Abel to Yzerman
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Prime Time
by IwoCPO on 11/15/09 at 07:39 AM ET
Comments (85)
First of all…
For some reason, you just knew after those three words that you were gonna be irritated back on October 22nd. If someone had just given John Buccigross an open-handed bitch slap right then? All would be well. Didn’t happen. Steve Phillips’ production assistant was busy. Matthew Barnaby was repeatedly stabbing the exclamation point key. No one stopped Buccigross and now he just looks like a tool.
Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are no longer in their NHL prime.
Oh, and dick? It’s Zetterman. He dreams in colors. Red ones.
I’m gonna do some talking about Hank but before I do I want to tell you it’s not gonna compare to this. And that pisses me the fu** off.
He was so good that he scared Arby’s into downgrading their Hat Trick prize to “free urinal cakes”. He was so good, in fact, that Mitch Albom is going to lie about being at this game and write a column on it.
The guy works his beard off every night, on and off the ice. He is an absolute machine. Most players think that “double shifting” is playing on multiple lines; to Z it means dominating a hockey game and then going home to work over Emma.
Tyler and his dad also talked about the fact that they don’t profess their love for Hank as much as they should. Interestingly, I think the same can be said for all of us. Is Zetterberg overlooked? No. But he’s just undermentioned. I get into ruts. We all do. We’ve talked more about whether it’s cool to like Mike Babcock here than we have about one of the top 3 all around players in hockey.
We know why, of course. The Babcock deal is a debate starter. Zetterberg is an ender. Around here you mention Uncle Mike and blood pressure starts to skyrocket. All Zetterberg elicits is a nod. Best player in hockey right now? Yep. Best leader in hockey? Yep.
I said it. Discuss it if you want, but it’s true. Zetterberg’s the best leader in hockey and he’s not wearing the “C”...yet. It’s not just about the scoresheet and I seriously doubt he’s ever said one motivating word in the room. It’s about hustle and filth and grit and want and the desire to tell John Buccigross and Jimmy Devellano to just STFU. It’s about placing a team on your back and carrying them because you despise losing. That’s leadership and Hank’s got it.
It’s about taking on every team’s top line and playing your best when you do. It’s about shutting down the face of hockey on the biggest possible stage…two years in a row. It’s about frustrating and sticking your boot in asses, reminding people that just because you’re Swedish doesn’t mean you lack some sort of mythical intensity only possessed by Canadien(an)s, or at least that’s according to a guy who talks toughness while sampling Tiny Tim’s wardrobe.
It’s about leading quietly, through pain, by example, lifting others and creating shame if your friends don’t play as hard as you do. It’s about wearing a number that’s 21 away from a legend but playing a style that’s close enough for valid comparisons.
You know when it started. We all do. During the third period of a game that is sickening to remember. Game 6 of the WCF, 2007. The Wings may have lost but Zetterberg and Datsyuk laid claim to this team on that day. They almost brought the Wings all the way back because it’s what they willed to happen. And the next year? The bile of losing was so disgusting that Zetterberg refused to let the taste come back.
He’s doing the same thing now, you know. A third-period hat trick. Tie game? BFD. Hank? Seal it. Done deal.
Ville Leino played his best game of the season last night. He was fast, relentless, aggressive. Why?
“I have to compete more and win the puck in situations where it’s 50-50,” Leino said. “If you watch Pav and Hank, they win a lot of the battles, and that’s why they get the puck more and get to play more in the offensive zone. So you have to compete harder, otherwise you’ll just be floating around.”
Wings are gonna miss the playoffs. Wings won’t have a top four seed. Wings won’t win the division. Detroit’s run is over. Dynasty no more. Really?
Do you really think Hank Zetterberg is gonna let that happen?
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Comments
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Would I be able to marry the 19? Or perhaps, one of them civil union thingies?
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/15/09 at 08:29 PM ET
Um ... why?
