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Shocker In Hockeytown: Babcock Out On Eve Of Playoffs
by IwoCPO on 04/01/08 at 12:00 AM ET
Comments (45)
Unfriggingbelievable. Citing unrest among the team’s top players and an inability to co-exist with Ken Holland, Mike Babcock is stepping down as Head Coach of the Red Wings. According to a release from the Wings, Paul MacLean will coach the Wings the rest of the way, hopefully deep into the playoffs.
Not a whole lot to go on, other than some short blog entries from the Diggers. But it appears that a situation that had been boiling a bit all year reached a tempest with the signing of Darren McCarty last month.
After three consecutive 50-win seasons and building a team he recently labeled his “best shot at a Stanley Cup”, Mike Babcock dropped a bomb shell late this afternoon when he notified Mike Illitch (via phone) that he was resigning, effective immediately. In a conference call with Detroit media, he said while it may be a surprise to “outsiders”, those inside the room and team officials wouldn’t be surprised.
“I’ve been fought every step of the way,” said Babcock. “Every time I felt I had the team headed in a direction that would have been right for the playoffs and right for the players and right for the city and the organization, management would step in.”
Asked if the addition of Darren McCarty was the final straw, Babcock was elusive. “I didn’t choose to play him Sunday. Coach’s decision. Former coach’s decision.”
Looking back the last year or so, there have been rumors (admittedly slammed here at A2Y) that hinted at the players’ dissatisfaction with Babcock. I chose to disregard them, but apparently there was some truth behind what appeared to be a load of crap all along.
Mike Babcock’s contract negotiations had growned strained over the course of the last few weeks, and finally ceased altogether last week. Babcock said in his late afternoon conference call this afternoon that money had nothing to do with his departure.
“I make plenty of money. It’s not the money. It’s the fact that I’ve been trying to do something here and there’s somebody up there who doesn’t like what I’m doing down here.” Babcock, who also lasted three years in Anaheim before being fired, said members of the organization took issue with his decision to start Mark Hartigan instead of Darren McCarty Sunday afternoon against Nashville. “It’s not about money for me. Can I say the same about the guys who hold the purse strings, who make decisions based on putting people in the lower level, where the big money’s spent? Hartigan started. He’ll start Wednesday, or he would have. Ask Paul.”
Babcock was referring to Paul MacLean, interim coach through the playoffs according to the Wing communication office.
The Deep Digger captain was the only Wing beat writer to get comments from Ken Holland and Babcock.
A tempestuous relationship ended in the most unusual and circumspect manner in Detroit on Monday evening. Mike Babcock offered the Wings his resignation at approximately 4:30 pm. It was accepted soon after by General Manager Ken Holland.
“It’s unfortunate and it’s terrible timing. Do I still think we can win? Yes. Will it be hard? Yes. We wish Mike nothing but the best and, despite the appearance that he’s quitting on this team ten days before the playoffs begin, hope he finds a situation that fits for him...one where he’s the coach and GM would probably work.”
Babcock, reached as he was packing up his office at Joe Louis arena, said he hasn’t notified his team, nor did he intend to.
“It was an implosion. The boys imploded on me and there was a revolt led by the older players. I’d like to apologize for kicking Andy Strickland’s ass up and down this room last November. It was fun at the time, but he’s just a punkass and I’m pretty sure he didn’t deserve that last chop to the throat.”
April Fool’s. Motherfu***rs.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
The 12:00 PM Post time kinda tipped it off.
Posted by Steve from New Jersey on 03/31/08 at 11:26 PM ET
Nice one IWO, after 4 Bushmills in celebration, I got to the second paragraph and realized I had been had.
Christ, I just posted with the date 4/1, and it took
4 good ones before I put the two together.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 03/31/08 at 11:41 PM ET
i was scared shitless
That was quite effective
Posted by marc on 03/31/08 at 11:50 PM ET
Holy crap. I hate the Wings, but you had me for a sec. Well done.
Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 04/01/08 at 12:09 AM ET
This is the second april fool’s joke I’ve fallen victim to tonight on the internet. But, I was ready for this one. I had a mini-heart attack, then went straight to the bottom of the post to make sure it was a joke like I thought it was.
