Sure Mike Modano Has a Spot on Dallas' Mount Sportsmore. Well, Doesn't He?

By Richie Whitt Thu., Sep. 22 2011 at 8:00 AM

Mike Modano is on Facebook. And out of hockey.

The legendary Dallas Star used social media to announce his retirement from the NHL yesterday, ending a 21-year career as one of the sport's all-time greatest skaters and its most prolific American-born scorer.

Feels like we've delivered these eulogies before -- remember the video tribute, the tears and the on-ice farewell in April, 2010? -- but Modano has meant so much to hockey in Dallas, what the heck?

On the ice, he was the coolest player you ever saw skate. Blinding speed -- with an unmatched gliding fifth gear -- with that shirttail trailing him like a jet stream. Always in the right place at the right time and usually there a half-second before anyone else.

And off the ice, he was the impossible combo platter of wildly popular and mildly humble. With good looks and great play, he was the man in Dallas in the '90s. Every guy wanted to be him; every girl wanted to do him. We went to Reunion Arena to watch him play and went to Primo's to play with him.

He'll retire with a Stanley Cup championship, a World Cup gold medal, an Olympic silver medal and the staggering scoring totals of 561 goals and 1,374 points.

Considering he was Usain Bolt on skates and Brad Pitt in bars and assuming we'll forgive him for pulling on that sweater of the Detroit %^&*$#@! Red Wings, Modano will officially retire in good standing Friday with a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

He'll do it as easily the all-time best Dallas Star. But what about his place alongside the local giants on Dallas' Mount Sportsmore?

There can be only four faces, so it's the cream of the elite. One representative from each team of the major four sports:

Dallas Stars -- Modano, no-brainer. He's done more for his sport in Dallas than anyone else for theirs.

Dallas Mavericks -- Dirk Nowitzki. Taller than Modano. Not as handsome. German. But, otherwise, Dallas' one basketball title is also the direct result of one man. Him.

Texas Rangers -- I know you're tempted to emotionally knee-jerk with Nolan Ryan. But it's gotta be Pudge Rodriguez. MVP. 3 playoff teams. Popular. And the best defensive player in the history of the organization.

Dallas Cowboys -- Toughest choice of 'em all. Tom Landry? Roger Staubach? Troy Aikman? Jerry Jones? Somehow, nope. You couldn't have a Mount Sportsmore without the face of a three-time Super Bowl champ and the NFL's all-time leading rusher, Emmitt Smith.

Modano. Dirk. Pudge. Emmitt.

Together.

Tags:

Byron Nelson, Dirk Nowitzki, hockey, Mike Modano, Mount Sportsmore, Nolan Ryan, Pudge Rodriguez, Tom Landry

therrick

You do realize a Mt. Rushmore thing is just a Top 4 List under a different name? *Yawn*

Gary

Rushmore behind bars

Paul Fielding, Yvonne Gonzalez, Al Lipscomb, Don Hill. Sculptors sharpening tools and checking harness ropes for future addition.

MoronDog

No no no....

It should be:

Stars: Benoit HogueMavs: Cedric CeballosCowboys: Curvin RichardsRangers: Todd Zeile

Sybils_Beaver

who goes on the radio rushmore

Ive got Kidd KraddickJody DeanMike RhynerHymen Childs

Dingus McGillicutty

Bump wills should be on the mountain, ifin only for his name, then we could all take bumps off of Bump before we jump off the cliff with the strippers we picked up at baby dolls after watching a UFC fight the night before

Gary

Dirk and Modano are obvious. Pick which Cowboy you want, Emmett, Roger, Lilly, whoever. Take two of them if you want. When all is said and done, it will be Michael Young from Rangers.

Rooster

Jerry Jones insistance on continuing to prove himself to be the worst GM in the history of professional sports precludes him from being on the mount.

Seriously. I can't believe you'd even suggest it.

Big Tex

Hockey is for Canucks and Woodchucks so's they don't kill each other from cabin fever during the dark months.

TheRealDirtyP1

I'm going to have to say no on Pudge, Yuck. He was a badass and as a catcher I wanted to be that guy, but he juiced. Michael Young>Pudge. All MY has to do is bring home a championship and it's a no brainer.

Landry is scoreboarding everyone, already has a statue.

Rooster

hockey mixed with other things SUPER MEH, who let this child post this crap. No one cares about hockey and Modano is a legend here only. Jeremy Roenick was better

Danks

What about Dallas Sidekicks legend Tatu?

Sturms_Bloody_Rectum

sorry, I don't see Pudge on the mountain, even with time served and the numbers to back it up, there was juice involved. When MLB started to "crack-down" on juice, Pudge melted away wearing a Tigers uni, it looked like a little kid with daddy's shirt on.

Modano, a lock.

Maybe Aikman over Captain America, the farther we get from his playing days, to build up the lore.

Davy Crockett

"combo platter of wildly popular and mildly humble" Wish we could get that on this here buffet.

Aside from that, I'm still trying to figure out that second paragraph. My allergy meds have made me a bit goofy, so I don't fully understand the "what the heck" part. Please advise.

Scruffygeist

You have it all wrong.

Cowboys: Sherwin WilliamsMavs: Shawn BradleyRangers: Tim CrabtreeStars: Tatu. It's either him or a random dude in a jersey yelling "stars!" during the anthem.