Aren’t you happy with the current state of the relationship?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/15/09 at 08:31 PM ET
Um, is this that internet dating thing going on??
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/15/09 at 08:56 PM ET
Um ... why?
Aren’t you happy with the current state of the relationship?
Posted by Baroque
Commitment phobia eh? Well guess what missy, you can’t get this milk without buying the cow. Moo bitch.
Posted by Osrt on 11/15/09 at 09:02 PM ET
Would I be able to marry the 19? Or perhaps, one of them civil union thingies?
Check with Osrt and TDT.
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 11/15/09 at 09:03 PM ET
Commitment phobia eh?
F*** hell, yes. If you had my litany of lousy relationship decisions with men you would be phobic, too.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/15/09 at 09:18 PM ET
F*** hell, yes. If you had my litany of lousy relationship decisions with men you would be phobic, too.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/15/09 at 09:18 PM ET
I know exactly what you mean. I once let my friend borrow my copy of Bomberman for the NES and I never saw it again. Ever since, I promised I would never let another man break my heart like he did. 
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/15/09 at 09:27 PM ET
If you’re happy with it as-is, then a civil union would just mess it up.
Leave well enough alone, I say.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/15/09 at 08:49 PM ET
If Heinlein was an A2Y member, he’d have beaten you to the punch on that quote. Great job, in other words.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 11/15/09 at 10:43 PM ET
I got my free curly fries today in ann arbor…i was sooo happy….also just in the time that i was there eating, 7 others came in with box scores to claim their prize. Thanks Zetterman.
Posted by Itrusteddrrahmani from Nyc by way of A2 on 11/15/09 at 10:44 PM ET
I know exactly what you mean. I once let my friend borrow my copy of Bomberman for the NES and I never saw it again. Ever since, I promised I would never let another man break my heart like he did.
Ah dude! Bomberman! Holy f***... F***in’ BOMBERMAN! Awesome. Just, awesome.
Remember Superbomberman, too? I think you can download both for the Wii now, if I’m not mistaken…
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 11/15/09 at 10:47 PM ET
I loved that game. I have it on an emulator now, but it’s just never the same.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/15/09 at 10:57 PM ET
I know exactly what you mean. I once let my friend borrow my copy of Bomberman for the NES and I never saw it again. Ever since, I promised I would never let another man break my heart like he did.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/15/09 at 09:27 PM ET
Heh. I wish that was all there was to it.
//sigh
Men are just pure evil when they are more than just friends.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/15/09 at 10:57 PM ET
We’ll get them next year.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 11/15/09 at 08:55 PM ET
Okie - While The Duncan Banner seems to indicate it was more then a leaking “O-line”, “Many reasons why DHS came up short”, the closing paragraphs agree with the ‘next year’ hope:
While the end result was disappointing, the 2009 season went a long way toward getting the program back on track. The Demons posted an 8-3 record this season and finished second in District 5A-1.
Friday night’s loss could prove invaluable to a Duncan team that will have the majority of its starters back next season. The loss to Guthrie can serve as motivation for a 2010 playoff run as long as the Demons choose to learn from it.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/15/09 at 11:08 PM ET
you would be phobic, too.
Posted by Baroque
I only choose winners like Fil and TDT.
Ah dude! Bomberman! Holy f***… F***in’ BOMBERMAN! Awesome. Just, awesome.
lol. this moment should be in a movie.
Posted by Osrt on 11/15/09 at 11:30 PM ET
Okie - Did I find the right athlete in the DHS ‘09 Football photo? no. 27, right?
(Second row, 3rd from the right):
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/15/09 at 11:37 PM ET
What do you guys think about this?
It would change the Live Blog drastically. But it would be much easier to do.
I kinda dig our way though. It changes our comments so that we can have multiple conversations.
Posted by Osrt on 11/16/09 at 12:30 AM ET
What do you guys think about this?
http://www.coveritlive.com/
It would change the Live Blog drastically. But it would be much easier to do.
