Abel to Yzerman
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34.7? Nothing But A Footnote
by IwoCPO on 06/06/08 at 08:22 AM ET
Comments (59)
Listening to Mike and Mike yesterday morning, Greenberg made a point I find hard to argue with.
“I think we’re looking at a dynastic situation here.”
Now. Is Mike Greenberg, employed by the network that will run second-round coverage of the Kemper highlights twenty minute before hockey, a credible judge of an NHL dynasty? No. But, he’s right.
Dave at Gorilla Crouch has a great look at it, and we’re gonna get to that in a bit. First, it’s time to assess.
It’s taken me about twenty hours to write this post. And I have no idea why. I’ve read everything, watched everything, seen every highlight, every interview. I saw Osgood and Mac and wondered the same thing as you. Was that a beer? No, an energy drink. Don Cherry pissed me off just like he did you. It’s time Don. It’s time to go. You’re an outright bigot, a buffoon and a disgrace. I know that’s mild. Sorry.
I read other things. I saw that there’s a bit of a controversy over Dave Guralnick drinking from the Cup. Seen this yet? Wyshynski first brought it to our attention that the frigging shrivs at Sports Journalists Dot Com have an issue with the best hockey photog in the newspaper business sipping suds from Stanley after the Cup was passed his way.
According to Greg, and I paraphrase because I can’t access the Shriv Elitist Dot Bitter Bitches Dot Org site anymore, the whining stiffs said Guralnick was “fan boyish” because he didn’t pass on the opportunity. Let’s set the record straight. Guralnick’s been shooting every home Wings game at the Joe for several years. Every night he climbs up into the rafters, sets up his remote cam. That’s how you see those kick ass overhead shots. Then he goes between the benches, or sticks his lens through one of those little holes in the glass, or wherever else he goes to get us the kind of stuff we’ve enjoyed from him.
He’s taken pucks and sticks to the face. He’s followed that team all over the country during the playoffs and worked his ass off every step of the way. The Cup comes his way? Guzzle it. That’s what I say. Drink up Dave. You earned it.
I’ve read the game reports and the features. I’ve read the Delicate Genius and Wojo and Drew and Michael. And I didn’t even feel like ripping them. All their stuff has been good, even Sharp’s.
Steve Yzerman stayed upstairs in the Wings’ executive guest suite at Mellon Arena. Ilitch and Holland begged him to join the ensuing celebration on the ice, but the former captain-turned-team vice president declined.
“It’s their opportunity to get all the attention,” he said.
It was commendable. It was classy.
Yzerman had his day. He had his time basking in the spotlight.
This was Lidstrom’s moment.
So, I’ve been reading. But I haven’t written much, and I don’t really know why. All year long, for two years, the littlest things could generate a post, a tangent, a rambling, cliche-ridden manifesto. But since Wednesday? It’s been weird, but it just hasn’t been there. A while ago, a few months I guess, Gramps posted something over at Hockeytown Todd’s. He said he was taking a break because it seemed like whenever he felt the urge to write about something, he’d read about it somewhere else. I guess I had a little bit of that going on.
So rather than cut and paste and point you other places, I gave it some thought. I’ve read every one of your comments and I agree with every one of you on a few things.
First, the class of the Pens fans who have come back here to say congratulations. I’ll tell you this. I’ll be watching next year. I’m sure Little Gary’s Versus will be carrying roughly 50 Pen games, and I’ll be watching. I want that team to do well because those fans have earned it. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Gary’s Baby Boy get run a few more times. That’s just fun for the whole family.
Next. A lot of you have made comments about the community we’ve formed here at A2Y, and how it’s made this season even better. Let me add a bit to that. I started this blog back in 2005, around Christmas time. The reasons were my own. I was a message board guy, mainly at MLive. I loved talking about the Wings and didn’t mind the occasional debate. I also had a burning distrust and disgust for the mainstream media, especially in Detroit.
That dislike has since turned to a humorous animosity. But it prompted the formation of Abel to Yzerman. By the way, since I was in Tennessee, the original name of this blog was “Hockeytown South.” Paul, who had pushed me toward blogging in the first place, told me that HT was copyrighted and I might want to consider changing it. Because he was the Godfather, even back then--before I was part of the Empire--I listened. No idea how “Abel to Yzerman” popped into my head, but it did. And, no, it’s never gonna change to Abel to “Zetterberg”. Frigging alphabet gurus.
Still with me? Take a break if you have to. We’ve got a ways to go.
