Abel to Yzerman
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Is Your Tummy Ok?
by IwoCPO on 04/25/08 at 06:34 PM ET
Comments (30)
I’m not sure I’ve made myself clear on this issue, so maybe it’s time I expanded just a bit on my feelings for Dive “fans”. We’ll get to that, as usual. But first…this.
I don’t care if Forsberg’s hurt, Wolski’s done, Jose 3 or 4 has himself case of the runs. None of that matters. Actually, it does matter. It makes me happy.
You see…I’m not proud. No sir. I’ll take a victory any way I can get it. And when the Wings win, which providence and sweet baby Jesus dictate they will, I’ll look back at those ailments and I’ll giggle like a school girl. I’ll read the excuses from Gobble and Shane and the hyphenated guy. I’ll read them with joy in my heart. Because, you must understand, their anguish warms me. Does that make me “angry” as Gobbles said earlier today? No. Does it make me “mean”? Oh, sure. I guess. But more than that, it makes me a Wing fan and that’s a status I can easily revel in.
Wait. A hot one. Live, local and late breaking. Anybody see this from The Delicate Genius this morning?
Nor will this be a series of nostalgia. Detroit and Colorado have not faced each other in the playoffs since 2002, when the Wings won in seven and took their last Stanley Cup. In those days, as in the ‘90s, the Wings-Avs rivalry could have been subtitled “There Will Be Blood.”
Could have been? It was Mitch. Yesterday. Whatever. I’m sure it was just a coincidence. Mitch’s journalistic credibility speaks for itself. I’m not one to question it.
Back to the Dive and their injuries. Floppa’s got a groin. Wolski’s done, good on ya Mule. And poor, poor JoeSay. Here’s a newsflash: he got beat, sick or healthy. The bluster you’ve read all day from the Dive defenders in the comments? Exactly that. Bluster. Look at the 3/4 situation in one of two ways and either one is sickening for the Denver “fans” who haven’t leapt off the wagon yet. JoeSay was sick? Great. Use that alibi if it helps you sleep tonite. All it means is that the Wings absolutely peppered a sick goalie instead of a healthy one. Eat some Saltines buddy because they’re coming again tomorrow. Second? Dumbass Joel let a sick goalie convince him that he was healthy enough to play. Think Uncle Mike would have allowed that to happen? Not a chance.
Oh, that’s right. Denver looked better with Budaj in goal. What a relief for the Ass Can constituents. Focus on that if you’d like. But, in between latte sips and Dr. Phil riveting monologues, you may want to consider the fact that the Wings owned them in the first, and shut them down throughout the third until the last 8 seconds.
Oh, the injuries. The injustice of it all. Floppa’s questionable. Wolski’s out. I feel almost guilty that the Wings have a lead.
Woops, no I don’t. Not a bit. We could beat an entire team of Hershey Bears and I’d be giddy. I don’t care what the circumstances are, which alibis exist. It doesn’t matter. All that counts is the win, three more of them. Three more wins that guarantee an unsettled summer for the few who actually care about that team. Yeah, I read the comments. I saw the note about letting it all go after the Dive lose, taking a deep breath, “turning the tube on” watching the rest of the playoffs. Good deal. Set your DVR for Dallas/Detroit game 1. I’ll drop you a note and remind you.
Speaking of injuries. Here’s the anti-digger.
The injuries to Forsberg (groin) and Wolski (upper body) could be devastating for the Avalanche.
Good god. What I’d give for a series featuring two healthy teams. Please let me see a matchup where injuries don’t affect the outcome.
Or don’t. Let the Dive fall, one by one, and watch the wins roll in. Injured. Healthy. I simply don’t care. Pre-fab excuses are for losers and they’ll be barreling down the pike soon enough.
Newsflash: Barry Melrose would be happy if the Wings lost.
Dateline: Hockey Night In Canada radio this afternoon. Melrose analyzing each series. Looking at Game 1, which he claims he watched from stem to stern, Barry says the Dive have to be happy with their effort in Game 1. They’re fortified by a one goal playoff loss. Osgood looked “shaky”. Ryan Smyth is playing the best Barry’s seen him all year.
