Me & Mo
In the fall of 1990 - I was hired by the Minnesota North Stars - and I met Mike Modano - now I'm going to join him in the organization's Hall of Fame. Wow.
When the Minnesota North Stars drafted Mike Modano first overall in 1988, they hoped he would be that franchise player they could build around to go get the franchises’ first Stanley Cup.
They were right - but it didn’t happen in Minnesota. It happened in Dallas just six years and change after the team left their home state.
And I was there for all of it - for all of him. Almost all of him. I called nearly every goal, assist, and moment over his 21 year NHL career.
I’ve known Mike Modano for 35 years - is that even possible? He’s nine (ha) years younger than I am - and our relationship evolved and the dynamic has changed - but I can still reach out with a text - as I did today - and he responds.
My first impressions of him came before I started working with the team. Mike, drafted in 1988, sat out his first season over a contract dispute, and his rookie campaign saw him put up big numbers, but lose the Calder race (Rookie of the Year) to a 31 year-old Russian. They changed the following season, and there’s a lot in that one too - maybe I’ll do more on that with a later post.
So - I saw him play on several occasions inside Met Center in his rookie year. Ownership was extorting the fan base for 10,000 season tickets, and Stars fans were hoping this kid was gonna be the one to attract the crowds and start to turn this thing around.
In the summer of 1990, I went to the Billy Idol show at Met Center - Idol had just suffered a car accident and was up there with a cane… it was awesome. On my way out of the parking lot, I got behind a white Porsche 911, with Michigan vanity plates - N I N E.
I knew who it was - and I remember thinking - wow - there he goes.
I had no idea that in just a few weeks really, I’d be inside and working with him. I had no idea the impact this one guy would have on the franchise, two cities, the hockey world, and me personally.
It was the best of times - and he is a special guy - and a complete piece of work…