Posted by J on 04/01/08 at 12:11 AM ET
Chief!
You blankety-blank, blank, blanking, blankety blank, and blanking blank!
Damn. Had me going for a while, too.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 04/01/08 at 12:17 AM ET
this is no good...wings arnt even gonna make it past the first round im afraid to say…
hopefully they can pick up a decent coach in the off season…
i knew this was gonna happen...we have all heard the grumblings and finally it happened..
i called it tho.
surprised by the comments by holland, things really must have been bad…
Posted by !! on 04/01/08 at 12:28 AM ET
Hahaha good one.
I almost bought a first class ticket on the stress train, Chief. I saw Bruce’s post in there and I thought that it must be true! You had me going until I saw Strickland’s name. Nothing but BS surrounding that guy.
Posted by aaron from phoenix on 04/01/08 at 12:37 AM ET
This just in: The Red Wings have signed Rekjavik Reindeer centre Sloof Lirpa to a 3-year entry-level contract...Ha 
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 04/01/08 at 12:59 AM ET
Nice one. Though McCarty not playing still makes zero sense. If only it had been Babcock, then we’d know why a player hoping to get into game shape is a HS.
Posted by James from Flint, MI on 04/01/08 at 01:24 AM ET
I’m not the only one who wasn’t fooled for a second, am I?
Posted by Justin on 04/01/08 at 01:47 AM ET
God damn, I’ve been expecting these things and you still got me to hit up TSN the instant I saw the headline. Nice one. Is Alanah going to put up an April Fool’s post with “Canucks Show Consistency”?
Posted by Mike Chen on 04/01/08 at 01:58 AM ET
surprised by the comments by holland, things really must have been bad…
Wow. To have a day named after you must be cool.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 04/01/08 at 03:13 AM ET
Justin, it wasn’t just you. Sorry Chief, while I’m normally a real gullible idiot, I saw through this one after the first paragraph. Maybe I know Uncle Mike better than I think I do-- this is something he’d NEVER do to any team. Too classy. And the fact that you link to authors you quote all the time, but didn’t this time, kinda frosted the big bullshit cake.
That being said, it’s pretty frightening the way you nailed Bab’s speech patterns cold. More than that, this was...damn funny. Do I have to say it? THIS is why I LOVE this blog!
By the way Gramps, while I don’t agree with you in your preference for coaches, you have sublime taste in whiskey. Old Bushmills...Hardcore Presbyterianism’s finest contribution to the culture of Ulster. 
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from work, watching over my shoulder for the next one on 04/01/08 at 03:33 AM ET
holy shit. i just spit my late night cereal all over my computer. nice job, dick.
i totally bought the McCarty stuff.
Posted by Alex from San Francisco on 04/01/08 at 05:35 AM ET
The lack of links gave it away right away for me.
I think the thought might set off a few palpitations in Toronto, though - especially if you follow it up with a post about Holland being asked to resign because the Swedish clique can’t get along with him anymore and are threatening to return to Scandinavia.
You nailed Babcock’s speech patterns perfectly.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 04/01/08 at 05:39 AM ET
Yea, I could smell that one coming all the way from Washington,DC. Nice try though.
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/01/08 at 06:46 AM ET
hahahahha...you got me!
i posted it o an dutch hockey forum and they are all laughing at me now 
good one!
Posted by blueleafss from Amsterdam the Netherlands on 04/01/08 at 07:16 AM ET
it was the lack of sarcasm that tipped me off. normally iwo would be going crazy with the biting commentary…
Posted by jaybee on 04/01/08 at 07:30 AM ET
You’re not the only one Justin. I had it figured out by the time I finished reading the title. If it was true Iwo would have used a bit more “colorful” title. Though you did nail babs really well Iwo. I didn’t skip to the bottom and as I read the article I did have to reassure myself a couple times.
Posted by Dahrken from Grand Rapids, MI on 04/01/08 at 07:31 AM ET
Chief, you are a bish!!!
Like I needed that kind of stress. I was trying to hold back the tears, lump in throat and puke bucket gettin closer!
Posted by cementslinger on 04/01/08 at 08:00 AM ET
Brilliantly done, especially Babbles’ speech patterns.
