In Hindsight: Five Questions for Rico

The Islanders opened a second team store in the Sunrise Mall yesterday. Rick Dipietro took his hip, his knees, his head and the parts of his body that aren't injured to the grand opening. I could have waited on line for four hours to get a signature and a canned interaction but I chose to skip the festivities. Had I gone, I would have never asked him these five questions:

1. Considering your injuries and Mac's capable play, will you consider less starts within a season?

2. Being a spectator for the first quarter of the season, what is your assessment of the team to which you'll be returning?

3. What do you think of John Tavares and Victor Hedman?

4. If I clone you a la Multiplicity, would the second or third version of you consider marrying a not-so-Ford-model hockey fan?

5. Do you like Pizza?

Ricky was probably assaulted by questions that rank higher than mine on the absurd scale. I present the top five questions likely asked by adults and children alike:

1. How do you feel?

2. When will you be back?

3. What do you think of Joey Mac?

4. Are you considering playing a few games in Bridgeport before coming back to the Islanders?

5. Will you go to prom with me?

What makes these questions more absurd than mine? Ricky actually had to answer them 300 times. Over and over. One after the other. Same questions, same answers. In fact, I present Ricky's likely answers to the top five questions likely asked by adults and children alike:

1. Good.

2. Soon. A few weeks.

3. He's doing a great job.

4. Maybe. We'll see.

5. Sure. No, not really.

Fun. Like watching the Tampa Bay Lightning play in their new third jerseys.

What I Learned Today:

Unable to appreciate DP for his stellar stopping this season, I've come to terms with his value to the team in other areas. It's never a bad thing when the face of the franchise is pretty. Ricky is hot. It's simply stating the obvious. Like Barry Melrose will never coach in the NHL again.