So, that’s how it started. I liked writing about the Wings. Simple as that. But over the course of two-plus years, the real enjoyment of running this blog has shifted. Now, the real fun is reading what you guys write. There’s only 19 of us, so I’ve come to appreciate the different styles. I can tell without seeing the author who’s written what comment. I know what kind of post will generate what kind of reaction from each of you. I know who is going to make me laugh, who’s gonna make me think. And I know that when I post an opinion, who will agree and who will push back.
You’ve strayed into politics, family, biology. You’ve joined me ripping on Bubba, Bubba Jr., the Dive and all their “fans”. It’s been funny, obnoxious, always juvenile (except you Baroque). But, the core of the discussion, the real root of it, has always been a collective devotion to that team in red and white. Tranplants, natives, newcomers, veterans. Young punks like Osrt or old timers like O-Joe and Gramps. One common theme. The Cup for the Wings.
And now we’ve got it. All thanks to a group of guys who must have been crushed flying out of Detroit earlier this week. I honestly have no idea how they came back from that. I’m still shaken by it. In fact, I think that’s more than a little bit of the reason I’ve had such trouble getting my thoughts together. Talbot’s goal was like a kidney punch. I haven’t watched a replay of it and I have no intention of doing so. Not yet. No matter the celebrations that followed Wednesday’s win, or the parade today, or the summer trips Stanley will make....34.7 was horrifying.
But, somehow, they overcame it. While I couldn’t muster the courage to even read about it, they set it aside.
And we owe them for that. Because if they hadn’t, I’m telling you the world as we know it would have changed. The undercurrent of that game would been there for twelve more months. Every success would have been tempered by it. It would have been mentioned by every out of town beat writer, replacing the “Chelios is old” theme. You would have been reminded of it on a daily basis. I don’t know what that would have done to you. But it would have crushed me.
And I’m not so sure it wouldn’t have impacted this blog. I’m telling you right now, that had the Wings lost this series after being so close, after coming so damn close in front of a roaring, hysterical crowd in Detroit, after having the Cup ripped away at the last second? I mentioned it the other day, and I still think I may have had to take a year off from hockey altogether.
But the Wings overcame that, so it’s nothing more than a bad nightmare replaced by memories of Hank Zetterberg skating the Cup in front of 17,000 Pens fans, his voice eerily singular in a quiet arena. Now we can think about a puck that took an hour to move two feet, creeping toward the goal line, inching it’s way there while most of the players and all of the crowd thought the play was dead.
And another puck going horizontally, behind Osgood, riding the rail, moving through the crease but not in.
Because those guys came back from what must have been a devastating personal disappointment, we don’t have to think about 34.7 anymore. We can remember absolutely laying waste to the Dive. Punishing them. We can think back to Bubba Jr. and remember the Stress Train filling up to the rafters after Game 4. We can look back at Smack Head Ribeiro’s slash to Osgood and laugh at it. Nice series Mike.
They crushed the stereotypes, didn’t they? The anti-euro thing from the Canadian (en) press. Screw you. Screw you Cherry and Douche Canoe and Milbury. Get yourselves a poster of Nick Lidstrom, wearing a C, holding the Cup aloft. Hang it in your office and eat your crow in front of it. Watch the tape of Hank Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk and Johan Franzen battling all comers. Call those Euros soft Don. Whine about it some more you frigging dinsosaur.
Because they could leave 34.7 behind, we’re allowed to think of the great stories of this team. Darren McCarty coming out of nowhere, then on to Flint, and Grand Rapids, on to Detroit and then his fourth Cup. We can remember the discussions as to whether Abbadabbafriggingdoo was going to play in the postseason. We can talk about the revelation of Darren Helm, and his future in Detroit, the heir apparent to Kris Draper.
We can slam Lilja and laugh about it, instead of cringing. We can wonder if we’ll ever really rip on the Oompa Loompa again because he has this little tendency to prove us wrong when we least expect it.
Because 34.7 has been overcome, you can look back happily at the aftermath of Nik Kronwall. You can remember him blasting victim after victim. Leaving his feet, jumping into hits, illegally punishing people. Yes, illegally in many cases. Whatever. Keep it up Nik. Make them think.
And now? Now we can talk about what’s to come. Had 34.7 defined this team, the future would be too difficult to consider. Weeks of recovery time, at least, would have been required. Therapy, in my case. Instead, today, we can talk dynasty. And, yeah, that’s what it is. Oh, they’ll hate reading this in Denver and St. Louis, Nashville and Anaheim. But here we are: four Cups in 11 years. And, don’t tell anyone, but this team isn’t as good as it will be next year.
