A couple of Fridays ago, St. Louis Blues Captain, All-Star Defenseman, defending Hart Trophy winner and soon to be restricted NHL Free Agent Chris Pronger and team President Mark Sauer decided to do lunch.

As the salad dishes were taken from the table, Pronger and Sauer chatted about #44's future with the Blues. The Captain wanted to know if the last contract offer was the Blues final answer. The President responded by asking the Captain for a contract number. The Captain obliged. The President did not say dispel the Captain's proposal.

So as both parties fought over the check, each smiled realizing that they are now very close to an agreement of not only making Chris Pronger financially secure for the rest of his life, but maintaining a cornerstone for the St. Louis Blues for several seasons.

Then as both parties had a final cup of coffee-voila, the deal was virtually done.

This turned out to be a very successful business lunch between two parties having a respectful disagreement. Without the presence of lawyers or agents, both Pronger and Sauer reached a surprisingly quick conclusion. Once decided, both parties rewarded their legal representatives with billable hours to hammer out the necessary paperwork.

Perhaps William Shakespeare was correct in his assessment of the legal profession. Still this contract extension was finalized to the pleasure of all involved. In so doing, everyone was a winner-Pronger, the Blues, and the City of St. Louis.

For those of you who continue to keep your head in the sand and live in the past let me say this one more time: Mike Keenan was absolutely right about Chris Pronger.

#44 is the best Defenseman and arguably the best player in today's National Hockey League. He is an anchor of the Blues defense and a core player. He has followed the lead of several nationally known athletes opting out of the free agent sweepstakes to make the Gateway City home: Mark Mc Gwire, Jim Edmonds, Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce.

After signing his hockey contract, #44 took a page out of Mc Gwire's legacy. You may recall on July 31, 1997 when Big Mac arrived in town from a trade with Oakland, he too was free agent facing the ecstasy of an open bidding war for his services. On a mid-September afternoon in 1997, Mc Gwire signed a three-year St. Louis contract. That evening, in his first at bat in a game at Busch Stadium against the Dodgers, Big Mac hit a monster home run off the left field scoreboard.

Last Thursday night while the ink was drying in a Savvis Center office, Pronger scored the Blues first goal of the night in route to a win over Calgary. With his arms raised and that legendary gapped-tooth smile, professional sports' newest multi-millionaire enjoys his status in the Gateway City. Truly it was another Kodak moment for the Home Team.

As big of a payday as Thursday was for Chris Pronger, it was a huge intangible payday for the St. Louis Blues franchise. The Blues ownership/management has been criticized in some circles for being complacent on improving the team. This contract is a sign to the ticket buying public that the Blues are willing to make the necessary steps.

Local hockey fans and talking fans have pointed out that the Blues failed to obtain any player additions down the stretch in each of the last two seasons. A credibility concern was growing with some of the local puck heads. General Manager Larry Pleau and Cards' Manager Tony La Russa have shared time as this town's top sports lightning rod.

Yet the Blues were proactive in their discussions with Pronger. A month ago, Pleau announced that contract negotiations were suspended until the end of the season. Still, the team was not stubborn enough to hold on to that stance. The Blues recognized that they not only needed Chris Pronger's services for the long-term, but that there would be at least one team that would make #44 an offer that he and Blues couldn't refuse. In all likelihood, that offer would come from Bill Laurie's brother-in-law in Colorado.

The method of this signing also speaks volumes of the Blues Management. I find it hard to imagine Paul O'Neill or David Cone inviting George Steinbrenner to lunch to discuss a contract extension. The thought of Andres Gallaragga breaking bread with Ted Turner seems odd to me. I don't think there is any Chicago Black Hawk that would want to make luncheon plans with Bill Wirtz. Regardless who picked up the check or made the reservations, the Blues availability were both clever and impressive.

Now, the City of St. Louis gets to keep one of its best poster boys for a few more years. The gapped-tooth grin now points to St. Louis. That Sporting News cover picture with Edmonds, Warner and Pronger on its "Best Sport City" edition was symbolic. When you think of the St. Louis Cardinals, you think of Mc Gwire and Edmonds. When you think of the St. Louis Rams, you think of Warner, Bruce and Marshall Faulk. Now, Pronger will be the face of the St. Louis Blues franchise for years to come.

The Regional Commerce and Growth Association will be quick to point out that each fact begins with the words: "when you think of St. Louis". These are all very good things.

So it turns out to be a win-win-win situation for (in no particular order) Chris Pronger, the St. Louis Blues and the City of St. Louis.

It took a simple business luncheon meeting for a Defensive All Star and his owner to hammer out a deal without the distraction or spin of the lawyers.

Do you think lightning can strike twice? Quick, someone make lunch plans:

Attention: Table for two is now available for Mr. Kevin Carter and Mr. John Shaw.