Falling Stars

• Shell, or washer method. I get the answer to be 234pi/45 when using washer method but dunno how to do it with shell method. The answer is supposed to be 224pi/45 according to my T.A.

• As long as you've got everyone believing you are doing some serious work on PC at your home office, then you will have your peace. Lets not deny it, it's a fact of life.

• Checking out your team identity list and I question whether you've really been paying attention. You may want to read up on Jamie Benn.

• NotAFan: The Rangers turn a profit because there are 81 home games and PLENTY of families that love baseball and want to go out to the ballpark. Hockey would be in more homes if Versus were offered in the basic package and not the premium package (siberia). your logic about the championships is flawed, however the Cowboys could lose playoff games for a decade and still have dominant media coverage here. oh wait. they didn't win a playoff game for a decade. It's OK that everyone here loves the Cowboys. This is football country. It's OK that they get all the media coverage. It's expected. Yes, the Stars have missed the playoffs for 2 years in a row, however, they've won more playoff series since they've been here than the other Big 3. alas, the Stars in a non-cold market are 4th on the radar and that's fine. Stars Fans don't expect to be up front unless they're winning in the playoffs and even then, they'll just be an afterthought. Here's the bottom line: if you love sports, and you're a "casual fan" you should love hockey. And you don't have to be born with skates on. It's the combination of all sports into one. Creativity, Agility, Endurance, Strength, Passion, Speed and Desire all into one. The Stanley Cup is one of the most respected trophies in existence because it's the hardest to win. Best of all, after the end of the regular season, it's wide open (just ask San Jose and Washington). You don't have to be able to pronounce names, just watch the game and you'll be fine. You don't have to follow the puck, watch the players react to the puck, you'll follow it just fine. You don't have to know all the rules, just watch, you'll be fine. In closing, I ask all "casual fans" or "non-hockey" fans to give the Stanley Cup Playoffs a chance this year. You might just catch the bug. And you might just pay attention in October when the Stars lace it up for the 10-11 season.

• It's pretty clear why hockey has never really caught on around here. There are the usual arguments: not enough history of hockey in DFW compared to other areas, game that only Yankee transplants really understand, etc. Here in Dallas, we were still on a high of Super Bowl wins when the Stars came here. And what's this? Hockey? Most of us around here had never even SEEN a hockey game, much less played hockey growing up. But like mentioned above, us "casual" fans, decided to look over our shoulder to what else was happening at Reunion Arena, since the Mavs sucked. So we watched a team grab a Stanley Cup. Quickly. And we thought. Well, this is Dallas. They are SUPPOSED to bring titles here, right? A lot of people started to take notice, as winning teams are wont to do. But then reality sets in: its hard as hell to win a title in any sport. Especially one that has 82 games. But hey, a title should buy a team some time to grow a following, right? Sure it does. About 6 years. When the labor disputes started, and it was obvious that the NHL was put in the proverbial penalty box for a year, not many people cared. Most importantly, the networks. Yes sir, when it came time for the NHL to angle for TV coverage, no one was biting. So they sold rights for a song - to the Outdoor Living Network, who changed their name to VS. Which NO ONE watches! That got them sent to Cable Television Siberia. Which added to the already apathetic state of mind to the "casual" hockey fan. They still had their games locally, but I think it did leave a bad taste in the mouth of the "casual" hockey fan. The team begins to lose money, so the owner, for better or worse looking at the bottom line, decides changes need to be made. With a business failing, they decided to cut costs to retain profitability. Which led to an inferior product. An aging inferior product. The team gets older, the band breaks up, the coach leaves. All that's left is the "real" fans. The "hardcore" fans. Puke. I've always hated that term "casual" fan. It pokes at the majority of hard-working people in this town who see fit to put a roof over their head instead of season tickets in their hands. I have been to my share of sports events, like most everyone else. I've watched them on TV. But because I don't have a PuckHead hat and know every roster since they moved from Minnesota, somehow I'm dismissed as a "casual" fan. Well, I have news for you. Be it baseball, football, basketball or hockey, its not the "hardcore" fan that these owners are interested in. Its the casual fan. The ones who watch the games at home, earning them the TV money, buying a hat/jersey/coffee mug at Wal-Mart for their 10 year old son. The sports business is just like the publishing business. The season ticketholders are a commodity to them. A number that they use to flex leverage for local TV contracts, advertising and the all important LUXURY SUITE leases. Teams want anyone at their games to boost attendance. They don't sell you a $6 hot dog so they can pay Modano's salary. They use your ticket to count towards their attendance numbers. That is why they want people in the stands. If they turn out a winning product, it makes their job all the more easier. Plus its more fun to win. But the Rangers have proven time and time again. Its easier to turn a profit, that to produce a championship.

