. For that I am truly grateful. One day at a time. One hour at a time. One minute at a time. Drink all you want. This may finally be the first time I hit a Gentleman's Club and watch my dinner :) Just kidding Mom!

Roger Federer does what he does and makes it look so damn easy. This might be a fun research challenge. Who is most dominant at their sport? Tiger Woods? Roger Federer? Alex Rodriguez? Wayne Gretzky? LeBron James? Happy researching!

Saturday also marked an interesting anniversary. It was in 1974 that Evel Knievel tried to rocket jump the Snake River in Twin Falls Idaho. He missed as his parachute popped open at the start of the launch.

September 8th 2007 was also unique in that it was the only time you got to say 9-8-7 on a given calendar day. This reminds me of a Saturday in 1978, May 6th at 12:34 pm...The ONLY time in my lifetime I could say on a given day 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 (12:34 5/6/78).

Make it a great week friends!

Over and out in Big D

Mr Will