They’re cleaning up the Stress Train after Sunday’s OT. Fortunately, or unfortunately, the fourth period Sunday night didn’t last long so there isn’t much to do. Should be ready to board by 1800 or so. As you wait, here are a few tidbits to keep you occupied.
Some fella named Jeff Meade at the Monroe News is in a bad mood, and has decided to list a number of things that make his tummy hurt. First and foremost?
The home of the Detroit Red Wings opened in 1979. It was named Joe Louis Arena to honor the Detroit native who held the heavyweight boxing title longer than anyone before or since. Louis was a true hometown hero who performed with dignity and class. Shortening the arena’s name to “The Joe” honors no one. It’s an insult to the memory of a great man.
You’re right Jeff. Take the fist down. Call it “The Schmeling”. Joe Louis is most definitely sad and spinning at this trend to use only his first name when referring to the arena named after him. In that paragraph you wasted on a sniveling whine that seems to have affected only you, you could have applauded Detroit for sticking with JLA rather than caving to corporate sponsors like, oh, The Pepsi Center.
Bellows of misfortune from the Poultry have become the norm. They feel only bad, horrible luck has kept them from a 2-0 lead in the WCF (or the Stanley Cup Finals, if you’re that daring). They claim two fluke goals sealed their fate in Game 1 and their true colors showed on Sunday. Cam Cole of Camwest News sees it differently, and feels the Wings are, at the very least, holding up their end.
“In our eyes, we played very well in both games,” said defenceman Chris Pronger. “Probably deserved to win both games. Came out with a split.”
They needed two video-review goals - one of them extremely iffy - and a seeing-eye wrist shot from a sharp angle by Scott Niedermayer in overtime to win Game 2 on Sunday, or they would be down 2-0 to the Detroit Red Wings in their Western Conference final, with Game 3 tonight at the place the denizens still think of as The Pond.
Plenty more in there. Read it while you’re waiting in line for the Stress Train tonite and you may decide to find alternate means of transportation. In English: things aren’t looking as bad as they could be. Here’s the only thing we really know about this series: it’s going to be tight, every game, every shift. Seven games seems exceedingly likely and whoever wins is going to be one beaten up team to face Ottawa. And even so, whoever win(g)s takes the Sens in 5.
Naturally, because age is everything and the Wings haven’t proven they can take a pounding from Calgary or San Jose, the MSM and most of the bloggers are citing that as the reason Anaheim will prevail.
Most bloggers. Not all.
If you can forget about some of the birthdates on the roster and just watch them, you’ll notice that Detroit is as fit and as tough a team as there is in the league. I fully expect the Ducks to win one of the first two in Detroit; I wouldn’t even be shocked if the Ducks have 2-1 or even 3-2 series leads; but I think the Wings are going to emerge in the end. Detroit in 7.
Finally on the subject of fan bitterness, which we brought up last week; here’s an example from the comment section on AQ’s Conference Finals Prediction post.
Comment by WufPirate on 10 May, 2007 5:18 am
As a true Caniac, I can not pull for the Wings or the Buffa-Slugs. An Ottawa-Anaheim Cup series would be most excellent.As long as Buf/Detroit don’t win it all, I’m content.
I love that. As a true Caniac, I can’t pull for Detroit. I’m naturally curious how hating the Wings qualifies someone as a “true Caniac.” It’s funny, but I don’t think the “true Flyer fans” or “true Caps fans” feel that kind of jealousy/bitterness.
True Caniac? There’s your official definition. Pre-req number 1: hate the Wings.
Way to go Chief--pull an Army and twist the truth around. :p
Posted by The Acid Queen from Raleigh, NC on 05/15 at 03:24 PM