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The former face of the Dallas Stars Mike Modano.
The Stars produced video tributes. People flew from all over North America to be a part of Mike’s final games. Hockey pundits lavished praise upon the career of America’s greatest scorer. The problem is, Mike Modano wasn’t and isn’t ready to retire.
Now, what does an organization do when they are ready to turn a corner, but the face of their franchise isn’t? According to GM Joe Nieuwendyk, you don’t even offer the player a contract.
Legions of Dallas Stars and Mike Modano fans have taken to the talk radio airwaves and the Internet to voice their displeasure about the organization’s decision. You see, in the South, we’ve been brought up with better manners than that. Up North, you can get away with letting a Saku Koivu (or any other player that has spent his entire career with one team) go. But with Modano … this one is going to hurt.
Mike Modano's good looks, easy charm and incredible play helped sell hockey in Texas.
As for me, I had hoped Mike would retire. Not because he doesn’t still have more hockey in him, but because I felt, in some ways, the Stars needed to move on, both on and off the ice. I’m also someone who hates seeing an athlete’s skill diminish as he struggles to keep up with the game he has played all of his life.
Sadly, few remember how feared Chris Chelios was. New York Rangers fans watched Mark Messier become a shadow of the player he had been. Even beloved Vancouverite Trevor Linden was a healthy scratch many times during his final season.
Mike Modano is my favorite player. He took that position the very first time I saw him skate. (Sorry Neal Broten!) I’ve watched him his entire career, even when he didn’t have his familiar No. 9 on the back of his sweater. As he and I take on different roles for the first time in more than 20 years, I hope he goes somewhere that will make him happy once again. You could see his frustration last season at how he was being utilized; and when Mike isn’t happy, he doesn’t play as well.
So, Mike, as you embark on this new chapter in your career, I wish you nothing but clean, fast ice … and may your jersey forever flap behind you!
(But please … land out East!)
Photos: Mike Modano from mikemodano.com.
Very well said. Though I wish that the Stars had somehow found a way to keep him here, I wish him the best wherever he goes! He’s a class act, he’s done more for ice hockey in this state than anyone ever believed possible. I’ll miss him and that little motorcycle kick he uses to hit that burst of speed!!!!!!!! Wherever he ends up, I just want him to be happy, healthy and win!!!!!!
Excellent Susan. You’re extremely lucky to have been able to see him in Minnesota and then follow him to Dallas. I now want him to retire aswell. Cant imagine him wearing another uniform. But if he ends up somewhere esle, then if I see him happy and healthy,loving the game, and winning, then it may ease the pain. This one definitely hurts though. The first dagger was when the team had to move. That wound has healed fairly nicely. But now it’s re-opened. Bigtime. And its sure to leave a nasty scar.
Great post! It is hard to imagine Modano in any uniform other than the Stars. Though I’m not a Detroit fan, seems like it would be a good place for him to end his career if he is not ready to hang up the skates yet.
Strange. And here I though he *had* retired. That’s very, very interesting. But it seems like it’s business these days. No alliances, no obligations, no loyalty.
M2 is awesome. But look what they did to Emmitt Smith — kicked him to the curb when the Cowboys were through with him. No loyalty to another one of Big D’s true greats.
As someone who’s favorite player ever is one you mentioned (who is no longer the nastiest SOB around, but instead that nice old man), I speak from experience when I say that I really hope you don’t have to watch Mike diminish that far. Everyone says that it’s the players choice and that as a fan you should just shut up, but that’s crap. I wish Jordan: The Wizard Years never happened. I wish I never had to see Brian Boitano fall at the ’94 Olympics. I wish Chelios had gone out like Neidermayer. I wish there weren’t times I was jealous as hell of fans who’s players went out at the top.
Mike Modano did so much for hockey in Texas, as have the Dallas Stars. Without Modano and the Stars my old high school certainly wouldn’t have a hockey team. It’s really bittersweet when an athlete gets to this point in his or her career. Larry Bird always comes to mind for me. Constant back problems took him from this incredible, other-worldly level of b-ball to run-of-the-mill. It’s sad when you stay too long at a party in retrospect, but while you’re there, you just want the good times to keep rolling. With a guy like Modano, he’s earned whatever choice he makes. More power to him.
(Someone above mentioned Emmit Smith, I am still mad at Dallas for doing him wrong.)