>>Many NHL players played with torn ACLs and/or MCLs in the playoffs last year. These are the best athletes in the world and make football, baseball and basketball players look like cry babies.
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>Mark,
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>I am with you on this, although being from Atlanta, I have not followed hockey much but I think most professional athletes are cry babies. David Justice, Andre Rison, And Rusty Wallace to name a few ;-)

See a Thrashers game in person. It is a quantum leap from watching on TV. While there are some highly paid players, for the most part, these guys make less than the other 3 major sports, are more accessible, better citizens and very pleasant to be around [except during a game of course!].

Most teams, Stars included, have several events each year that are reasonably priced [proceeds almost always go to their charities]. The Stars have a Skate With the Stars every November where for $80 adult and $40 child, you can skate on the game ice with the players, take pictures with them, get autographs, bid on terrific items in a silent auction, free food [donated by area restaurants], etc. They limit the attendance to the first 2000 people. My daughter had a blast! All proceeds go to children charities.