• "who's apparently going to try to buy the team not with Wayne Gretzky but rather ex-president Jim Lites" way to be on top of the story within your made up story

• @Dave- This season's cap hit was $50.1 million, the 10/11 hit now stands at $35.7 million. http://www.nhlnumbers.com/overview.php?team=DAL&season=0910

• "I still don't give a shit if 90% of DFW doesn't watch stick and puck, me and my compadres will still be there." I couldn't agree more, this town is fickle as all-get-out, and the casual fans won't get onboard until around Xmas. On another note, the changing of the guard is happening before our eyes, folks. Hicks needs to sell his stake, payroll is going to be inevitably overhauled, and with Marty gone, that' free's up some scratch. Not to mention, MikeyMo and Jere's collective salaries; if they don't come back, how much room is there in salary to bring in another established marquee player? That's potentially three veteran salaries vacated. There's no better time like the present for Hicks to move on, as well as MM and Jere, the timing is right. Door is open, walk on thru. Berndan, Otter, Neil, and Richards will need help. Especially Robidas.

• RW - please keep spreading the fertilizer that hockey is dead in this town. Things are happening that will change the Stars - for the better - much like things happened in Oak Cliff. Keep it on the down low, yo. We don't want ticket prices and availability to go the OC route (UP).

• I have even been willing to give Crawford a pass on this year for lack of funds to put a better product on the ice. I saw a comment by JJT today that if the new owners don't spend money the Stars are still gonna suck. He was right. I concur with Otter being one of the faces of the franchise. But, you have to watch the games to see the evil leprechaun in action. Something I don't expect RW does with any regularity. That's ok, the dedicated fans know the players, even if the fourth estate doesn't. I still don't give a shit if 90% of DFW doesn't watch stick and puck, me and my compadres will still be there.

• @corby's backpack: I'm originally from the northeast, and I know exactly of what you speak of, but it isn't just Dallas. Really, it is just about any southern or west coast city. In Philadelphia, life sucks. You're in an old, smelly, crappy city that almost inhabitable six months of the year due to cold, and another four months it's like a sauna. One of the few joys in your life is sports. In Dallas, or Phoenix, or LA....life is generally much more fun. We have a lot more things to do and the weather generates a much more laid back attitude. So you're never going to have a lot of hardcore screaming fans in Dallas like you have in New York and Boston. Just a fact of life. I lean towards the hardcore screaming fan thing myself...but I still really enjoy living in a city that doesn't smell like a sewer.

• This town is full of nothing but casual fans and makes me wish I woulda grown up elsewhere where real fans support their team thru thick and thin. Went to 10 games this year and all you could hear was crickets. To be honest, when they start winning again I would appreciate the casual fan staying home then as well so the real fans can get a ticket.

• unga bunga..what is this hockey game of which you speak? @Washhater: what is a 2nd guard you speak of? like a 2 guard for basketball? you confuse my dead ape brain..now I must go chase the kid from The Sixth Sense around..it's even more fun being a dead ape than it was being an alive one..first reason: there's an unlimited supply of poo for me to throw and it doesn't stink..

• What he meant to say was: "There's no way I can field a competitive team with the budget equivalent of a third grader's lemonade stand. For the love of god, we can't change ownership fast enough." ---- This couldn't be more spot on.

• If you think the team has no personality, you clearly are not watching any games where Steve Ott is on the ice. Casual fans aren't watching because they aren't winning. They'll come back if the team turns it around in general. The Cowboys thing around here is a big case of which came first, chicken or the egg? Do you guys spend May discussing the starting 2nd guard because that's what the fans want to hear? Or do the want to hear it because it is what you're discussing? *shrug*

• Thanks R.W. for a spot on write-up of the state of hockey in Dallas. I tend to disagree with you most of the time, so enjoy these kudos while you can. And to the ashtray, yes, the Cowboys rule this market's sports mind. I guess being the oldest sports franchise in town, along with it's most successful has meant something to all the rest of us,

• meh, meh meh meh, meh

• For the record, Im not disputing the Cowboys are the 800lb sports gorilla in this market.

• RW, you know shit about hockey. Just because the Stars are out of your mind doesnt mean people dont care. Keep talking Cowboys, Cowboys, Cowboys. Hows that working out for you over at 105.3 the Tumbleweed?

• As general manager Joe Nieuwendyk so eloquently put it on Tuesday: "This is an interesting and difficult time." . What he meant to say was: "There's no way I can field a competitive team with the budget equivalent of a third grader's lemonade stand. For the love of god, we can't change ownership fast enough." . The Stars will be back on everyone's mind once they start winning again. Until then, they are what they are, and deserve to be where they're at.

• Steve Ott might differ with you on "no identity". Casual "fans" will be back when they win another Cup just so they can annoy us with "what's icing?" and "why do they fight?" Shore up the blue line and work on the penalty kill and they'll be right back in contention.

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