TARDINESS

Hey #63, ever heard of Lombardi time? “If you’re on time you’re 10 minutes late.”

When Mike Ribeiro was told he wasn’t going to play against the Ducks last night due to the fact he couldn’t manage to interrupt his Sunday day off at the Ritz Carlton, Marina del Rey in time to make a 9:30 pm meeting in a ballroom at the hotel, it made a statement: Playing for the Dallas Stars in the NHL is a privilege, not a right – and it can be taken away when you don’t make it a priority.

He was “only” 10 or 15 minutes late for it but that obviously isn’t the point. All the club was asking of its employees over the 4 day span the team was holed up at the luxurious Ritz was their presence at: two morning skates, two games, and one night before the game meeting. That was it, along with the work-ethic that is expected at this level but, well, duh on that. Rest of the time, do whatever it is you do with your down time on the road.

I’ll give Marc Crawford credit for doling out the punishment himself. Crow told him he wasn’t going to play in a brief 1-on-1 meeting on the ice after the morning skate in Anaheim and then put him through a hard skate. He could have had an assistant coach do both but he handled it all up front and by himself, and he did it knowing full well they’d be shorthanded for the game that night, and he did it with the full support from his General Manager.

As the great John Wooden once said, "If a player’s not doing what he should, put him on the bench. He’ll come around."

Ribeiro is a smart guy and a great player. Maybe he needed a little attitude adjustment.

One thing is for sure, he’ll be early for future meetings.