My Reaction:
Heart dropped, blood raced, oh s*$% factor hit “Lidstrom injured” levels, was reaching for my bong…
then remembered who I was reading. Ass.
Posted by Osrt on 04/01/08 at 08:16 AM ET
If only I was not so deeply involved in April Fool’s here at the office, I might have, maybe bought that.
Lack of sarcasm was the second tip off...the headline was the first.
Good job though, some people are more gullible that I ever thought…
Posted by eyesris from Chestertown, MD on 04/01/08 at 08:27 AM ET
Exactly the kind of crap that passes as ‘funny’ around these parts. Brilliant! (Where’s the Guinness guys when I need them?)
Though I nearly always fall for this crap, this year I somehow saw it coming. Better luck next year Chief. If it hadn’t been quite so preposterous maybe you would have got me. Next time, try a headline more along the lines of: “Our Insane Czech heard the sound of tissue paper tearing in his bedroom last night and is out indefinitely” - this would have been oh so believeable and would certainly have indueced a coronary or two… I most certainly would have fallen for it.
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 04/01/08 at 08:33 AM ET
Blueleafss, niet voel slecht. Heb a bier Amstel.
Welkom aan Abel to Yzerman!
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Holland, Michigan...geddit? on 04/01/08 at 09:15 AM ET
Loved the link names! Knew it was a joke the moment I clicked continue reading. If this had not been a fake I figured there’d just be a profanity laced tirade with threats from you to go back into hiding, a la The Absence.
On a side note, they’re going ape over at that reputable trade rumor site about Maltby’s spear of Fiddler on Sunday. Here’s a link. Enjoy the carnage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJCH8ixeUPo
Please, dear god, work this into a post if the wings play the preds first round. Hell, even if they don’t. Emmy award winning… and disgusting. Love the first comment from bubba.
Posted by AndrewB from Marketing Experiment, TN on 04/01/08 at 09:31 AM ET
Over the top, yet brilliant nonetheless! Ass.
Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 04/01/08 at 09:38 AM ET
Chief, you had me for about 5 seconds until I saw “Posted 4/1/2008 at 12:00 a.m.” Very cool joke to play on us all!
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 04/01/08 at 10:05 AM ET
Ah, you didn’t fool me for longer than 10 seconds! I saw the headline and thought, “What?” Then I realized the date and I started laughing.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/01/08 at 10:09 AM ET
You bastard IWO! Now I have to call everyone back and pretend I made the April fools joke…
Posted by Sp4r7an on 04/01/08 at 10:55 AM ET
Aww, you mean it’s not true?
I was hoping Kenny would sign Roy behind the bench.
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 04/01/08 at 12:07 PM ET
Unfortunately for me, my momma did raise a fool, but for whatever reason this one didn’t fool me. Maybe it’s ‘cause I got here later in the day and hadn’t heard it elsewhere yet. But a brilliant, witty, and hilarious piece, as is your usual. You speak Babcockian better than the inventor himself.
Posted by BobTheZee on 04/01/08 at 01:44 PM ET
at least he didn’t have a groin injury!
Happy 4-1-8
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 04/01/08 at 02:15 PM ET
I admit it, the ‘quotes’ got me.
Well written joke. I don’t usually get got, but I was.
Posted by Lily on 04/01/08 at 02:19 PM ET
Chief, you kinda suck. That had me scared. Thankfully I read Snapshots first today, and there was no mention. Phewwwww.
Posted by Bryan from Athens, OH on 04/01/08 at 03:37 PM ET
Best practical joke ever!!! I am on the stress train...but after this bullshit, well, it can always be worse! I laughed me ass off at the end but before that I was in cardiac arrest!
Posted by dwingsrock from VA on 04/01/08 at 04:16 PM ET
I did not fall for this.
I did not fall for this because I was not willing to suspend disbelief and accept the notion that the Diggers would actually be on top of a story as it was breaking.
Oh, and to save time and not have to wait for my dial-up to load the other thread:
Pierre McGuire = Bald Vagina.
(Nevermind, I wouldn’t get proper attribution for it anyway. Ass).
Posted by O-Joe on 04/01/08 at 06:14 PM ET
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Posted by Ryan from Syracuse, NY on 03/31/08 at 11:10 PM ET