Excellent. MSM predictions have no place here, and you haven’t seen a link to a single one. Screw them all.
Yesterday: Lilja is a disaster, an absolute disaster. Penalty laden, slow, scattered in his own end. If this series goes six, Lilja will have a part in it and it won’t be positive.
Woops. Look out. Uncle Mike’s got a weapon and he’s not on the top line. His name is Franzen and he’s on fire again. Man, what to do Dive? Better stick him and stick him good because while you were fighting for your 8 seeded lives in March he was owning the league. I’m just sayin.
Osgood. Did he steal Game 1? Nope. Well, yeah, he kinda did. With John-hyphen-Michael-hyphen Liles bearing down with a tie game on his stick, there was Osgood lining him up. Was he brilliant? No. A victor and a goalie who prevented overtime? Yes.
Stop. Slow. Settle. Let’s talk the difference between Dive “fans” and you, the A2Y 19. I could describe it, but I’m 5 beers in and i’m thinking our guy Lilja4ever might have a much more elooquent statement.
You’re not a fan. You’re not even a supporter. People like you make me sick to my stomach. You instigate me. People like you weren’t born into a sport. Not born into a sports jersey.
You weren’t born into an Avalanche jersey – unless, of course you are fifteen, which does not seem that unlikely when you think about it for a minute. You have no idea what it means to live and die with the team you were brought up to love. Yes, I said love. Something you’re probably more comfortable with using in the company of other fifteen year old neighborhood boys.
What you don’t understand is that a real fan doesn’t just turn off the TV and “swear a bit” then “sulk around the house”. A real fan doesn’t “wake up, turn on the tube … and get ready for more hockey”. It’s over right there and then. When you lose, you stop living for a moment. Time almost stops and it’s as if you hear your parents, grandparents and ancestors — yes those other people, fans long before we were born — turn over in their graves. As a Dive, by default these are things you will never understand.
Speaking of A2Y geniuses waging war with the Denver whiners who descended on us in force today, yes Nate, I read and watched all day. The juvenile behavior that would offend most 39 year old responsible male adults? It warmed me.
Dive commenters: a note. You are always welcome, especially on off days when the stress starts to build, but I have a word of advice. Criticism of our immaturity, our juvenility, is just a lost cause. Understand your audience before you start slinging ill informed barbs. Stick around, but understand that we have a full repertoire of childish insults we haven’t even used yet. There is very little shame in our approach, particularly during the playoffs. Don’t be sad. Just be prepared. And, really, “jibble”? Did you actually thing we wouldn’t jump all over that? It could have happened in November, but the playoffs are much more fun. “Gobble” is so much more appropriate.
PaulinMiami made mention of something interesting yesterday. He hinted around at the fact that even if the Wings lose in the Cup final, a victory over Denver would make the summer so much less painful. I thought about that sentiment for a great part of today. I happen to agree. Wings beat Colorado then lose to Dallas or Pittsburgh? Tragic, yes. But, still…that second round victory and the guarantee of the pain it caused in Denver? Not a bad consolation.
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Comments
Knew the Chief would feed off the energy and bring it. Great post.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 04/25/08 at 09:13 PM ET
No scarier words exist than what I heard the announcers say last night.
“Lilja can’t get to the bench. The Wings are trying to get Lidstrom onto the ice but Lilja wasn’t able to get to the bench.”
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 04/25/08 at 09:46 PM ET
Taking the Chief off the boat, and onto a plane has made him ornery! I too will derive great satisfaction on beating the Avs, any way we can.
I was listening to several MSM reports on the lead up to this series. All said the rivalry was dead as the Avs are non-contenders, the last playoff meeting was in 2002, and so few players on either team were part of the mid-90s blood baths.
Only in one MSM panel did someone mention that despite the fact the players have changed, the fans remain the same. Damn straight, I am glad someone realizes that true fans have memories like elephants. I will always hate the Avs, it is a Red Wings rule.
And I echo the sentiment that when the Wings are eliminated, a big part of me dies. I can watch hockey, but I just don’t give a sh*t anymore, usually dwelling on a Wings game for more than half of any game I am “watching”.
