Using a newly-developed tunnelling electron microscope, scientists have discovered an 
infinitesimal portion of character in Mike Modano.  The minuscule fragment was discovered in 
a Dallas hospital laboratory, where Modano had been taken after his head was removed from the 
end boards at Reunion Arena.  The head, best known previously for insulting the entire state of 
Minnesota, trash-talking opponents via the media, and generally carrying on like a member of the 
Dallas Cowboys, had been imbedded in the boards courtesy of a filthy and truly scary hit from 
behind by Anaheim's Ruslan Salei during a 2-0 Dallas victory in early October.  
     Five days following his brush with death, Modano read from a prepared statement: "The 
result of a professional hockey game should not be that we are lucky to escape paralysis or are 
lucky to have our eyesight after willful acts of violence.  It should come as no surprise to anyone 
that hitting from behind and attempts to injure will and have resulted in devastating injuries.  We 
have seen several careers end due to head injury, so the players and league are well aware of 
the dangers of excessive violence in hockey.  Do we have to wait for someone to be paralyzed 
or killed before the league, teams, and players come together to act?"  
     The game, in which Modano suffered a mild concussion and sprained neck ligaments, also 
featured a crushing hit from behind on Star forward Joe Nieuwendyk by the Ducks' Pascal 
Trepanier (insert skull joke here) and Jim McKenzie's vicious assault on Dallas rearguard 
Darryl Sydor (for those of you keeping score, that's another "shattered orbital bone").  
     "If things continue," threatened Modano, "I'm not going to play anymore.  I still have 
the rest of my life to live."  
     The teams were to meet again later that week, and Modano upped the ante and his own 
reputation by saying, "I am calling on my teammates to set an example for all players.  I don't 
want anyone 'getting even' on my behalf."  That rematch produced a total of seven minor penalties, 
none in the third period with the score out of hand.  
     Yeah, this is old news, but we didn't get it into our October round-up, and Modano's comments 
are well worth noting.  This is exactly the sort of thing we call for in the "Bad Blood" chapter of 
The Death of Hockey.  Why have the players remained silent about, even complicit in, reckless 
and malicious violence done to themselves by their own NHLPA union brothers?  It's long past due 
for more of them -- all of them -- to echo Modano's well-chosen words and emulate his attitude.  
                                                                                                                       -- KER / JZK