Anyone not picking the Wings to win consecutive Cups is in denial.
34.7 wouldn’t have doomed our Uncle Mike. But it would have damaged him. Instead, he’s a frigging icon. He won’t win the Jack Adams but no one can argue too strongly with this statement: he’s the best coach in the NHL. He is a mastermind at finding matchups, and he’s even better at getting this team to play the right way, the Babcock way. Doubters of Babcock beware: you’ll find resistance here.
There’s a parade in Hockeytown today. The Stress Train will be nowhere to be found. No need for it anymore. Parked until April. But we’ve made a modifications. Disconnected the Hasek from the body. Expanded it. Added a few things, like Stanley Cup posters and beer mugs. The Hasek will stay open for business all summer long.
Just drop in when you feel like talking hockey.
2007-2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wing hockey. How’s that sound, bitches?
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Comments
2007-2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wing hockey. How’s that sound, bitches?
It sounds great, because after all...that’s how we roll.
Posted by Moocat on 06/06/08 at 07:53 AM ET
From MLive:
Forward Valtteri Filppula, as suspected, played with a sprained right knee through most of the playoffs.
Eat it, Cherry.
Playing for almost two months with a sprained knee? I honestly don’t care if that’s of the “minor” variety, like a 2-week MCL type deal. By all accounts, that shit hurts. So to hear that a baby-faced Finn that’s about 5’2” on skates was playing through it, only to score a couple of the biggest goals in the playoffs, and play the second-best defense (behind Z) in the SCF against Malkin’s line?
That takes some sack.
In Babcock We Trust.
I haven’t commented on the A2Y 19 community thing yet, but I’ll keep it short. It’s awesome. Utterly, and completely awesome. Nothing more to say about all the emotional stuff that everyone has already hashed through. I’ll put it like this—yesterday morning driving to work they were talking about Dan Cleary winning the Cup on the radio, and I almost cried. I thought I was the only person that was literally this insane about the Red Wings. It’s good to know I am not.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/06/08 at 08:19 AM ET
Chief, I didn’t know you were such a softy. You’re like a teddy bear inside a cobra inside a shark.
Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 06/06/08 at 08:24 AM ET
Yo, Chief.
I’ve been lurking since before you were swallowed up by Kukla’s. And let me tell you, I check for your posts every morning of every day. I love reading them and I love having my frustrations and joys with the team validated by you and the other commenters. I don’t say much on here… but this is a great place.
thanks for all your work,
Go wings!
jaybee
Posted by jayebe on 06/06/08 at 08:26 AM ET
2 issues:
Lebda played VERY well the whole playoffs. The kid is a KEEPER, and getting better. It takes many years to develop a good defenseman, a lot longer than a forward.
The Wings have a problem winning big games at the Joe.
I read a national journalist who said that he could not believe the Wings do not control the room better. The family, friends, and hangers-on were all around and celebrating before game 5 even started.
Guess what happened?
The Wings came out and played their worst 30 minutes of the playoffs.
The Pens started very poorly, but the Wings were worse.
Had the Wings played their normal game, they would have been up 2-0, not down 2-0 after the first period, and 34.7 would have never happened.
Holland and Babcock need to get control of this chaos.
Cudos to Babs for getting the team psychologicly repaired and prepared to play game 6, but at Mellon they did NOT have all the hangers-on distracting them before the game. They could relax, focus, and just play their game.
That is why it is easier for the Wings to win on the road.
Posted by w2j2 on 06/06/08 at 08:35 AM ET
Well said, Chief. I think every superlative we could use to describe this team has already been used.
I only registered for KK/A2Y in late February. Lurked for a while, didn’t even start commenting until the Nashville series. Didn’t even start live blogging until the Final. It’s been lots of fun, and since I’m isolated from Red Wings fans in little Auburn, Alabama, it’s nice to commune in some way with fans like me. A2Y is now one of the few websites I have on constant refresh. The posts are great, the commenters are great, and the humor is shockingly juvenile and--at times--offensive… just the way I like it. Appreciate all your efforts, Chief.
Posted by Incognetis from Exile in Alabama on 06/06/08 at 08:40 AM ET
Welcome new and infrequent posters.
they were talking about Dan Cleary winning the Cup on the radio, and I almost cried. I thought I was the only person that was literally this insane about the Red Wings. It’s good to know I am not.