Limit Sammy’s ice time, ship Lilja in a crate to Alaska for the playoffs, and we will be FINE. The Avs showed they can’t keep up to us unless we turn off. For the entire first period we had them running around like chickens without a head, at least you can eat chicken… the Avs would probably taste like the sand in their vaginas.
Posted by VooX on 04/25/08 at 10:00 PM ET
Wings beat Colorado then lose to Dallas or Pittsburgh? Tragic, yes. But, still…that second round victory and the guarantee of the pain it caused in Denver? Not a bad consolation.
Thank you for proving my point.
I find it humorous that you have a “genetic” hatred for a team, yet then comment we can’t be “real” fans because the team’s only been around 12 1/2 years.
And, really, “jibble”? Did you actually thing we wouldn’t jump all over that? It could have happened in November, but the playoffs are much more fun. “Gobble” is so much more appropriate.
If you think I care what you call me, or that it bothers me, you are sorely mistaken.
But you’re right, injuries are no excuse. We beat a team, in Minnesota, who had injuries piling up on the blueline. Depth is part of hockey and so are injuries. But I wouldn’t go expecting Jose to be as bad in game 2 as he was in game 1.
But I do think it’s funny Mitch stole your blog title for his article.
Posted by Jibblescribbits from San Jose, CA on 04/25/08 at 10:02 PM ET
Foreskin is hurt? Don’t care, not my problem. Wolski is hurt? Don’t care, not my problem. 3/4 was sick in Game 1? Not sure I buy it, but don’t care, also, not my problem. Bottom line, the Wings won the game. Yeah, we lead by 3 and only won by 1, but guess what, kiddies, 1 goal is all you have to win by. And I don’t care what anyone in the MSM says, that game wasn’t as close as the score would indicate. The only time that the Dive really had any sustained pressure was in the second, and that was pretty much only when the Smyth, Stastny, Hejduk line was out there. That’s the line we’ll need to keep an eye on, but other than that, we basically owned that game. Sackic (yes, I threw an extra “c” in his name) isn’t really going to be a threat in this series, Foreskin won’t play in Game 2 and will probably have to leave early again in Game 3 since he’ll be on his period. 3/4 will probably get pulled again at least once in this series. Stuart is going to be back for Game 2, so Lilja will have his happy ass back where it belongs, and that’s SCRATCHED. We’ll win Game 2 tomorrow, but don’t worry, Dive fans, I will predict a split at The Can. Unfortunately, you’ll have to come back to the Joe for Game 5, where we’ll send you home for good. Have a nice weekend 
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/25/08 at 11:00 PM ET
“A real fan doesn’t “wake up, turn on the tube … and get ready for more hockey””
Just watch me. You see, I have the balls to be able to stand up after a loss, suck up the pain, take it like a man, and move on.
I guess I didn’t realize Red Wings fans were lacking testicles - proverbial ones so to speak so the ladies don’t feel left out.
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 04/25/08 at 11:19 PM ET
You see, Shane, true Red Wings fans live and die with their team. Red Wing hockey is burned into the soul. I’m 29, and have been watching the Wings my entire life. The Wings win, I’m ecstatic. The Wings lose, I’m devastated. Doesn’t matter if it’s preseason, regular season, or playoffs. LOSING SUCKS FOR US. We do move on when we lose, it just takes a while, but it doesn’t mean we’re not going to be a little bitter about it. It comes with the territory of being so obsessed about a team and a sport. It has nothing to do with not “having the balls to suck it up and take it like a man”. We take our losses hard because that’s what true fans do. I thought you’d understand that, being from Canada and all.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/25/08 at 11:29 PM ET
“LOSING SUCKS FOR US. We do move on when we lose, it just takes a while, but it doesn’t mean we’re not going to be a little bitter about it”
I’ve got no problem with being bitter about it. But crying that you’re not going to watch hockey for the rest of the playoffs reeks of someone not having the balls to suck up a loss.
I’ve played a lot of hockey along with other high level sports and certainly know what it means to live and die with a team. But I didn’t dwell on and cry about my/our losses then, so why would I do it now?
I didn’t say the Avalanche losing wouldn’t hurt. I didn’t say I’d be whistling and skipping down the stairs to turn on the tv the next day. My heart certainly will sink if it comes to that final buzzer sounding in an elimination game with the Avalanche on the losing end - be it against the Wings or otherwise.
