Hockeybird.com: Don't Make Us Do It

We have loved watching your career in the NHL. You have won Cups....including the 1994 Cup which we owe you for and will never forget. The leadership, the hat trick against the Devs in game six.....all of it. Please keep that in mind when you read the rest.

It's time Mark. Don't blow it. Use this coming Wednesday as the special day it can be. Retire. Walk away.....because if you don't we have plenty more pictures and we will release them. One by one.....more damaging as we go.

So, it's up to you. We can have a big lovefest this coming Wednesday.....or the world will see our little collection.....what's it gonna be ?

Newsday - Mark Messier missed yesterday's game after having fluid drained from his elbow on Friday. He had missed the previous two because of a suspension. With only three games remaining, Messier's status is up in the air for Tuesday's visit to New Jersey against the Devils. Wednesday is the team's final home game.

NY Post - If Mark Messier wants to keep his options open for next season, that's up to him. No one has the right to tell him to retire. But someone not only has the right but the duty to tell Messier that he cannot return next season to the Rangers. And if Glen Sather isn't willing to do that, if he isn't willing to fulfill his obligation as general manager, then he cannot be allowed to return to New York next season, either.

Post Again - "You don't want to get overexcited," Valiquette said. "I've had my share of disappointments - I originally was supposed to back up Roberto Luongo with the Panthers this year, but during a four-day delay in getting into the country from Canada because of a visa issue their owner decided he wanted a more experienced goalie, and they got Steve Shields - so at this point in my career, I'm just going to appreciate the win."

Daily News - It is unlikely Sather would turn to Renney without first checking with the likes of Joel Quenneville, Larry Robinson or Bobby Francis."Considering the situation he was put in, (Renney) has been a great gentleman about everything that has gone on," Bobby Holik said. "And I think the most important thing is the situation he was put in."

NY Times - Then Jagr fired a shot over the left arm of Philadelphia goaltender Robert Esche on the Rangers' third shot. The whistles stopped. Soon, Esche was pulled after allowing three goals on 12 shots. He was booed on his way to the bench, and the Rangers were on their way to a 3-1 victory.

Star-Ledger - Tyutin lost his most immediate role model when Brian Leetch was traded to Toronto on March 3. Leetch was the one Tyutin kept an eye on as he learned, but Leetch's absence has not seemed to affect him negatively at all. Renney is not surprised -- one of the things that always appealed to him about Tyutin was his high panic threshold, his refusal to let his nerves get the best of him on the ice and off.

Journal News - Mark Messier did not make the trip to Philadelphia after having fluid drained from his elbow Friday. Renney said he was not sure if Messier would play Tuesday against the Devils.

The AHL will be open for next season no matter what happens with the NHL CBA talks.

Dave Hodge from TSN reminds us that we didn't make the playoffs again....thanks dude.

The top of today's post is in fact a joke....we are not really black-mailing Mark Messier. We could ya know. (The photo is compliments of DeBee1015 from the Hockeybird message boards) But Larry Brooks was dead on in his article today. It's time to say goodbye. Please.

REMINDER: On ESPN Classic, Thursday April 1st. 2am and 5am the 1994 Stanly Cup final. Set your Tivo or VCR. Thanks to Matt for sending this in.

Bird, in the final part of your article, when talking about the 1994 Stanly Cup final on ESPN Classic, you probably meant April 1st, not March 1st.

Thanks,
SK

Posted by: SK on March 28, 2004 04:00 PM

That picture of Mark Messier is soooo funny!!!

Posted by: Daria on March 28, 2004 08:45 PM