"The Perfect Human." The fact Nick Lidstrom's teammates referred to him as such says it all. In all reality, that could be all that needs to be said in this post. He was perfect. A shining star on and off the ice. For 20 years he patrolled the blue line for the Detroit Red Wings. They made the playoffs each year and were among the NHL's best. Direct correlation. He will be missed. He can't be replaced.
It is next to impossible to recall all of his stellar moments such as his save in game 2 of the 1996 WCF vs. the hated Avalanche or his series-changing center ice goal in game 3 vs the Canucks in 2002. Or what about the 4 Cups, countless All-Star appearances, 7 Norris Trophies, the goals, points, staggering plus/minus? What about the 2002 Conn Smythe where playing amongst a team of hall of fame players he stood out as the best because he was just that good? You certainly cannot forget how he gracefully filled the shoes of the best leader sports has ever seen in Steve Yzerman after his retirement as the next captain. How do you fully recall perfection night after night for 20 years? You can't.
Above all, he is a great person. He never held out for more money. He never blew up on the media. He never whined on the ice or quit on his team. He never threw cheap shots. He was driven by team goals and not individual goals. He never got in trouble off the ice. He was a leader. He was truly just as good of a human being as he was a player. A true class act on all levels. A rarity in modern professional sports. His press conference was a sterling example as he thanked everyone from the Illitches to the water boy. Other athletes could learn a great deal from this man.
Today is a sad day and an uneasy one for the Red Wings and us fans. We know we can never replace perfect. But today really should be a day to celebrate the fact that we as fans of the best franchise in sports had the privilege to watch the best defenseman ever to lace them up every single night for 20 years. He is even perfect in retirement by leaving while he can still perform at a level higher than most and not a shell of a once-dominant player. In a world of imperfections, we got to witness the exception. He was ours. And with him he brought the team, the fans, and the city of Detroit a lot of success. For that, I speak for Red Wing fans everywhere when I say to our captain: thank you for being perfect Nick!
LIDSTROM'S CAREER BY THE NUMBERS
20 Seasons Played
4 Stanley Cups
2006 Olympic Gold Medal
2002 Conn Smythe (1st European-born player)
1st European-born Captain to Win Stanley Cup in 2008
7 Norris Trophies
12 All-Star Games
1,564 Regular Season Games Played (Second only to Gordie Howe in Red Wings History)
263 Playoff Games Played (Most in franchise history)
46 Total Games Missed
264 Career Goals
1,142 Career Points (Fourth in Red Wings history)
183 Playoff Points (2 points behind Steve Yzerman for most in franchise history)
Career Plus-450 (Eight best in NHL history)
**1 HELLUVA HOCKEY PLAYER AND HUMAN BEING**
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sources: Lidstrom to Announce Retirement Tomorrow
The Red Wings and captain Nick Lidstrom have scheduled a press conference for tomorrow at 11AM EST. Sources all over Twitter such as Aaron Ward, Ansar Khan, and TSN are saying he will hang them up. We had to see this coming if true. Like the rest of you, I am praying he is announcing he is back for one last year. Wishful thinking.
If tomorrow is indeed the day the Lidstrom Era ends, it is imperative that the Wings go extremely hard after BOTH Suter and Parise. There will be no excuses now with the cap space they will have. Suter is your defenseman of the future to replace (not really) Lidstrom. Parise is your scorer for the future. It has to happen. Losing Nick is a gigantic blow and pieces need to be brought in if they wish to maintain their success. The money is there. Make things happen. Be aggressive. Be overly agressive if needed. Prove to the world you are still the best franchise in all of sports.
We will see tomorrow. If the rumors are true, let's just all remember and appreciate the fact that Red Wing fans have had the luxury of watching arguably the best defenseman in the history of the NHL. Period. He is a class act, an outstanding player, and will be impossible to replace. We have been privileged to have him in the red and white.
All good things come to and end. Tomorrow may be the perfect example if the "Perfect Human" hangs up his skates.