But I can buck up and continue watching the sport I love, even if the team I love isn’t in the running anymore.
Maybe us Canadians are a bit tougher that way 
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 04/25/08 at 11:41 PM ET
Shane… tsk..tsk..tsk.. you just don’t get it. I applaud all the A2Y posters who tried to explain it to you. I won’t reiterate what has already been said, suffice to say that you either understand ... or you don’t. I come to this site and I love these people, because, unlike 98% of the other blogs I read, this one ENTERTAINS me… I laugh, I cry, I poop in my pants. This is what this blog is all about. Don’t talk about the economy, don’t talk about the war (unless it’s the one on the ice), and please don’t talk about the upcoming election. Everyone is free to board the Stress Train… Oh, you don’t know what that is? Well then, you haven’t been reading this blog long enough. It took me almost 2 months of observing to understand the culture that lurks at A2Y. So all I can say if you still don’t get it is… “SERENITY NOW!”
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 04/25/08 at 11:45 PM ET
“this one ENTERTAINS me”
It’s entertained me too. I wouldn’t have hung around if that wasn’t the case. But this wasn’t about whether or not this blog was entertaining. It was about how tightly Wings fans cling to their team. So tightly that a single loss is enough to send them plummeting to the gutters in an uncontrollably crying, urine soaked heap.
I cling just as tight to the Avalanche. But when they lose, I prepare myself for the next game. I don’t dwell on the loss* and keep looking to the past.
That’s kind of the overall point that Jib and a few other Avs folks were trying to say with regard to the rivalry meaning more to Wings fans than Avs fans. We hate Phaneuf with a passion. We hate the Flames and Canucks with a passion. We’re starting to really dislike the Wild. But we don’t hate the Wings with the same passion that we used to. You see, we can move on into the future and with no less passion than Wings fans have either.
*And since some of you don’t seem to get it, saying I don’t dwell on the loss does not equate to a lack of caring. I’ll still vent and piss and moan, but I’ll still be living my life - and likely watching hockey - while I do it.
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 04/26/08 at 12:01 AM ET
SERENITY NOW, motherf*&ker;, SERENITY NOW.
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 04/26/08 at 12:05 AM ET
“It took me almost 2 months of observing to understand the culture that lurks at A2Y. So all I can say if you still don’t get it”
“SERENITY NOW, motherf*&ker;, SERENITY NOW.”
I also admire the patience that Wings fans have. Geez, no wonder your fanbase is hated more than your team.
It’s too bad an organization like the Wings has such annoying fans.
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 04/26/08 at 12:19 AM ET
One last thing before I call it a night. I don’t think Wings fans are bad fans. I love it that you can be so passionate about your team. I love it when any fan is passionate about their hockey team - except for Flames fan who can suck it. I just think you take it a bit too far. The stress and hatred can’t be good for your health.
Anyways, here’s to a good game this coming afternoon!
Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 04/26/08 at 12:33 AM ET
I find it humorous that you have a “genetic” hatred for a team, yet then comment we can’t be “real” fans because the team’s only been around 12 1/2 years.
Jibble & Shane: We are not saying Dive fans aren’t loyal because the team has been around a short while, but because there is too much bandwagoning, apologizing for hideous plays/ performances, and not being as invested––relatively––to Detroit fans. Also, your organization retired Boroque’s number; that’s a disgrace to anyone who has had their number retired, especially given the names that hang from our rafters.
Hatred for the Leafs and Blackhawks is genetic too, but those genes are dormant until they get their acts together. We’re actually happy for Chicago because it means we may have a real enemy in our division again.
If you find that we take the “rivalry” more seriously than you guys do, you should remember that the man whose face got crushed still plays for our team. You had two of the most irritating, easy-to-hate and dominant playoff performers the league has ever seen in Lemieux and Roy. Lemieux especially; I’ll never forget him and no one else will either.
Any hint of a dirty hit, Laperiere (sp?) on Lidstrom for example, and we’re all back in that black space. Time passes and we wake up in pools of someones blood. And then we smile.
