Forget the Texas Rangers, Mr. Hicks. Please sell the Stars. Now. You may not think it makes financial sense to let go of the franchise - undoubtedly your shining star - but long-suffering fans have had enough. An organization cannot operate on the limited working budget you've provided.

I won't even get into the fact that you made unnecessary changes at the managment level. There's enough there for a whole other blog.

Listen, Tom, your CEO (GM Joe Nieuwendyk) and sales manager (Coach Marc Crawford) are dealing with a staff (the players) that does not believe in the marketing plan.  Morale is low, they've been asked to do the job with less talent and experience than the competition (for the most part), and they're being forced to comply with new company procedures. It's not working.

Sure, there have been flashes of success. Years ago, everything ran smoothly. In the last year before the new millenium, you put the pieces in place to bring a Cup to Big D. But a successful organization should devote very little time to looking back. There's work to do now. The past has passed.

You weren't prepared, Tom. Change happens, and we all get that. But somewhere along the line, your attention was divided so much that all three of your franchises were neglected. That sounds strange, doesn't it? All three. Like a kid in the proverbial candy store, you grabbed too much and couldn't hold onto it all.

Now, everyone's hands are tied, and we all have to watch the Stars struggle because you bit off more business than you could chew. Time to spit it out, Tom, not swallow your pride...and sell to the highest bidder.