If tomorrow is indeed the day the Lidstrom Era ends, it is imperative that the Wings go extremely hard after BOTH Suter and Parise. There will be no excuses now with the cap space they will have. Suter is your defenseman of the future to replace (not really) Lidstrom. Parise is your scorer for the future. It has to happen. Losing Nick is a gigantic blow and pieces need to be brought in if they wish to maintain their success. The money is there. Make things happen. Be aggressive. Be overly agressive if needed. Prove to the world you are still the best franchise in all of sports.
We will see tomorrow. If the rumors are true, let's just all remember and appreciate the fact that Red Wing fans have had the luxury of watching arguably the best defenseman in the history of the NHL. Period. He is a class act, an outstanding player, and will be impossible to replace. We have been privileged to have him in the red and white.
All good things come to and end. Tomorrow may be the perfect example if the "Perfect Human" hangs up his skates.
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
I withheld any new posts in recent days in order to see how the Tigers responded to their short-lived 3-game winning streak last week. I wanted to see if they would carry momentum to Boston or flounder. Here fishy, fishy, fishy, as in FLOUNDER! They have dropped the first 2 and the bats are dead and the fielding is atrocious again. It has been one step forward but then two steps back. Same ol' story. Same crap, different toilet. It is getting to the point when we may have to come to some realizations.
First, it is becoming painfully obvious the Tigers are not the offensive juggernaut we thought they were. The runners stranded, the horrific batting averages, the consistent hockey scores, the strikeouts, etc., etc., etc., are daily proof. There are 3 legit hitting threats on this team: Cabrera, Fielder, and Jackson. That's it. Last time I checked teams must bat 9 players every night. Having only 33% of the lineup capable of providing offense is just not conducive to winning baseball.
Weeks ago people thought when the weather warmed up the bats would too. Lame excuse and apparently not a good one because it has been beyond warm. The bats looked to be coming alive after the series sweep vs. the Twins. Well there was no carry over and so far vs the Sox it's back to status quo.
Second, they cannot play defense. Period. The errors, the failure to turn countless double plays, the inability to get to balls, etc., is getting worse every game it seems. They are statistically the worst fielding team in the majors. We all new they would not be stalwart defenders but we thought they would be serviceable. Well, they have been serviceable...to other teams. Right now they are not getting the job done to say the least.
Third, they are mentally weak. It is very similar to the 2008 season. That season, they were awarded the AL Central before spring training and were World Series favorites. They finished last and were a complete failure. Fast forward to 2012, they have been favorites since the January signing of Prince Fielder and so far they look like they are a middle-of-the-pack team in the weak AL Central. It appears they cannot handle expectations.
The recent whining to umpires and their NBA-like antics also show they are mental midgets. Take Monday for example. The umps missed the much-talked about strike 3 call. It led to a 3-run rally. Fine. Calls get missed in all sports. It's a reality. Instead of moving on, Leyland and Lamont get tossed and the team is unable to fight back to make a game out of it. Weak sauce Tigers...weak sauce. Show some resiliency for God's sake. Some intestinal fortitude. Man up. Whatever the cliche dejour may be. Just do something besides wilting.
Fourth, the team sorely misses Victor Martinez. NOT, because of his so-called leadership. Just stop that right now (along with the talk of the leadership of Guillen, Ordonez, and Inge). They miss his .400 average with RISP. It's that simple. I would tend to believe if he was batting in the 5-hole behind Prince instead of the countless experiments Leyland tries there, there would be more runners coming home. But it is not his leadership. That excuse is almost as bad as the warm weather excuse.
In conclusion, with a pedestrian offense, a lineup of mostly fringe MLB players, a defense that resembles a beer league softball team, a team of mental midgets, and a lack of a clutch hitter, not to mention 2 regulars at the beginning of the season (Inge and Raburn) have been sent packing, the Tigers are simply not a championship calibre team. I am not sure how much more proof we all need. They are just not that good. We have to deal with it. Anyone who can can convince me otherwise please enlighten me. With solid reason not homerism please.
Hey, maybe a trade for a bat could turn things around. It would need to be sooner than later. They can't wait until the deadline. But until then, this is our team and it is not one that will win anything of significance. That includes winning the AL Central or earning any of the Wild Card spots. They are a team with a lot of sizzle and no steak.
