Blogs like a girl

Sean Avery

So I just got a text from hockey writer extraordinaire, Tra Myers, that your Dallas Stars had signed Sean Avery to a four-year, $15.5 million deal.

And I love, love, love this signing.

He has a little bit of goofy in him. OK, a lot bit. Guys like him help win Cups because guys like him are willing to do whatever is necessary. Daryl Razor Reaugh and I had a spirited disagreement about Avery's crease antics in his Open Net segment during the playoffs. He declared himself winner. And I think I was robbed because what Avery did (click the link about if you do not know what I am talking about) cracked me up.

And anybody who has a rule changed because of him can not be all bad.

Of course, I also can not wait to interview him to hear all of his Vogue gossip and if he's met Anna Wintour and he can get me an interview.

Question of the Day: The Ax Version

I'll be honest, when an S-T editor called to tell me that Stars GM Doug Armstrong had been fired, the first words to seep from my mouth were untypeable. Even in a blog. I figured he had to be yanking my chain, gigging me into a Stars rant.

He wasn't. Army has been fired. Coach Dave Tippett may very well be next.

I have to admit, I need a little time to process this before I am able to bang down an opinion. Anybody who knows my Star-Telehistory is well aware that I covered this Stars team for a number of years. I have known Army since forever. I also have been a pretty vocal critic of his. Anyway, I will be back, later, with my thoughts on what this means for the Stars. Until then ...

Your turn: Should Army have been fired?

Congrats Mo

While many of you were sleeping or two margaritas in and dancing on barstools at local establishments (OK, maybe this was just my night), one of the truly great athletes and great guys in our town was busy making hockey history in San Jose.

Mike Modano scored a pair of goals to finally break Phil Housley's record for points by an American-born player. And trust me when I say, this meant a lot to Mo. Oh, you might not know this talking to him. His way always has been to downplay with humor, with smart-butt comments, by pretending not to care.

He does, though. He always has.
He loves playing hockey. He loves playing for Dallas even if Dallas has not always loved him back, almost letting him go to Chicago, taking away his "C" and questioning his leadership because he's not a rah-rah guy. Of course, many fail to give him his due simply because he plays hockey. I almost guarantee his milestone becomes an afterthought amid Cowboy this and Mav that and that is a crime.   

So I have a favor to ask. For one day, I do not want to hear any snarking on the ratings or any "Who cares?". In fact, go have a margarita or two and lift your glass for Mo. He'd appreciate the gesture better than most.

Maybe, Nuke LaLoosh had a point

Saying Stars super-star forward Mike Modano has been having a rough season is like saying Britney likes to party. Mo has struggled to score points, had coaches demote him to fourth-line status and just generally has been having a rotten season.

What happened to him Wednesday, against Chicago, at The ACK, has to qualify as rock bottom. A scoring error led to Mo being given an assist on Sergei Zubov's goal and said assist being announced for what appeared to be all 12 fans to hear. Screw-ups like this often happen at hockey games. What turned this into a monumental screw-up was an assist would have meant Mo tied Phil Housley's U.S.-born points mark and said achievement was also announced.

Then unannounced. Oops. Huge oops.

Of course, all of this begs the question: Did marrying Willa Ford (pictured above) this offseason take away Mo's scoring mojo? Did Nuke LaLoosh stumble upon sporting greatness when he banned chicks and activities with them in season in Bull Durham? Or is Mo just starting slow and preparing for a big finish?