KK Sponsors - Fathead | IceJerseys.com | Shop.NHL.com

LOGIN | REGISTER | RSS FEEDS

Abel to Yzerman

Next entry: Dave At Gorilla Crouch Is A Genius

Previous entry: Friday Deep Digging

A Gift For Wing fans….A New Rival

by IwoCPO on 12/22/06 at 07:09 AM ET
Comments (7)

You know...the more I think about it, the more I’m warming to the idea of an eventual hate-hate relationship with Columbus and their admirable corps of bloggers. 

The Wings are adrift...floating at sea in search of a team to replace the downtrodden ‘dique as a primary rival.  Oh, I know...there’s always Bubba.  I don’t like ‘em either.  But, the prospect of a hate-fest with the Jackets is so much more appealing, on so many levels.

First: proximity.  They’re just down the road.  A huge ingredient in building a rivalry is a maddening lack of distance.  Columbus is so close you can smell it.  How long’s the drive from Detroit, 2 hours?  Close enough to visit on a weeknight and get the Hell out after a win.

Second: Consistent interaction.  Like it or not, Little Gary’s stuck us with this piece of crap division (getting better, I know) and a schedule that blows.  We can whine or we can accept it and look for the benefits. If we can work the hate, capitalize on it, let it warm us during the winter months...we may end up liking the arrangement after all. Plus...eight BJ’s in one year?  There are plenty of hockey fans out there who would see that as a positive.

Third: Personnel.  You’ve got one Wing expatriot, one former Dive who played a huge role in Detroit’s last despisalitory relationship, a fat coach we used to love to pick on when he was drawing plays with BBQ-sauce stained fingers in Dallas, a budding star who kicks our butts and a player who allows himself to be called Duvie.  On this Christmas weekend, take a moment to hate each one of them.

Fourth: UM/OSU.  This is so simple. It’s so raw.  You’re born in Michigan.  You crawl, then eat a little solid food.  And then you begin to despise Ohio State....in that order.  I’d like to think Little Gary placed a team in Columbus to take advantage of the natural outright blood hate between those two fan bases.  That may be giving him a bit too much credit, but it’s there.

Fifth: the BJ Blogosphere.  Go visit a Nashville blog and get back to me.  Can’t find one?  Oh.  Neither can I.  Illiteracy, apathy, rotary phones, generator power...whatever the reason, the Tennessee internets (where it was invented, right Al?) just don’t care about little Bubba the hockey team.  The Jackets?  Now they’ve got some bloggers brother, and good ones.  And, oh....they hate them some Wings.

Death Cab For Woody

It is worth the penalty to absolutely lay out a Datsyuk or Zetterberg when they come in the zone with their head down or across the middle just to put the thought in their head that they might get killed coming into the zone in that manner.

The Men of Scarlet and Gray (bring me the frigging bucket now)

I’ll infuriate you with a quote from AP sports:

“We know we’re a better team,’’ Hasek said. “And if you want to be a contender, a top team in the NHL, you can’t lose two games in a row to a team like Columbus.”

I love that quote.  Take issue with it Columbus?  Prove him wrong.

And you all remember this one from “Truth Serum”.

End of the Bench (Dose of Reality)

Maybe last night’s game will be the one that makes the obnoxious Red Wing fans show some respect when they come to town.

First sign of a team that probably isn’t deserving of respect?  When they demand it.

Is this a rivalry yet?  Not really.  On the Columbus side? Sure.  The mere mention of the Detroit Red Wings is enough to induce an Osgoodian rash.  But on our side of the border? Not so much.  Not yet.  One other factor to consider...that team is getting better.  The first period in Columbus the other night?  Kind of surprising wasn’t it?  Naturally, the BJ’s fell into a shell of mediocrity that continued for five periods after that.  But, they showed something.

So, there you have it Wing fans.  My gift to you this Christmas.  A rival.  Consider it.  Ponder the idea of hating a team so close, such a frequent adversary, one with fans and bloggers who glory in your sorrow.  We may want to give it a shot.

Hate the BJ...errrrr, the Jackets.

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

Comments

Oh My Go*!  LMAO! 
“ Plus...eight BJ’s in one year?  There are plenty of hockey fans out there who would see that as a positive.”

Posted by w2j2 from Alpena, Michigan on 12/22/06 at 08:40 AM ET

I don’t know if you’ve noticed Glovesides new addition of the “Dunk Tank”, but BJ blogger, Drew, was the first to take the bait.
We’re trying to inpire good faith hatred in the sphere...It s more fun that way.