Posted by Nathan on 06/06 at 09:19 AM
This is one of the best results of The 19, reading other peoples thoughts and realizing this Red Wings devotion is nationwide, hell, worldwide (I was in Kuwait for 2 years with a Red Wings shot and drinks glasses, found a few forerunners to The 19 even 8000 miles from Detroit).
There was a palpable crashing down of emotion I felt yesterday evening, checked with The 19 and read Gabe’s post “This feels like the last day of school”.. Freaking Brilliant, exactly on the money.
Wish I could be there for the parade, will sneak home to stream it on my 28 inch iMac, bitches.
Because that is how The 19 Rolls.
Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 06/06/08 at 08:49 AM ET
Did anyone else notice that Hasek was holding up two fingers in all of the Stanley Cup pile pics from the ice at Mellon Arena? What was up with that. I have devised three possible answers:
1) He was signaling that he had won his second Stanley Cup.
2) He was signaling that he was, in fact, the second best goalie on the team.
3) He’s crazy.
Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 06/06/08 at 09:04 AM ET
Have they released the rest of the Franzen injury story yet? Read something yesterday about the trainer saying it was more than a concussion or something. Did they have to sew something back on, a la Frankenstein?
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 06/06/08 at 09:11 AM ET
Chief,
Good write up.
This summer will not be nearly as torturous for me as many in the past many years (scaring 2 decades) of Wingnutness. No replays of going down to LA, The effing Poultry, The Oil.... I can spend my summer by the pool in peace with no doubts, not asking for one more shift, one more period.
As mentioned previously, I’m pretty much a newbie to posting here, but been an daily ready for a good while.
34.whatever will not be forgotten by any of us. It will not haunt us, but it will be forever remebered. Uncle Mike is a Machevallian Motivator, but 34.7 absolutely showed what this organ-I-zation is made of.
I about had a stroke when we hired Uncle Mike, simply for the fact he coached the team that sent us home the year before. It took me his entire first season to mildly embrace him. The EDM series had me doubting and asking why didn’t we promote Barry instead of Lewie alot (per Scotty’s advice). The following season & change of the guard had me convinced. Yes indeed, IN BABCOCK WE TRUST.
Rumors of Raffy having a bad hip, Stuart with a bad knee, Fil with a bad knee…
Piet says there alot more to the Franzen injury than was let on, I’m dying to know.
Happy as hell for the boys. We’ve shed our proverbial tears which makes this success much more meaningful.
The storylines make for another level of sweetness. D-Mac coming back from the ashes to join the family again, Dally coming home & getting his chance to fulfill a career of hardnose hockey. Nik the ROCK OF GIBRALTAR busting *#$%@& Don Cherry’s Euro trashing talking myths. Pavel working his way off the Lady Byng nomination list playing fiesty as hell. And to quote Unlce Mike “usually this time of year when you change goalies, you’re fishing in 3 days”. Osgood, the worst goalie to win 2 Cups, bitches. The absolute lack of any resistance from the guys parked on the sidelines in Dom & Cheli taking it in stride and being a TEAM player.
Us second guessing Tick-Tock about not doing “much” at the dead line or the Summer of Ken.
4 in 11 isn’t bad, not bad at all.
And you were there for Game 1. That my good man is priceless…
Beating the Mullet when he’s behind the bench, the Tool in Tampa.
Next year we will indeed be better for many reasons.....
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 09:15 AM ET
Nice post, Chief.
Haven’t been able to contribute much with the school nightmare, but I checked in multiple times a day, and will continue to do so.
I was all ready to drag wifey to Detroit for some parade fun until she reminded me that we’re going to see Alicia Keyes at the Palace tonight.
Whatever.
Through a quirky twist of fate, my Mother grew up with and is good friends with Alicia’s Mother, so we have sweet seats and get to meet her.
Again, whatever.
I’d rather meet Pavel Datsyuk, frankly.
Enjoy the parade, thanks once again for this glorious ‘tard palace, Chief - it has no peer.
Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 06/06/08 at 09:18 AM ET
Did anyone else notice that Hasek was holding up two fingers in all of the Stanley Cup pile pics from the ice at Mellon Arena? What was up with that. I have devised three possible answers…
Maybe he thinks “giving the peace sign” is still “cool”?
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/06/08 at 09:21 AM ET
thanks once again for this glorious ‘tard palace Chief - it has no peer.
Snot out the nose funny.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 09:23 AM ET
John I noticed that too. I’ll go with answer #3.
I’ve already started going through hockey withdrawls. Normally the Tigs can ease the pain a bit, but they’re so very miserable it just hurts more.
Hurry back boys. Can’t wait for October.