The positive: The Wings off season should be one of the most exciting since the 2001-2002 season and both college and pro football are not that far away. So enjoy the summer with these things in mind. Stop stressing about the Tigers because it will just be a waste of your time and your summer.
First, it is becoming painfully obvious the Tigers are not the offensive juggernaut we thought they were. The runners stranded, the horrific batting averages, the consistent hockey scores, the strikeouts, etc., etc., etc., are daily proof. There are 3 legit hitting threats on this team: Cabrera, Fielder, and Jackson. That's it. Last time I checked teams must bat 9 players every night. Having only 33% of the lineup capable of providing offense is just not conducive to winning baseball.
Weeks ago people thought when the weather warmed up the bats would too. Lame excuse and apparently not a good one because it has been beyond warm. The bats looked to be coming alive after the series sweep vs. the Twins. Well there was no carry over and so far vs the Sox it's back to status quo.
Second, they cannot play defense. Period. The errors, the failure to turn countless double plays, the inability to get to balls, etc., is getting worse every game it seems. They are statistically the worst fielding team in the majors. We all new they would not be stalwart defenders but we thought they would be serviceable. Well, they have been serviceable...to other teams. Right now they are not getting the job done to say the least.
Third, they are mentally weak. It is very similar to the 2008 season. That season, they were awarded the AL Central before spring training and were World Series favorites. They finished last and were a complete failure. Fast forward to 2012, they have been favorites since the January signing of Prince Fielder and so far they look like they are a middle-of-the-pack team in the weak AL Central. It appears they cannot handle expectations.
The recent whining to umpires and their NBA-like antics also show they are mental midgets. Take Monday for example. The umps missed the much-talked about strike 3 call. It led to a 3-run rally. Fine. Calls get missed in all sports. It's a reality. Instead of moving on, Leyland and Lamont get tossed and the team is unable to fight back to make a game out of it. Weak sauce Tigers...weak sauce. Show some resiliency for God's sake. Some intestinal fortitude. Man up. Whatever the cliche dejour may be. Just do something besides wilting.
Fourth, the team sorely misses Victor Martinez. NOT, because of his so-called leadership. Just stop that right now (along with the talk of the leadership of Guillen, Ordonez, and Inge). They miss his .400 average with RISP. It's that simple. I would tend to believe if he was batting in the 5-hole behind Prince instead of the countless experiments Leyland tries there, there would be more runners coming home. But it is not his leadership. That excuse is almost as bad as the warm weather excuse.
In conclusion, with a pedestrian offense, a lineup of mostly fringe MLB players, a defense that resembles a beer league softball team, a team of mental midgets, and a lack of a clutch hitter, not to mention 2 regulars at the beginning of the season (Inge and Raburn) have been sent packing, the Tigers are simply not a championship calibre team. I am not sure how much more proof we all need. They are just not that good. We have to deal with it. Anyone who can can convince me otherwise please enlighten me. With solid reason not homerism please.
Hey, maybe a trade for a bat could turn things around. It would need to be sooner than later. They can't wait until the deadline. But until then, this is our team and it is not one that will win anything of significance. That includes winning the AL Central or earning any of the Wild Card spots. They are a team with a lot of sizzle and no steak.
The positive: The Wings off season should be one of the most exciting since the 2001-2002 season and both college and pro football are not that far away. So enjoy the summer with these things in mind. Stop stressing about the Tigers because it will just be a waste of your time and your summer.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Another Hasek Comeback? To the Wings?
How about an interesting hockey rumor to get our minds off of the Motor City Kittens eh? Very well then.
