Hello, Win Column

I was fortunate enough to be at the game last night in some prime seats (dreams do come true). What a game. Mussina and Park were both in control most of the game, but both teams have pretty menacing line-ups. A deflating run against spelled doom, until Hank the Tank bailed out the Rangers and Cordero closed the door with the normal drama. A good time was had by all…

The Rangers bash to a 2-1 win …

Chan Ho with a great outing …Despite walking the #9 man to start the 8th…

Bob,

Don't know if you've seen this. Sorry it's so large.

John Casey

Here is the picture, and please notice the odd sponsor name between the two Rangers:




Hockey looking at options to scoring problems …



Soccer Insider from Star Telegram …

FSN Southwest is scheduled to air a 30 minute pregame show of FC Dallas' new stadium Pizza Hut Park at 8 p.m. Saturday before the match against Real Salt Lake. The special will highlight the 115-acre facility with its 21,193-seat stadium and 17 amateur fields. An FSN camera crew taped interviews at Monday's practice with midfielders Ronnie O'Brien, Simo Valakari and Oscar Pareja and coach Colin Clarke. The special is also scheduled to profile FC Dallas forward Eddie Johnson.

Rosenhaus saves a life …seriously, I guess. But I am suspicious…

Feel-good stories and Drew Rosenhaus usually don't go together, but those very stars aligned Tuesday, and a young boy is alive because of it.

Burwell on why Goodenow must go …

Ratify this deal, then immediately fire the guy who created this awful mess. The NHL Players Association executive director is responsible for putting professional hockey in the marginal position it holds on the American sports landscape, with a huge assist from NHL commissioner Bettman. But while Bettman was merely following the marching orders of a powerful cabal of owners with his bite-your-nose-to-spite-your-face negotiating methods, Goodenow's crime against hockey is more insidious.

He sold the players the worst deal on North American soil since the Native Americans gave up the island of Manhattan for a sack of shiny glass beads. In the history of sports labor battles in America, Goodenow willbe remembered as the captain of hockey's Titanic, guiding his ship of fools on a journey into a sea of obvious disaster.

He kept telling anyone who would listen, "Trust me, there will never be a salary cap!" Goodenow defiantly preached that the only way there would be a salary cap in hockey would be over his dead body.

Well now, let's review the end:

1. They got a salary cap. 2. The players took a 24 percent pay cut on existing contracts. 3. The players lost an entire year's salary.

And for what? Oh yeah, did I mention that the NHL got a salary cap? And how about this little kick in the gut: Remember the offer that was on the table shortly before Bettman pulled the plug on the season? That proposed deal had a salary cap on the table in the neighborhood of $42.5 million.

Now it's a $39 million salary cap.

Heika with a solid timeline of the upcoming days in the NHL …

Stars owner Tom Hicks and Mike Modano's agent, Brian Lawton, said contract length will be the main factor in whether Modano returns to Dallas. Hicks said Modano will be "a great player for the next year or two." The Stars aren't likely to offer more than a two- or three-year deal. Lawton said Modano wants a four- or five-year contract. "If I could have the Mike Modano who won the Stanley Cup in 1999, then we'd sign him in a heartbeat," Hicks said.

Oh, I had no idea how long Modano would be a great player, but Hicks, the old hockey sage, says a year or two. Well, who knows more about the sport of hockey than him?

Liverpool to sign 6’7 Striker Crouch …

Finally, from the man who brought you Baseball Muse (see approved blogs), Brandon Wilson offers a New Rangers Blog ...excellent...