Posted by Osrt on 04/26/08 at 01:15 AM ET
I figured we might as well add blasphemy to our list of faults.
One-way ticket to hell please!
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 04/26/08 at 01:31 AM ET
You know, I find it very…intriguing? No..disgusting, that Mitch Albom should choose to write about this series with a slightly conciliatory edge to the rivalry, in light of what he wrote about the Fight Night and D-Mac’s beatdown on LePuke. Don’t rail against fighting and violence in the sport and then pretend that the rivalry means something to you. There’s only so much hypocrisy I can take from someone who writes sentimental tripe the rest of the year.
FG knew what he was getting into when he signed Floppa. And Dive fans knew what they were getting when they praised that signing, and the ThreeOrFour signing. To complain about it now—“If Forsberg was healthy!” “If Theodore was playing right!”—is moot. You know what you’re getting with the whole package, the tissue-paper ankle, the tissue-paper mental state. So don’t tell me that isn’t a full-strength team, because it’s a team that is displaying all the strengths and consequently all the flaws that the players came with. If every player on the ice was playing to the best of their abilities, the best we’ve ever seen them play, then this series would be a Wings sweep. As it is, I’ll take victory over an injured Dive just as easily as over a full-strength Dive, because strengths, people, come invariably with weaknesses. If injuries counted for anything other than win/lose, we’d be defending champs right now.
And that’s not even factoring what might be happening right now had Jiri Fischer had a healthy heart, or Vladdie or Larionov not been involved in auto accidents, et cetera.
Guys? It’s pretty obvious Dive fans don’t ‘get it.’ I can’t say I’m surprised, or that I didn’t expect it. You wouldn’t explain quantum theory to a monkey, so stop trying to explain what it means to be invested emotionally and mentally in a team to these bandwagoners. Or else give ‘em a one-way ticket to the Via del Madonnina with a box of road flares and a blue-and-black striped shirt. They’ll understand soon enough. 
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from a proud place in Wings Nation on 04/26/08 at 03:24 AM ET
Oh, and Nate? You rock, man! Hope you don’t mind that I’ve stolen that for my desktop…
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the People's Front of Judea on 04/26/08 at 03:26 AM ET
Look, when it’s not even a sure thing your team will even make the playoffs one year to the next I can understand Dive fans’ more um, ‘relaxed’ approach with regards to any expectation postseason success.
When the teams glory days are six or seven years in the past, tied to the retirement of one player, I can see why Nordilanche fans don’t want to invest too much of themselves in the outcome. Patrick Roy ain’t walking through that door, Sally.
Colorado hasn’t been out of the second round since the last time the Wings shoo’d them from the playoffs. In 2002.
The re-acquisition of battered and broken former players and the temporary resurgence of terminal-dosage Propecia users qualifies as a rousing attention grabbers for those guys.
And really, when The Simpsons have been around longer than your team… please.
It’s cute that the ‘existence’ of NHL hockey in Colorado has given internet trolls there the opportunity to wax moronic in front of actual NHL hockey fans, as opposed to what they used to do: wax moronic in front of some other groups fans. I sense a theme.
For the one or two of Dive fans who fancy themselves litigiously inclined, however, take solace in the fact that after Detroit gets done abusing your nubile little franchise in every way imaginable over the next week, you can always try and get them brought up on charges of Statutory Rape.
God knows you’e got no shot of the on-ice product putting up much of a fight, you bunch of Nancy-boys.
Posted by HockeyinHD on 04/26/08 at 05:43 AM ET
Jibblescribbits from San Jose, CA
How’d I miss that yesterday? Damn, I’m slipping.
Gobbles. Yeah, that’ll work just fine.
Posted by O-Joe on 04/26/08 at 06:03 AM ET
Nate A: Priceless, including the caption!!
Andrew from the home of the U of M is directly on point:
It’s pretty obvious Dive fans don’t ‘get it.’ I can’t say I’m surprised, or that I didn’t expect it. You wouldn’t explain quantum theory to a monkey, so stop trying to explain what it means to be invested emotionally and mentally in a team to these bandwagoners.
Chief’s game observation:
Yesterday: Lilja is a disaster, an absolute disaster. Penalty laden, slow, scattered in his own end. If this series goes six, Lilja will have a part in it and it won’t be positive.