A Czech sports website is reporting that future Hall of Fame goaltender, Dominik Hasek, is contemplating another comeback to the NHL at the age of 47. It also goes on to say that the 2 teams on his list would be 2 of his former teams, the Buffalo Sabers and, you guessed it, the Detroit Red Wings. There is also speculation that Ken Holland would have interest in bringing back the aging net minder to back up Jimmy Howard. Again, this is just speculation at this point. However, I am really hoping against all hope Kenny is not seriously considering this. I love The Dominator as much as the next guy. He was brilliant during the Wings historic 2002 Stanley Cup journey. He out dueled the hated Patrick Roy. He wowed us with incredible saves. He is probably the best goalie the Red Wings have ever had besides Terry Sawchuk and one of the best goalies of all time. I still chuckle when I think about his hilarious interviews. He was fantastic as a Red Wing...5-10 years ago. At this point, I'd rather keep Joey Mac to back up Howard.
If Ken Holland is seriously considering this I would not be the least bit surprised. This is a trademark Holland move. Bringing back an aging (very aging in this case) veteran and/or forming Red Wing in an effort to "make changes" to the team. This is exactly the type of move myself and many Wings fans hope he does not make. I have stated a million times I do not want many of the same faces back such as Hudler and Holmstrom let alone Hasek. The man has not played since the '07-'08 season which is the same season he was benched in the 1st round of the playoffs in favor of Chris Osgood. He couldn't get the job done 4 YEARS AGO!! Heck, let's just get Maltby, Draper, and McCarty to come out of retirement along with Chelios and Yzerman while we're at it! Can Gordie Howe still skate?
I may be overreacting because of the fact he would be brought in as a backup. But it is the principality of the issue. The Wings need new faces. Young bodies. The future of the team needs to be brought in. Not players who once were superstars but now have their AARP cards. Good Lord.
This off season is one of the most important the Wings have seen in a long time. It could very well determine their success for the next 4-5 years. It is obvious big changes are needed. A move like bringing back Dominik Hasek could be the beginning of Holland bringing back the same team and/or more aging vets to "bolster" the lineup. This would serve as an indication that he either has forgotten how to build a championship team, is not serious about building a championship team, enjoys golf more than Stanley Cup runs, or is just getting old like the players he brings in and is no longer fit to run the team.
Stay tuned and GO WINGS!!!
A Czech sports website is reporting that future Hall of Fame goaltender, Dominik Hasek, is contemplating another comeback to the NHL at the age of 47. It also goes on to say that the 2 teams on his list would be 2 of his former teams, the Buffalo Sabers and, you guessed it, the Detroit Red Wings. There is also speculation that Ken Holland would have interest in bringing back the aging net minder to back up Jimmy Howard. Again, this is just speculation at this point. However, I am really hoping against all hope Kenny is not seriously considering this. I love The Dominator as much as the next guy. He was brilliant during the Wings historic 2002 Stanley Cup journey. He out dueled the hated Patrick Roy. He wowed us with incredible saves. He is probably the best goalie the Red Wings have ever had besides Terry Sawchuk and one of the best goalies of all time. I still chuckle when I think about his hilarious interviews. He was fantastic as a Red Wing...5-10 years ago. At this point, I'd rather keep Joey Mac to back up Howard.
If Ken Holland is seriously considering this I would not be the least bit surprised. This is a trademark Holland move. Bringing back an aging (very aging in this case) veteran and/or forming Red Wing in an effort to "make changes" to the team. This is exactly the type of move myself and many Wings fans hope he does not make. I have stated a million times I do not want many of the same faces back such as Hudler and Holmstrom let alone Hasek. The man has not played since the '07-'08 season which is the same season he was benched in the 1st round of the playoffs in favor of Chris Osgood. He couldn't get the job done 4 YEARS AGO!! Heck, let's just get Maltby, Draper, and McCarty to come out of retirement along with Chelios and Yzerman while we're at it! Can Gordie Howe still skate?
I may be overreacting because of the fact he would be brought in as a backup. But it is the principality of the issue. The Wings need new faces. Young bodies. The future of the team needs to be brought in. Not players who once were superstars but now have their AARP cards. Good Lord.
This off season is one of the most important the Wings have seen in a long time. It could very well determine their success for the next 4-5 years. It is obvious big changes are needed. A move like bringing back Dominik Hasek could be the beginning of Holland bringing back the same team and/or more aging vets to "bolster" the lineup. This would serve as an indication that he either has forgotten how to build a championship team, is not serious about building a championship team, enjoys golf more than Stanley Cup runs, or is just getting old like the players he brings in and is no longer fit to run the team.
