Notes from Big D

Thanks to Brett Favre, Cowboys' training camp, and the Texas Rangers actually still in the playoff hunt, there is very little news about the STARS to report!

According to Mike Heika from the Dallas Morning News ... Les Jackson has told him that the STARS will not contact Mark Parrish about playing for Dallas this season. Apparently they are too close to the cap and they have full confidence in the youth. However, according to the numbers, it appears the STARS have nearly $2-million left in cap space and Parrish would make around $750,000. As I have said for the last several years ... the STARS still need one more scoring winger. Parrish could fill that role. Surely some sort of deal could be worked out. Furthermore, I'm certain Parrish would be flexible considering this club looks to make a good run at the Cup.

Sean Avery was introduced to the Dallas fans yesterday as he threw out the opening pitch at the Rangers' game. It was fitting that the Rangers were playing the New York Yankees. Brendan Morrow and Marty Turco joined Avery on the field, letting us know that the past is the past and this team is looking to loftier heights.

Some games of note for your Dallas STARS this season:

*Opening Night vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

*October 18 vs. Colorado Avalanche :: let the rivalry renew itself!

*October 20-23 :: the New York road trip :: STARS play Rangers, Devils, & Islanders

*October 25 vs. Washington Capitals :: OV comes to town

*November 8 at San Jose Sharks :: this could be an extremely feisty series this year considering the last couple of months last season

*December 12 vs. the hated Detroit Red Wings :: Western Conference Finals Rematch :: the NHL must think this is long enough for Morrow to forget about Draper's cross-check to his mouth!

*New Year's Eve vs. New Jersey Devils :: the Hullenium will never be forgotten!

*January 19 at Tampa Bay Lightening :: Brad Richards goes home to face the completely revamped Bolts

*January 25 NHL All-Star Game in Montreal

*March 1 vs. Pittsburgh Penguins :: Sid the Kid and Evgeni Malkin

*March 8 vs. Montreal Canadiens :: Guy's back in town

*April 7-10 :: STARS wrap up the season on a 3-game road trip vs. Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Anaheim Ducks

GO STARS!!!

Dave Tippett Extended and a Classic Mid-Summer Classic!

The STARS rewarded Dave Tippett with a well-deserved 2-year extension, locking him up through the 2010-2011 season. Tip has one of the best, if not the best, regular season winning percentages of any coach in history. Under his guidance the STARS have been to the playoffs every year, and 2 wins from the Stanley Cup Finals last season. Tippett's success with the STARS parallels that of goalie Marty Turco's. Turco's first season as the starting goalie was Tip's first season as the head coach. Where Turco goes, Tip goes ... except Turco, for the most part, has no chance of being moved. Though well-deserved and a nice gesture, by no means is Tippett's job secure! The bar has been set really high again and with Mr. Hull in command, that's where it will stay.

GO STARS!!!

Switching to baseball for a moment ... what an incredible All-Star game that was last night! With the Rangers winning a little more this year, and the tremendous story of Josh Hamilton ... I've been a little more inclined to tune in lately. When's the last time a little Ranger, from Texas, stole the hearts of 56,000 New Yorker's! There was not a cooler moment than during the home run derby ... when those die-hard Yankee fans were chanting HAM-IL-TON, HAM-IL-TON, HAM-IL-TON! I was actually proud to be a Rangers' fan! 3 other Rangers played in the game: Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, and Milton Bradley. Young had the game-winning sacrifice fly, scoring Morneau from third base on a VERY close play at the plate; one of multiple close plays at the plate. I've never seen so many defensive gems in one game. Double plays, incredible short-hop grabs, outfield assists, and likely the best game-saving inning ever. Though it delayed the inevitable, getting past the 10th inning was almost miraculous. Bases loaded, no outs, consecutive errors ... no way this game was not over. Not only did the NL get the outs, but the first 2 came at home plate and the last one was an unbelievable individual play by Miguel Tejada. Without question it was the best baseball All-Star game I've ever watched. It certainly helped fill the massive void of no hockey! I'm on the Josh Hamilton and Texas Rangers' band-wagon.

GO RANGERS!!!

Avery a STAR? Okay for now . . .

I dislike the guy with a passion ... but I'm willing to give him a chance. The fact that he will be wearing green and white makes the past irrelevant, at least for now. We all know he can play the game well; he simply has to keep his mouth to a minimum. I think with Morrow in command and Hull's guidance from above, Avery can be an excellent addition to this team. This could very much be like Dennis Rodman going to the Chicago Bulls - with Michael Jordan in command - and winning more championships. No doubt Rodman was a phenomenal basketball player, but he was a loose cannon just the same. In fact, there was a history of bad blood between Rodman and Scottie Pippen (Jordan's right-hand man and, arguably, the second best player in the league). MJ, with his extraordinary leadership skills, was probably the only guy in the league capable of keeping Rodman focused and in the game. The result, of course, was three more rings! Avery is no Rodman and Brendan is certainly no Michael, but they are both capable of filling similar roles. Furthermore, I cannot wait to see Avery and Otter on the same line ... what a force! I'm still looking for one more piece to be added ... we still need another scoring winger.

GO STARS!!!