The HighLander says Stuart practiced Friday and is in —surely to GAWD Uncle Mike pulls Lilja. You have to wonder what Ken Holland was thinking when he made an offer to Lilja earlier in the year.
Wings “D” should be doing their usual today, perfect positioning, and giving up far fewer chances than game 1.
Maybe, just maybe, Game 1 will inspire the Wings to choke the freaking life out of the Av’s today!!
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 04/26/08 at 08:17 AM ET
I also admire the patience that Wings fans have. Geez, no wonder your fanbase is hated more than your team. It’s too bad an organization like the Wings has such annoying fans.
So, Shaney, we annoy(ed) you. Good. We fans give a rat’s ass what you think. It is all bout what WE think. Got that? Oh, you don’t.(No surprise there).
You hate US. Well, of course you do. The envey wraps around your throat and chokes you. Your left with No-thing. No life. All the breath sucked out of you.
Too. bad!
GO WINGS!
Posted by dwingsrock on 04/26/08 at 08:56 AM ET
Guys? It’s pretty obvious Dive fans don’t ‘get it.’ I can’t say I’m surprised, or that I didn’t expect it. You wouldn’t explain quantum theory to a monkey, so stop trying…
Well, you could explain it to the monkey, you just can’t make him understand it. It’s like that olde saying “You can hold the horses head under water, but you can’t make him drink.” ....or something like that.
They are not going to get being a fan. There simply is no there, there, in the chemical makeup.
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 04/26/08 at 09:06 AM ET
Chief, as always, well done. Your “There Will Be Blood” blog was all I needed to convince myself that it was ok to shell out $400 for a plane ticket and another $300 for game tickets to watch at least one game in this series live. Andrew B and Chris, you guys hold down the fort until Monday. I haven’t been to the Joe since 1/2/07 and I think in some way today will be just as beautiful as the night #19 took its rightful home next to Gordie, Sid, Ted, Alex, and Terry.
Posted by D Town in Bubbaville on 04/26/08 at 10:28 AM ET
Me thinks Nate A is challenging TeamDub for photoshop mastery…
well done ye heathen blasphemer!
Posted by Osrt on 04/26/08 at 10:32 AM ET
Jesus H. Christ on a crutch - not this argument about the “definition of a true fan” AGAIN!
You all sound like the idiots on the WWL show Around the (Screaming) Horn arguing about whose opinion is more valid because of which person holds that opinion.
“True fans stick with a team no matter what, through thick and thin.”
“True fans ignore a team when they are poorly managed, because otherwise they have no incentive to improve.”
“True fans live and die with their team, and are emotionally devasted when their team loses.”
“True fans keep watching even after their team is eliminated, otherwise they have no balls.”
Oy-freaking-vey.
If balls make you that closed-minded and intolerant of other points of view in what is a battle of opinions, not facts, I’m glad I’m not so afflicted - and if I were, I’d castrate myself with hedgetrimmers and deal with the bleeding afterwards.
What does anyone care about how wrapped up someone else is in anything? As long as it isn’t to the level of “anyone who is different (religion/race/gender/hair color/sexual orientation/soccer fan base) from me must be killed” it doesn’t affect anyone else how over the top they are in their emotional attachment.
Are a lot of the Red Wings fans on this site over the top? Yes - but so what? That’s “how they roll,” I believe is the terminology, and although I don’t share their same level of involvement, they are happy as they are, talking to them isn’t going to change anything, so I don’t see any reason to attempt to convert them to my opinion of what “should be” the proper way of being a fan. Last I checked, no one died and named me God yet - and if they did, I have a lot of things on my list to do and/or smite ahead of something as trivial as hockey fans.
I like sports, but this particular sports fan attitude makes me detest sports fans of every team.
At least we aren’t throwing lit road flares around like European soccer fans. That’s something, I guess.
*****
So, how about that Penguins comeback against the Rangers? Down 3-0 and win by a final score of 5-4. Could this be the year for Pittsburgh - or does anyone else think the Rangers are going to bounce back and stop making stupid mistakes?
