Fun with tables

I’m taking this course on Cascading Style Sheets, which is kind of like HTML except more powerful.

I’m almost done with the course. Last week, we had to format a table. I have found that I enjoy homework much more when the subject matter is meaningful to me.

My dad and I have always talked about how none of the DFW teams are ever all good or all bad at one time. So I did a little research and had some fun with my project.

I compiled a table that shows the success of Dallas-area sports teams by year since 1994, which is when the Stars came to town, making it a four-sport area. (The year refers to the year the playoffs were in, except for football.)

I concluded that in fact  in no year have all four teams made the playoffs. However, at least one team did go to the playoffs every year.

Thanks to the Stars’ sub-par season, 2009 will not be the exception. I’m optimistic about their future though, especially because they have played in the postseason the most of the four teams.

The Rangers have some talent lurking. Will 2010 be the year?

P.S. If you are really interested in the nuts and bolts of my fancy table, right-click on that page and select “View Page Source.” Doesn’t that look fun! Glad the course is nearly over.

Amazing shootout goal

This is probably the last hockey post I’ll have for a while, but it’s a good one.

You have to watch this shootout goal by Mike Ribeiro. It’s unreal!!!

Bummer for Carbonneau

It was sad and surprising to see Montreal fired head coach Guy Carbonneau on Monday.

Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey, who pulled the trigger, named himself head coach. I know next to nothing about their relationship, but firing Carbonneau couldn’t have been easy for him.

Gainey and Carbonneau have known each other for nearly 30 years (possibly more), as teammates in Montreal in the early 1980s, then as GM and player in Dallas in the  ’90s. They reunited again in Montreal in 2006 as GM and head coach.

Carbonneau was obviously never as big in Dallas as he was in Montreal, but he did seem like a good guy and was fairly popular as a member of the 1998-99 Cup-winning team.

Gainey was quoted as saying his team lacked emotion during a recent slump. Although the Habs would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, it would be by a thread. Also at issue seems to be whether Carbonneau had control over his players, some of whom were linked to a suspected gang member and a drug dealer. Also, standout winger Alexei Kovalev had been struggling as of late.

My first instinct was to wonder if the Stars won’t try to snatch him back up as an assistant or front-office guy, but Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News says it’s doubtful. Too many cooks in the kitchen, that type of thing. Besides, the Stars can’t hire back every popular player after he retires.

Heika adds that Dave Tippett wouldn’t be too comfortable with Carbonneau waiting in the wings. I like Tippett a lot as a coach, but he is on thin ice (no pun intended) as it is. If the Stars tank in the first round of the playoffs, I think he’s out. Fans are hungry for Dallas to be a powerhouse again, and Tippett hasn’t kept the Stars at that level consistently.

Tippett has several good excuses if they don’t make the postseason at all this season (injuries, Avery debacle, goaltending akin to Swiss cheese), but an excuse is still an excuse.

Anyway, just kind of a sad story to see. If the Stars were to invite him back, at least he’d be near family, as son-in-law Brenden Morrow and family would be nearby. Maybe he can rejoin the Stars as a scout or consultant.

Morrison a promising, if not potentially confusing, addition to Stars

It’s going to be tricky now that Brenden Morrow and Brendan Morrison are teammates.

But I think I can live with the deal Dallas made today in picking up the 33-year-old center off waivers from Anaheim. I hadn’t realized he was with the Ducks and apparently not doing so hot. That’s what I assume, anyway, since the Ducks waived him.

He’s a big-name player, and hopefully he can give the Stars some punch and fill in for Brad Richards, who has a broken wrist. Morrison has 10 goals and 12 assists in 62 games, so injury must not be an issue. Maybe he just needs a fresh start.

Thankfully, Brenden/Brendan Morrow/Morrison won’t be the expected copy editor’s nightmare unless the Stars go deep into the playoffs. (Which would be ideal.) Not sure when Morrow is expected back from his ACL injury though. And Morrison is an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Anyway, I like this move, but I wish the Stars had gotten a defenseman at the trade deadline.

I’m not sure if I see these Stars as a playoff team. It has been a rough year with Avery, the injury bug, Marty Turco not being himself, etc. but who knows. There’s 19 games left and the standings are tight.

I didn’t get to watch the beatdown of the Sharks from last night, but it’s an encouraging win over a great team. (I did see part of the gutless loss to Pittsburgh. Blech.)

If the Stars can use momentum from the Morrison acquisition and the win over San Jose, maybe they can get on a roll and secure a playoff spot.