I kinda dig our way though. It changes our comments so that we can have multiple conversations.
Posted by Osrt on 11/16/09 at 12:30 AM ET
Different.
Don’t have an opinion yet except to say I like the current way to be able to archive and review later. Maybe do the same with CiL?
Not sure how it would work yet; and hesitant to change for fear of making A2Y something different than what it is.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/16/09 at 12:49 AM ET
Don’t have an opinion yet except to say I like the current way to be able to archive and review later.
Yea, they have a “replay” thingy. This is where I saw it:
http://the6thsens.com/2009-articles/november/live-life-live.html
Posted by Osrt on 11/16/09 at 12:56 AM ET
Those curly fries were delicious. Maybe I’m crazy but I thought I tasted a hint of ‘back-checking’.
What do you guys think about this? http://www.coveritlive.com/
I kind of dig this way too, just because everyone’s jokes come across better and funnier. They’re more “punchy” if that makes sense.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 11/16/09 at 01:08 AM ET
Jesus—
By “this way” I meant the current way. It sounded like I meant the new year 2000 future way. I’m going to preview my comments one of these days, I swear.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 11/16/09 at 01:16 AM ET
Maybe I’m crazy but I thought I tasted a hint of ‘back-checking’.
That’s certainly what Hank was doing to Emma last night after the game.
Posted by stayouttamalibu from Temporarily in Tempe, AZ on 11/16/09 at 01:27 AM ET
I’m not opposed to Coveritlive. I’ve seen it used a few times in other places, Puck Daddy for one. We did try the chat feature here a couple years ago, or was it last year? Archiving seemed to be an issue and I think that’s important…being able to go back and read each LB.
Let me look into it a bit.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 11/16/09 at 05:20 AM ET
Archiving seemed to be an issue and I think that’s important…being able to go back and read each LB.
Drinking coffee in the morning would never be the same, if I couldn’t read the previous nights LB.
Posted by dougie on 11/16/09 at 06:33 AM ET
I only choose winners like Fil and TDT.
Just wait until they both dump you and are seen all around town together.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 11/16/09 at 06:56 AM ET
I’m not opposed to Coveritlive. I’ve seen it used a few times in other places, Puck Daddy for one. We did try the chat feature here a couple years ago, or was it last year? Archiving seemed to be an issue and I think that’s important…being able to go back and read each LB.
Let me look into it a bit.
Just get Paul to code that feature or something like it directly in KK. Simple, right?
Posted by monkey from here to Timbuktu on 11/16/09 at 08:15 AM ET
While The Duncan Banner seems to indicate it was more then a leaking “O-line
The coaches and the paper were being “PC”, DHS usually has a dominant running attack (180 avg), and can grind out long drives. They had nada Friday (about 50 yds.), and our QB was sacked/hurried/hit about 50% of the time he dropped back. DHS “D” was solid against a good offense (13 pts allowed) - - there was a punt returned for TD by Guthrie. Guthrie “D” was everywhere.
Okie - Did I find the right athlete in the DHS ‘09 Football photo
That is Christian a/k/a Rambo.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/16/09 at 08:17 AM ET
Secondly, the Wings are probably at the end of their run. Their best players are older and their younger players are average NHL players. They continue to live off their power players and struggle with their penalty killing and goaltending. The injury to Johan Franzen is enormous. The Red Wings will struggle to score goals and that is a problem because they are not constructed to prevent them.
I’ve been somewhat busy lately and catching up is making me laugh. This is a deep down good laugh from a joke of a writer. Does Bucci still have a day job?