And if Pittsburgh coasts through the post-season, is that going to be the deciding factor in their favor in the finals against whoever comes out of the West? I was reading the comments on an article recently where a bunch of fans were calling for the demise of Western conference defensive hockey and the West’s predominance in the finals. According to their opinions, Pittsburgh and Washington will lead a revival of offensive hockey, and together with Montreal, Ottawa, Buffalo (once they get things sorted out) and the other Eastern conference teams they will show that a high-scoring team is the way to go in the modern NHL, and the Cup will begin to reside in the East instead of the West. I’m not sure I see such a changing of the guard - but at least it’s a hockey topic, instead of the drivel-pissing competition that arguing about the definition of a “true fan” is.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/26/08 at 10:46 AM ET
Lest I invite wrath upon my own head - I don’t care what kind of fan anyone else is - casual or passionate, fan of a team or a sport as a whole, wearing black in mourning after a loss or raising a beverage in salute to a fine effort and proceeding to watch other games, no outward signs or dressed in full team colors at work - just stop wasting your time earnestly trying to convince others that your version of fandom is somehow more valid or more “pure” than that of another, because it isn’t. It’s personal, and if their flavor of fandom works for them, then leave them alone and move on to another topic.
You aren’t going to change their minds, anyway. It’s like trying to teach a pig to sing. You waste your time and annoy the pig.
(Do I hear annoyed oinking right now?)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/26/08 at 10:54 AM ET
Jibblescribbits from San Jose, CA
How’d I miss that yesterday? Damn, I’m slipping.
Gobbles. Yeah, that’ll work just fine.
FYI I’s 28, I lived in CO until I was 26 and moved away for my job, not that that makes any difference.
And thanks Baroque for a little levity
Posted by Jibblescribbits from San Jose, CA on 04/26/08 at 11:00 AM ET
I own red and white face paint and apply it liberally when I go to The Joe. (“Gotta support the team.”—Puddy). That makes me a truer fan than anybody from Col-rada.
Moreover, I can belch the alphabet and armpit-fart the musical scale (The Lion Sleeps Tonight, including the a-wimoweh, a-wimoweh a-wimoweh a-wimoweh part is my best piece). That makes me funner to be around than anybody from Col-rada.
Oh, and whenever I ask Col-radans to pull my finger? They always do. Dumbasses…
Posted by O-Joe on 04/26/08 at 11:32 AM ET
I was reading the comments on an article recently where a bunch of fans were calling for the demise of Western conference defensive hockey and the West’s predominance in the finals.
I was playing around with the NHL.com stats machine (a fun tool, if I do say so myself) and, in head to head, the West scored 45 more goals than the East did in head-to-head. I won’t say that this outright proves that Western Conference “defensive” hockey is the better way to go in the current NHL. However, I think it does hint to something about how many 2 goal leads have been blown in the Eastern Conference playoffs so far. Being able to “lock it down” is an important part of successful playoff hockey.
However, I think that, once the NHL decides which rules they’re going to fiddle with to increase scoring (my money’s on limiting size of goaltender’s equipment), that the more offensive-minded teams are going to start seeing more success.
As far as this runs for East vs. West? I think that you will have a better chance of having more Eastern Conference champs in the coming years after the rules change. As far as it relates to Red Wings hockey? I can’t see how any rules designed to increase scoring would not benefit a puck-possession team like Detroit.
I Thought this was funny, my confirmation word for this post is “87perform”... just what the Penguins need to make the finals.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 04/26/08 at 12:49 PM ET
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Awesome post Chief. You keep writing like that and I see a book deal in your future. I close my eyes and see ...well…“Tuesdays with O-Joe” or something fluffy about a dog. Yeah, a dog… But, I digress.
Certainly was an interesting thread today. Lilja4ever nailed it. The battle of wits with the unarmed sort of died off after that.
Nevertheless, took me back a few years, I think I had them gibblescrippets things when I was in my twenties. Kind of a minor irritant, but the smell would knock you out. Doc gave me some ointment for that. That was when they had an ointment for all that ailed ya. Took a couple days, but it worked. Never forgot that odor though. Sure would have been nice to have some ointment today.
Posted by Rumbear from Sun Diego on 04/25/08 at 08:59 PM ET