Stay tuned and GO WINGS!!!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tigers Need to Shut Up & Play
If you haven't heard, the Tigers were swept in the 3-game series vs. the Indians and scored a whopping 6 runs. Yep, 6 total runs. Some quality baseball being played by the team with the 6th highest payroll in MLB. In this series there was lack of hustle in the field and on the bases, bases loaded opportunities squandered, countless errors in the field and so on and so forth. Barf. That was not me typing it, that was me literally barfing as I thought about the way this team is performing. They whined to the umps after called strikes/balls (very NBA-like) like premadonas. They had been shown on TV yucking it up in the dugout while they are being embarrassed by a borderline AAA team (again NBA-like). When interviewed, the players and Leyland are asked to address the same problems and are giving the same answers. These sound familiar"
"We just have to put it behind us and get ready for the next one."
"We're gonna hit."
"We're a better team than we're showing."
Sounds a lot like the Red Wings when asked about their inconsistent play this previous season and their inability to win on the road.
The whining, the cookie cutter responses to the media, and the garbage level of play on display, etc. is beyond the point of cute. My advice to the Tigers and Leyland: SHUT UP AND PLAY! Not only play, but PLAY LIKE YOU GIVE A DAMN!! Run the bases hard. Don't swing at strike 3 when the pitch is out of the zip code. Play like you belong in the MLB. The fans are paying good money on tickets, apparel, foam fingers, refreshments at the park, parking, etc. They are not paying to watch this grab ass baseball.
Forget the stats. The only one that matters is wins and losses and the win column is way too low. The eyeball test tells you they are just waiting for things to magically change instead of busting their overpaid butts to make things happen...apathetic...all is well in Tigerland.
So the bottom line: Shut your mouths. Do not whine to the umps. Do not shake your heads after a call. Do not take the laid back approach with the media and give cliche responses. In fact, just don't say anything. Let your play do the talking with the messege ;being that you are giving it 100%. You may not be completely invested in the season but your fans are and your antics are a collective slap in the face! Shut up and play and stop the whining. You have nobody to blame but yourselves!
"We just have to put it behind us and get ready for the next one."
"We're gonna hit."
"We're a better team than we're showing."
Sounds a lot like the Red Wings when asked about their inconsistent play this previous season and their inability to win on the road.
The whining, the cookie cutter responses to the media, and the garbage level of play on display, etc. is beyond the point of cute. My advice to the Tigers and Leyland: SHUT UP AND PLAY! Not only play, but PLAY LIKE YOU GIVE A DAMN!! Run the bases hard. Don't swing at strike 3 when the pitch is out of the zip code. Play like you belong in the MLB. The fans are paying good money on tickets, apparel, foam fingers, refreshments at the park, parking, etc. They are not paying to watch this grab ass baseball.
Forget the stats. The only one that matters is wins and losses and the win column is way too low. The eyeball test tells you they are just waiting for things to magically change instead of busting their overpaid butts to make things happen...apathetic...all is well in Tigerland.
So the bottom line: Shut your mouths. Do not whine to the umps. Do not shake your heads after a call. Do not take the laid back approach with the media and give cliche responses. In fact, just don't say anything. Let your play do the talking with the messege ;being that you are giving it 100%. You may not be completely invested in the season but your fans are and your antics are a collective slap in the face! Shut up and play and stop the whining. You have nobody to blame but yourselves!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tigers Simply Tough to Watch
Multiple words can describe how I thought I would feel watching the Motor City Kittens before the Season: Excited. Happy. Joy. Pride. Pumped. Anticipation. Thrilled. Multiple words now describe the reality of my Tigers viewing experience: Anger. Frustration. Disappointment. Let down. Furious. Agonizing. Not fun. I am serious. I am getting to the point where watching the Detroit Tigers is a completely negative experience. No, I am not being a fair weather fan. I am just calling like it is. they are flat out tough to watch and approaching unwatchable. It is 3 hours of disappointment, underachievement, blown opportunities and/or leads, and bad decision-making. Anyone saying anything different is either the ultimate optimist, delusional, or a complete homer. The Tigers have become an afternoon/evening destroyer.