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/06/08 at 09:25 AM ET
Nate,
Funny last year I wanted October here ASAP. Revenge & vindication.
This year is the same desire but albeit much different motivation.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 09:31 AM ET
You echo my thoughts, brother.
Game 5 was the worst loss I’ve experienced as a Detroit sports fan of almost 50 years. I don’t cry like I did when I was a kid (I probably would have felt better if I did), but was unable to sleep well Monday night (actually morning) for all my thoughts of possible doom and what might have been. I don’t think it’s overstating the case to say that by losing the series after being this close (visual of thumb and forefinger touching), the Wings would forever endure the shame and notoriety of Buckner’s error. At the same time, it would have been mythologized as a chapter in the legend of King Sidney, being the time he pulled the sword out of the stone (with Don Cherry already dressed to play the court jester, of course). I just couldn’t help but wonder, is this our shared destiny?
Tuesday was appropriately cloudy and gloomy in my part of the state and my wife placed me on suicide watch. I did my part by studiously avoiding reading newspaper or internet accounts of the game or watching any TV sports reports so as not to be reminded.
By Wednesday, my rational mind was prevailing. Not only was I able to appreciate the fact I was privileged to watch at least one more game, I simply figured f**k it, if these guys are the champions I think they are (in body and spirit), they’re just gonna have to go out and prove it (whatever the personal cost to me of ulcers, grey hair, or elevated blood pressure).
I was never more proud to be a Wings fan than I was watching them put Monday behind them, waltz into the belly of the beast, and take what was theirs. Thank you for rewarding our faith, gentlemen.
Posted by BobS. on 06/06/08 at 09:35 AM ET
Did anyone else notice that Hasek was holding up two fingers in all of the Stanley Cup pile pics from the ice at Mellon Arena? What was up with that. I have devised three possible answers:
1) He was signaling that he had won his second Stanley Cup.
2) He was signaling that he was, in fact, the second best goalie on the team.
3) He’s crazy.
Little known fact, in Europe and elsewhere not North America, holding up two fingers like that is akin to giving the finger here Stateside.
I think Hasek was saying what we were all thinking and if that’s the case...the guy is a goddamned hyper legend.
Posted by HockeyJoe from NY on 06/06/08 at 09:38 AM ET
Nice write up Chief.
Don Cherry--I have been watching/following him since he coached the Bruins. Can’t miss every Sat. night, even since I moved to CO. What he said though after the Wings won the Cup the other night made me really really mad. The crap he said with Melrose. He would still rather have a team like Anahiem, etc..Pathetic.
Terry Frei--I was in such a good mood yesterday Chief, I even wished him a great summer.
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 06/06/08 at 09:40 AM ET
It’s also a sign for Victory - though even more dated than being a peace sign. You know, Churchill.
Anyway. This organization is rock solid. Finding talent, keeping that talent pool under the salary cap, and motivating that talent beyond reason (injured? psshh, we don’t get injured, bitches - we just play).
Fox2, covering the parade, is ripping on Grapes right now. Weak? This group of guys who don’t give up? We hit, we play through injuries, we battle on the boards, in the corners, in front of the net, at the face off dot (yes, look, another Churchill reference - ha!). Not much in extracurricular activities. Not much need to. Again, we just play, but we can stand up when we have to. Even Dats. And then we claim the scoreboard too.
This season has been one hell of a ride. Even more so because of finding this site. Love your posts, Chief. A2Y has become a daily stop. And all the commenters - you rock. WDIV’s Katrina Hancock was disappointed in fan’s reactions going down 2 in game 5. She’s obviously never been by here.
Roll on!
Posted by jrl123 on 06/06/08 at 09:46 AM ET
Did anyone else notice that Hasek was holding up two fingers in all of the Stanley Cup pile pics from the ice at Mellon Arena? What was up with that. I have devised three possible answers:
1) He was signaling that he had won his second Stanley Cup.
Pretty sure it’s #1. Notice (kind of hard to find him) that Homer is holding up 4 fingers.
Posted by Dave from Lapeer on 06/06/08 at 09:53 AM ET
Can you throw a disclaimer on this post that it might lead to some teary eyed reflection? This is a lot to handle down here in bat country at 9:30 on hungover Friday.
