Deep in the Heart of Texas

The Stars at Night
are Big and Bright
Deep in the Heart of Texas

This week brings two of my favorite things:

• Time with family
• NHL All-Star Week

Now, I could bore you with details of the first, I could even regurgitate the details of the latter and tell you how great each event is, but to be totally honest with you ... go here if you want to read it, I'm too lazy to retype it all up.

Instead, let me just stick to a couple of events that mean something to me:

NHL All-Star/Leary Firefighters Foundation Benefit Concert
Sunday the 21st, Gilley's, 1135 S. Lamar St., Dallas, 8 pm
It might seem odd to you that I choose to write about this benefit concert considering I'm a software developer and I don't know who the heck the band that's playing is, heck, if I didn't know me so well I'd find it weird. You see, back in Connecticut a few years back I was a volunteer firefighter. I spent a couple nights a week at the house with the rest of the brother hood, sometimes in training, sometimes just ********ting. When Rescue Me came out a few years back we'd spend every Wednesday night in the house together. So, to be 1700 miles away from my old house and see Dennis Leary hosting an event that helps out my former brothers and sisters brings a small tear to my eye. I'm not sure how the rest of the NHL fans feel about this, but NHL you've made this fan even more loyal than before ... if that's possible.

Street All-Star Tournament
Monday the 22nd, Runyon Elementary School, 10750 Cradlerock Drive, Dallas, 10-11 am
The name of this event is a bit of a misnomer actually. What's really happening is a couple of undisclosed members of the All-Star teams will be going to this elementary school and watching the kids play a street tournament. Even though the name is a bit misleading, I like it. It may not mean much to the majority of the fans but think of what it will mean to these kids. The rest of their lives they'll think of the day that these professional hockey players took the time to come watch them. Warms the heart don't it.

"Stick With Reading" Classroom Visit
Tuesday the 23rd, 9-10:30 am
Based on my description of the Street Tournament you shouldn't be surprised my next pick is another event benefiting the kids. Again, a couple of undisclosed All-Star players (presumably Marty Turco will be one) will be visiting an elementary school to make kids smile. Actually this event specifically tells kids to keep reading. Heck, if a guy who takes shots to the face like Turco does tells me to keep reading, I think I might listen!

YoungStars game
Tuesday the 23rd, AAC, 6:30-9pm
Sure there are other things going on during this time at the AAC, but I'm excited to see Jussi Jokinen out on the ice showing off his skills on the YoungStars team to see what he can do when the pressure is off. He's had an off year, at least thats what everyone says when they think about what they'd like to be doing this year, and I think the pressure has really warn him down. However, this event should be good and relaxed, giving him an opportunity to shine. Ok ok, keep your eyes on Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Peter Budaj and Wojtek Wolski too.

55th NHL All-Star Game
Wednesday the 24th, AAC, 7 p.m
Yes, lastly, we find ourselves at the 55th NHL All-Star Game. Also, we find the only event I'll be making. Remember that family thing? Well I'm in Connecticut until Tuesday morning and won't be able to make any of the things I want to ... besides the big one. Dallas has opened it's arms wide to welcome the NHL to town this week and is even more proud to host the game, in which two of it's own players will be playing on home ice. Marty Turco, the goalie everyone thought would make a run for the Vezina Trophey (and isn't doing so horribly he still can't try), as well as Phillipe Boucher, the D-man that came out of nowhere, will both be fighting for the Western Conference in this game. Of note, NHL.com has another article spotlighting Boucher and the rough time his family are having, check it out to see what this man has looked past in order to play as spectacularly as he has done this year. Of course, getting to see some NHL's best players on our home ice all at once is an honor. Come find Scott or myself at the game, in sections 315 and 318, and help us cheer on the Western Conference and our boys on the ice. Lets kick the snot outta those boys from the east!!

Best wishes to everyone, thanks for reading, and GO WESTERN CONFERENCE!!!