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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.  If you think you can do better, feel free to comment; unless you’re a Dive fan.  In that case, just shut the Hell up.  Send comments and praise to:

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On JLA crowds, Williams and hits to the head

by IwoCPO on 11/11/06 at 10:23 AM
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.

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Comments

“...or, you know, actually sell out the games in the first place.”

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  at  01:39 PM

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  at  02:00 PM

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  at  02:22 PM

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  at  02:28 PM

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  at  05:35 PM

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  at  07:22 PM

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