Last night is a perfect example of the garbage we keep watching and why it is negative experience. The starting pitching, in this case Porcello, was bad...AGAIN. The bats, outside of 1 3-run inning, were dead...AGAIN. They left men in scoring position...AGAIN. And we weren't seeing Cliff Lee last night ladies and gentlemen. It was Jimenez who has had control issues all year and has been terrible. We managed 3 runs, in 1 inning. Wow that's fun. Then of course Leyland kept Porcello in probably 1-2 batters too long and when the pen did come in, they were gas cans of Sonoco proportions. Not to mention the poor fielding which seems to be getting worse by the game. At least if you can't play defense, make up for it with bashing the ball. This has been the season so far. This is how this team was built. And they appear broken.
For those of you who think they are going to magically turn this around, when does doubt creep in for you? As I had stated before, the likes of Valverde, Peralta, Avila, Boesch, Young, etc., had career years last year. Maybe what we are seeing now is what they truly are. If that is the case, we have a very expensive, very average (maybe poor), very overrated baseball team. And if that is the case, the turnaround ain't happening. Not unless reinforcements are brought in in the form of trades. And that means trading the deemed "untouchables" of Castellanos and Turner. It's obvious whoever we have in Toledo cannot help this club.
I am guilty. I was intoxicated by last season's success and the signing of Fielder. I am starting to feel I was sold a bill of goods and was duped into thinking we have a championship team. I am starting to think we were all duped. Hell they haven't won 2 games in a row in almost 2 months!! The Motor City Kittens are getting more difficult to watch by the game. On most nights (or at least every other night seeing they are around .500) they are a waste of invested emotions, a waste of energy, and a waste of time. They are simply agonizing to watch. How long will it be before they are completely unwatchable?
Last night is a perfect example of the garbage we keep watching and why it is negative experience. The starting pitching, in this case Porcello, was bad...AGAIN. The bats, outside of 1 3-run inning, were dead...AGAIN. They left men in scoring position...AGAIN. And we weren't seeing Cliff Lee last night ladies and gentlemen. It was Jimenez who has had control issues all year and has been terrible. We managed 3 runs, in 1 inning. Wow that's fun. Then of course Leyland kept Porcello in probably 1-2 batters too long and when the pen did come in, they were gas cans of Sonoco proportions. Not to mention the poor fielding which seems to be getting worse by the game. At least if you can't play defense, make up for it with bashing the ball. This has been the season so far. This is how this team was built. And they appear broken.
For those of you who think they are going to magically turn this around, when does doubt creep in for you? As I had stated before, the likes of Valverde, Peralta, Avila, Boesch, Young, etc., had career years last year. Maybe what we are seeing now is what they truly are. If that is the case, we have a very expensive, very average (maybe poor), very overrated baseball team. And if that is the case, the turnaround ain't happening. Not unless reinforcements are brought in in the form of trades. And that means trading the deemed "untouchables" of Castellanos and Turner. It's obvious whoever we have in Toledo cannot help this club.
I am guilty. I was intoxicated by last season's success and the signing of Fielder. I am starting to feel I was sold a bill of goods and was duped into thinking we have a championship team. I am starting to think we were all duped. Hell they haven't won 2 games in a row in almost 2 months!! The Motor City Kittens are getting more difficult to watch by the game. On most nights (or at least every other night seeing they are around .500) they are a waste of invested emotions, a waste of energy, and a waste of time. They are simply agonizing to watch. How long will it be before they are completely unwatchable?
Monday, May 21, 2012
New Arena Now Inevitable for Wings. Happy? Sad?
