BY DAVE HELLER
Enquirer contributor
Tom Askey is Bugs Bunny in a Mickey Mouse world.
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks goalie's personality better fits the quirkiness of a Warner Brothers character than the straight arrow attitude that permeates from Disney.
Askey showed his independent side in training camp when he arrived in Anaheim's training camp with his hair down to the middle of his back. Even after being advised that maybe he should get a trim, Askey's locks still extend beyond his shoulders, longer than the image-conscious Disney organization, which owns Anaheim, might like to see.
"It's something I feel comfortable with," Askey said. "Some people don't agree with it, but it's just hair, so whatever. I don't know if its the Disney image or not, but sometimes you just have to be your own guy and own person."
Askey definitely marches to his own drummer. Rather, make that his own '60s rock icon. During a hot streak last season, Askey started wearing a T-shirt of Jim Morrison under his jersey. He debated between Morrison and Jimi Hendrix, but decided on Morrison for games and Hendrix for practices. "Every coach has his favorite. (Morrison) is my favorite," Askey said.
The tradition has kept up this year, as has Askey's stellar play, especially at home where he is 5-1 with a 1.33 goals against average. "The game is 90 percent mental, I believe," Askey said. "(Wearing the T-shirts) is bordering on belief now. Anything that gives me a mental edge, I'm going to do. And the guys like it, they think it's kind of funny."
Said Mighty Ducks coach Moe Mantha: "Goalies are different birds. Think about it. You have to stand in front of a net and face a shot 80-90 miles per hour. You have to be a different kind of person to have that happen every game."
Askey has something in common with Morrison and Hendrix - he's a musician, at least a budding one. Askey has never taken music or singing lessons but taught himself guitar, and is practicing his vocals.
"(Music) is like a drug for me, I'm drawn to it, I love music," Askey said. "I love making it. I love listening to it. I'm not a great guitarist, but I know enough to make a song. You don't need to be a great musician to be a rock and roller."
The Ohio State product would like to start a band following his hockey career. He's even tried to recruit some of his teammates - to no avail. But don't expect Askey to live a life similar to the wild Morrison.
"He was a crazy man," said Askey, who owns poetry books written by Morrison as well as the biography, No One Here Gets Out Alive. "I could never be that reckless, but I admire that in him."
CYCLONES: The report on defenseman Pat MacLeod's knee injury comes today by the team. Don't expect MacLeod, who suffered a serious injury to his left knee last Wednesday against Chicago, to play for the Cyclones again this season. He is scheduled to have surgery this week.