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 11/16/09 at 08:33 AM ET
Kate, you read it? Chief redacted one quote from the article, I read it several times over, thought about it, flipped it, examined possible context, scholarly analyzed it, and found that no matter which way it came out, it still sounded enormously stupid. So idiotic that even if it were inserted into a treatise on the feasibilty of cold fusion it would still make the whole paper look like the moronic crayon scribblings of a New Bedlam inmate, so I decided to skip the rest of the article. Wisest decision I made yesterday.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 11/16/09 at 08:51 AM ET
Those curly fries were delicious. Maybe I’m crazy but I thought I tasted a hint of ‘back-checking’.
What do you guys think about this? http://www.coveritlive.com/
I kind of dig this way too, just because everyone’s jokes come across better and funnier. They’re more “punchy” if that makes sense.
Having participated in many of the gameblogs at Blessyouboys and once or twice at wingingitinmotown I really dig the way it updates itself rather than having to constantly refresh the page to get caught up.
Posted by 42jeff from Minot, North Dakota on 11/16/09 at 09:32 AM ET
Re: Coveritlive:
Paul has done it before (Draft day coverage) but there are both benefits and limitations:
Benefits:
-Cool interface
-no need to refresh or change pages
-the fancy polls and pop-up images.
Limitations:
-Content is no longer hosted directly on the site (lnstead in a Coveritlive interface)—I feel the blog loses a lot of content this way. What if CoveritLive went under? Would content disappear?
-Scripting is necessary. As a security savvy computer user, I strictly restrict non-essential scripting. There are too many viruses and bots which can take over your computer once you allow something to run script on your CPU
-The host must moderate ALL comments. That means the Chief will have to individually approve all comments. Given his early bedtime, and proclivity to being drunk by the second period, this may not work well.
-Fixed duration of CoveritLive discussion. You can’t go back to earlier posts that have been closed to comment. I feel with the Chief’s random topics this may hinder cohesive conversation
I like things the way they are. It’s not perfect, but there is a certain charm about the way conversations occur. If I could change some things, it would be
-the ability to edit your last post (only) for five minutes after posting. Keep this limited, I don’t like revisionism to cover up stupid comments. Think before you submit.
-having a “latest comments” link for A2Y threads (handy for the long ones). Pages beyond #11 don’t show up as links under the thread unless you are several pages deep.
-the ability to click on a username and look up their past posts linearly. It would be nice to be able to search an individual’s posts for gold/garbage.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/16/09 at 11:14 AM ET
Kate, you read it?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 11/16/09 at 08:51 AM ET
Of course. I take great pleasure in watching Bucci go to great lengths to make a fool of himself. He never fails to please.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 11/16/09 at 11:20 AM ET
That is Christian a/k/a Rambo.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 11/16/09 at 08:17 AM ET
This? I’m impressed.
Did he get his dominant genes from your side of the family or the spouse’s?
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/16/09 at 11:42 AM ET
The genes - definitely from his paternal side. The nickname comes from his teammates. I find it friggin hilarious. Everyone calls him that now, his best friends parents, his g/f parents, hell, I even call him that now.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/16/09 at 11:55 AM ET
Everyone who is on facebook please join my “Chant Eat it Gary at the Joe” group….....how awesome would it be to get the arena wide chant going every time we have games like that one in Columbus where we struggled to score goals and weren’t designed to prevent them.
Posted by Davo on 11/17/09 at 02:03 PM ET
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I am often in front of the County Associate Judge, who also happens to be a long-time vet of H.S. football officiating, all over the State. The Judge claims the DHS football Coach, Jim Holloway, to be, hands-down, the best Coach in the state; football and developing the character of young men.
I’ve met Coach Holloway a handful of times. There are around 80 kids in DHS football - - Coach Holloway knows all of thier names - - hell he even knows my name.
H.S. football around here is a really big deal (of course there really isn’t anything else to do here). They have a staff of 10. Coach Holloway is paid 6 digits, and football is all he does. One of Christian’s (my son) classes is football.
All of the things my son learns at football are priceless. The DHS staff are wonderful.
We’ll get them next year.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/15/09 at 08:55 PM ET