Reports have surfaced today that the Illitches have hired a team of architects to design the new home for one of the greatest franchises in all of sports, the Detroit Red Wings. It is the same team of architects that designed the impressive American Airlines Arena which is the home of the Dallas Stars. For years there have been countless rumors and innuendos as to if/when Mike Illitch will build a more modern and aesthetically pleasing arena for a team that more than deserves the best one money can buy. Well it seems now that the plan is officially in motion. It also appears that those who were afraid the new arena would move to the suburbs of Oakland County (i.e. The Palace of Auburn Hills) need not to fret as the reports also state the new barn will be in downtown Detroit.
So are you happy? Sad to see the Joe go. Excited? All of the above?
Let's face it, the Joe has been outdated since it opened its doors on December 12, 1979. It looks like a warehouse, it smells, it is extremely tight to maneuver though the concourse, the bathrooms are, um, disgusting (I mean that in a loving way), and if you attempt to use one of those "washrooms" you are sure to miss a goal, fight, or both since you will be waiting for what seems to be an hour. With all the love in the world I admit it is a dump. But myself, and many, many, if not all, Wings fans will miss it.
The JLA has history. The Winged Wheelers have piled up wins, division crowns, conference titles, 4 Stanley Cups, set and broke records, won historic brawls by the likes of Probert, Kocur, and McCarty who has the most memorable brawl of all versus the hated Claude Lemuiex. The JLA has been the home of players named Yzerman, Shanahan, Fedorov, Lidstrom, Hull, Robitaille, Hasek, Chelios, Konstantinov, Joseph, Osgood, Vernon, Larionov, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg who were coached by the best in business, Scotty Bowman. The Joe has been a house of champions. It has been the house of the best brand of hockey on the planet. I for one will be sad not only because of all the success, but because it has been the only arena I have ever known. My father took me here for my first ever hockey game. It is something I will never forget.
On the flip side, the model franchise in the NHL deserves a model arena. The Wings are big time. It's time for them to play in a place that draws envy around the league not only with the hockey played in it, but by its appearance as well. Rest assured Mr. Illitch will have us all in awe. He never does anything half-assed. He always goes big. This will be no exception. And therefore, I am also very excited.
The boys in red and white will be in a brand new, glitzy, glamoury, big, flashy, and shiny home in a matter of a few years. I am not being cowardly nor playing both sides of the fence when I say I will both be very sad and very excited. Let's all just sit back and wait to see what Mr. Illitch will do.
So are you happy? Sad to see the Joe go. Excited? All of the above?
Let's face it, the Joe has been outdated since it opened its doors on December 12, 1979. It looks like a warehouse, it smells, it is extremely tight to maneuver though the concourse, the bathrooms are, um, disgusting (I mean that in a loving way), and if you attempt to use one of those "washrooms" you are sure to miss a goal, fight, or both since you will be waiting for what seems to be an hour. With all the love in the world I admit it is a dump. But myself, and many, many, if not all, Wings fans will miss it.
The JLA has history. The Winged Wheelers have piled up wins, division crowns, conference titles, 4 Stanley Cups, set and broke records, won historic brawls by the likes of Probert, Kocur, and McCarty who has the most memorable brawl of all versus the hated Claude Lemuiex. The JLA has been the home of players named Yzerman, Shanahan, Fedorov, Lidstrom, Hull, Robitaille, Hasek, Chelios, Konstantinov, Joseph, Osgood, Vernon, Larionov, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg who were coached by the best in business, Scotty Bowman. The Joe has been a house of champions. It has been the house of the best brand of hockey on the planet. I for one will be sad not only because of all the success, but because it has been the only arena I have ever known. My father took me here for my first ever hockey game. It is something I will never forget.
On the flip side, the model franchise in the NHL deserves a model arena. The Wings are big time. It's time for them to play in a place that draws envy around the league not only with the hockey played in it, but by its appearance as well. Rest assured Mr. Illitch will have us all in awe. He never does anything half-assed. He always goes big. This will be no exception. And therefore, I am also very excited.
The boys in red and white will be in a brand new, glitzy, glamoury, big, flashy, and shiny home in a matter of a few years. I am not being cowardly nor playing both sides of the fence when I say I will both be very sad and very excited. Let's all just sit back and wait to see what Mr. Illitch will do.
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