Posted by johnnygloveside on 12/22/06 at 08:42 AM ET

I like this alot.  St. Louis was a good rival until recently.  I just laughed so hard when Erik Johnson was asked about his memories of the Blues growing up and the first thing out of his mouth was Steve Yzerman’s series winning goal in the second OT against the Blues in 1996.

As you point out the Jax have a lot of qualitites that make them worth loathing.  Signing Ken Hitchcock might have put them over the top in terms of making Columbus competitive, which is key in any really good rivalry.

Posted by Dave on 12/22/06 at 08:59 AM ET

Maybe last night’s game will be the one that makes the obnoxious Red Wing fans show some respect when they come to town.

Good Lord, you can’t stake some verbal face-washing from visiting fans?  It’s hockey.  You’d crap your Sans-a-belts if you were a Detroit fan watching a Wings-Leafs game in the ACC.

Go to the friggin’ opera.

Sheesh…

Posted by O-Joe on 12/22/06 at 09:57 AM ET

I’d add Army of the Ohio to your list of BJ… errr… Jackets bloggers.  Always good stuff.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 12/22/06 at 06:20 PM ET

I wouldn’t say I took the bait so much as acknowledged the Dunk’s existence.

I fail to acknowledge the existence of the CBJ on Wednesday night, however.  What a crappy game.  Hopefully we’ll put up a better fight for you guys next week.

Posted by Drew on 12/22/06 at 11:10 PM ET

damn funny and good stuff, i’ve got to get my daughter off the freakin’ computer more often so i can catch up on my RW blogs!

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 12/23/06 at 07:34 PM ET

Add a Comment

Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.

Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.

Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.

Most Recent Blog Posts

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977.  No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y.  Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation.  There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature.  Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome:

A2Y Stuff

-----------------------------

Wanna Feel Smart?

Does confusion make you sad? When you read words like "enigma" and phrases like "Thanks Gary. Ass", do you wonder why mean people speak in languages you don't understand? Fret no longer friend! The A2Y Glossary will bring you great joy and enlightenment.

-----------------------------

How Others View The A2Y 19

"Hell, I guarantee the content co-opters at Abel to Yzerman were about to link this article under the heading “Bitter Blues Fans” again right up until they just read that last half-sentance. Thanks but no thanks, you Kukla hangers-on."
--St. Louis Game Time

"I realize it’s the slow summer season, but can this guy tone down the tough-guy histrionics? His posts are fatiguing on an otherwise excellent site."
--A2Y Fan, Eternal_Fields

"I constantly marvel at how Bill (IwoCPO) and his disciples at Abel To Yzerman can be so pompous and full of themselves throughout every regular season, but come playoff time they collapse into wavering puddles of stress and nervousness as they anxiously await the impending and unavoidable collapse of the Red Wings in the post-season."
--Mile High Hockey

"I hate them because they are better than us. Of all the frigging teams…"
--In The Cheap Seats

"It's just a shame that the most classless, uneducated, lowbrow fanbase in the league gets this sweep. Red Wing fans don't deserve their team."
--Thhom

"I really don’t care what fans or bloggers think."
--Drew Sharp

"Why is it you Detroit fans are still so classless when you have such a classy hockey team, with such a professional GM and gentlemen players? I understand that the author of this blog is a manner-less cad, but the rest of you should be better."
--A2Y Fan, Jeff Beaumont

"Have you ever *read* A2Y? Its the most opinionated, juvenile stuff i've read."
--Paul Nicholson

"I actually like the Detroit team and have a sh&% load of respect for them, but their fans are the biggest douches next to Canadians."
--KStewy, PensBlog Commenter

"Just when it looks like we have bottomed out, the 19 hit a new low."
-A2Y legend, Hockeytown Todd

"And for the record, I don't hate the Red Wings, I hate their fans."
--Douche Bag at Puck Daddy who isn't Wyshynski

"You’re nothing but a douchebag ****, c3po. Go f**k yourself, and learn something about hockey in the process. Nothing ruins my day more than seeing your byline on the kk page."
--Hector, A2Y fan, statesman, Pittsburgh Chapter of Jonas Brothers Fan Club President

"I can just imagine the kindergarten teacher’s reaction when the tyke blurts out 'Mommy says Gary Bettman is a f*cking f*ckface! He wants to give ‘Rosby the bad touch.' ”
--Bella, of the 19

Head to Hockeytown

Blogs the Chief Likes

Archives