The Kid's In The Hall

The Dallas Stars are inducting me into the organization's Hall of Fame in October. This Minnesota kid, and lifelong Stars fan, is grateful for the journey, and overwhelmed by the honor now.

Me, Circa early 1970’s

Wow. Just. Wow. I mean - Wow.

I’m being inducted into the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame, and with my dear friend Joe Nieuwendyk. We’re the fourth class, following other organizational pillars, and the guys who have their jersey’s hanging in the building, and former owners Norm Green and Tom Hicks.

Wow. Just. Wow. I mean - Wow.

My history with the franchise is longer and deeper than anyone’s, and more complicated too. The kid in the picture started going to Stars games in 1967, then got hired by the club in 1990, moved to Texas with them in 1993, and walked away in 2015.

Brad Alberts called me in the afternoon on Tuesday, July 1, and even that story has some kick to it. You’ll hear more at the event from both of us. I’ve known Brad a very long time, and at the core, we’re friends. I appreciated his professionalism and help in 2015, when he and I worked out an amicable separation agreement. It was a horribly tough time, but he treated me very well, and kindly.

In the years since, Brad and I stayed in touch, and kick all kinds of things around. A couple springs ago, he invited me to watch playoff games - home and road - wherever I wanted to go - in his suite with him. I took him up on it. I went again this spring. And oh - those playoff games, in his suite, with his beautiful family and so many people I know - have been some of the best times of my recent life. From where I’ve been, it’s cool to just be a fan again.

I’ll write and produce a ton of content around this, and there will be time for everything, including lots of thank you’s and acknowledgements. But let me say quickly here and right away - I want to thank Tom Gagliardi. I’ve always liked and respected Tom, and he has done such a job with the franchise. My goodness.

And a nod and thanks to Brad for the call, and for working hard to keep me close. Listen friends - I ain’t easy.

And thanks to the committee and so many others - and you my friends and fellow Stars fans.

Today, let me take you back to what the kid was thinking, and how he went about climbing the very jagged path toward where he wanted to go, and ultimately ending up in the Dallas Stars Hall of Fame in 2025.