Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: Young Yzerman
Previous entry: More Housekeeping: A2Y Glossary
On JLA crowds, Williams and hits to the head
by IwoCPO on 11/11/06 at 10:23 AM ET
Comments (6)
Pointing you to a couple of places this morning addressing Wednesday’s Oil/Wing game, the crowd at JLA and the hit on Williams.
First, a dose of bitterness from Alanah at Hot Oil (a recent addition to the blogroll on the left).
Whenever I hear Detroit referred to as “Hockeytown” without a trace of irony, it’s all I can do to keep my head from exploding. Hockeytown, my ass. In a true “Hockeytown,” fans would stick around the arena until the final buzzer or, you know, actually sell out the games in the first place. In a true “Hockeytown,” the cheers when Winchester was knocked flat on his back tonight would have been deafening. In reality, all the TSN microphones were able to pick up were a few halfhearted “whoo"s. Pathetic.
I grudgingly see her point (although it would have been better received had it not come the day after the Wings dominated her team). Dead crowd, or so it appeared on tv, last night too. Two big rivalry games and a fairly mild audience. Before you blame the fans though, Alanah, you might want to point the finger at the organ-I-zation.
While we’re on the subject of the Oil/Wing game, we return to The Hit. I’ve expressed my opinion that I believe it was clean. Some of you disagreed, and I can see why. It’s turned into quite the debate. I’m going to point you to two different sites where opinions are being intelligently expressed. Matt Saler and Brian List are really nailing this topic at On The Wings, as is Jeff from SISU Hockey.
I suggest you visit both sites and read the accumulation of opinions on the Torres hit, and hits to the head in general.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Tags: Attendance, Fellow+Bloggers,
Comments
Hey Joe...you may want to check out the KK forum, there’s a nhl trade section there where you might want to put your tix next time you have the opportunity. Here’s the link: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/forums/viewforum/61/
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/11/06 at 01:00 PM ET
Thanks for the link, Bill.
Gotta love how the “fans” at JLA were herding out even before Cleary had scored the empty net goal. At that point, I was still on edge, hoping Dom would be able to get the shutout with the Preds making a bit of a push.
I guess they don’t appreciate the alternate excitement of watching their team defend the net rather than attack the other team’s. The choice was between that and getting back to the cushy leatherness of their Range Rovers.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids on 11/11/06 at 01:22 PM ET
You know, the manner in which the current crowd at JLA takes the level of hockey they watch for granted I almost wish we’d go into a rebuilding phase to let the “fans” remember how precious a playoff spot is.
Am I hoping for a Tigers-like drought? No. But a few years of actually battling for a playoff spot would do some good as far as reinvigorating a crowd that goes through the motions now.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/11/06 at 01:28 PM ET
Hey - I just found this post. You’re right—My post stemmed primarily from bitterness over the loss, but as a hockey fan I hate to see a half-filled rink and a lack of enthusiasm, especially in a city touted as “Hockeytown.”
Posted by Alana on 11/13/06 at 04:35 PM ET
Alana: read this. You’ll see that I don’t necessarily disagree.
http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/A2Y/comments/jla_not_the_barn_it_used_to_be/
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 11/13/06 at 06:22 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
Create Your Own Headline For The Wings/Habs Live Blog
Mellow Is The Man Who Hosts About 120 Live Blogs Per Year
“Faux”…Interesting. Do You Use “Faux”?
Detroit Media: Zero Outrage. Fedorov? Plenty
Well Gary? Your League Is A Joke
Gambling In Havana? Hiding In Honduras? Dad? Get Me To A Live Blog…STAT
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
"A2Y is what other blog sites aspire to be when they fail to grow up: intelligent immaturity for the juvenile genius set”
--Captain Dennis Polonich, of the 19
Head to Hockeytown
Blogs the Chief Likes
As far as I know, the games continue to be sellouts. There’s a difference between tickets not sold and tickets not used.
This would be the logical place to claim that all those empty seats belong to the corporations that for whatever reason aren’t using their tickets.
While that may be part of it, I must say that in years past, whenever I sent out messages to those on my mailing list offering up my tickets for sale (I live a couple hours drive away and those weeknight games can be killers come morning), I’d always have my choice among several on whom to sell them. Such is not the case thus far this season.
I receive far fewer responses on average than previous seasons. And those that do respond are looking for a discount. (I never had a problem in the past selling them at face value).
There have been two weeknight games so far this season where I received no responses at all, thus the tickets went unused.
Maybe Michigan’s 49th ranked economy (thanks, Jenny) has something to do with it? I don’t know.
Posted by O-Joe on 11/11/06 at 12:39 PM ET