I’m conflicted about the way things ended. No doubt, I’m grateful. But this thing doesn’t set right with me. Maybe I can’t get over Game Five. That’s likely. Maybe I just hate that the tension is over, the fight’s done. That’s part of it too, I’m sure. But there’s a bigger component that I can’t figure it out. I should be sitting here happy as a post-lay high schooler. I’m not. And it’s killing me. But I’m learning to adjust to live as a Stanley Cup Champion…
Because when all the dust settles, I realize two things that bring me back to a contented place—1. We’re going to be nasty next year, and probably for the next 2-3 years just based on the talent we’ve got under contract and in the pipeline. I can’t wait to see what Helm does with a full season and what he might be able to do with Home Keys up from the minors...all that energy, that grit, mixed into our system. 2. Every hour or so, I look around and think realize what we just did. And if I ever forget who the Champs are, when I roll down to the pool...which happens a lot here in Texas...I peel off the shirt and someone inevitably notices the gigantic wing and wheel tattooed on my left rib cage...and you inevitably get that question, “You a Wings fan?” That’s a damn fun conversation to be having these days.
Posted by disch from bat country on 06/06/08 at 09:54 AM ET
jrl.....
Something like this?
“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Nashville, we shall fight in Dallas & in the Igloo. We shall fight at home & on the road, whatever the costs maybe.... We shall never surrender.”
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 09:58 AM ET
This is why the Red Wings won the cup:
Flashback to A2Y 12/20/2007:
Very interesting anecdote from Ken Daniels:
During the Red Wings’ recent 2-1 win in Bubbaville, Mickey Redmond said something like this:
“Night after night, the Red Wings are the hardest working team in the NHL, from their best players to their grinders. They work like dogs night in, night out.”
The next day, the coach of the Ottawa Senators posted that quote in their locker room. Then the Sens went out and beat Carolina 6-0.
Posted by w on 06/06/08 at 10:18 AM ET
I have seen nothing out of St. Louis congratulating their long-time captain Dallas Drake on earning his Stanley cup.
Posted by w2j2 on 06/06/08 at 10:38 AM ET
w2j2,
To paraphrase something Chief responded to after some STL fans wished us ill will in this SCPO run… “Stay classy”.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 10:44 AM ET
Bill, you’re the greatest.
You guys, all of you, are fabulous. I have people to talk about with the Wings here in Michigan, but it is an incomparable experience to share a passion with so many other friends scattered all over the world, people I’ve gotten to know through their comments and personalities better than some people I actually see in person day after day.
I cannot even express how proud I am of this team, and how much more enjoyable this playoff run to a Cup has been than previous ones just because I’ve made more friends with which to share it. You guys totally rock. 
And as long as we’re going the Sir Winston Churchill quotation route, this is without question one of my favorites, and I thought about it a lot during the season - it seems so appropriate for this team, with as much toughness as they have displayed:
“It is not enough that we do our best; sometimes we have to do what’s required.”
When even their best might not have been enough, they did whatever they needed to and silenced their doubters.
And to anyone who stubbornly clings to the old stereotypes even in the face of the evidence to the contrary, because they apparently don’t have enough functioning cerebral cortex neurons to form any semblance of coherent thought, my Happy Summer message to you is:
Eat coprolites and die, you bigoted, ignorant wastes of malignant carbon.
Happy offseason!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/06/08 at 11:04 AM ET
I was waiting to be on upped by the literate (Baroque).
I’m not big on that historical period of the world, but I do like Winston Churchill. He was one tough sunuvabitch when he had to be.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 11:06 AM ET
Damn, Chief, this is heavy shite to be reading with a hangover! Due to the time difference, last night was my celebratory night, as you probably gathered from my comments. This morning is my Advil morning (oh, the joy of living in a country where codeine is available over the counter).
I’ve been a reader since this procession was on Blogger. I remember The Absence well, especially as I kept the bookmark, and kept going back to find freshlypressed.org saying that the account had been suspended. Kept going back, hoping you’d paid your bills...no luck. Then found you’d joined the Emperor. Read and read and read some more, and didn’t feel the need to get involved until my reading pleasure was interrupted by a bilious troll whose name shall not be mentioned. Decided he needed to be given hell, and commented. And found a welcoming community. And have been one of The 19 ever since, even if you don’t know where I am. Oh, on that note, the whole Where’s Andrew? thing kinda took on a life of it’s own, and if it genuinely bothers anyone, lemme know and I’ll spill the beans. The mystery thing is fun, but I don’t really care one way or the other. ‘Cause that’s how I roll, mothertruckers.
It isn’t necessary for me to rehash the usual words being said about the community here. It’s freakin’ marvelous, and I’m so happy that we were all able to share in the rollercoaster of the playoffs. I value each and every one of you, and I’ll tell you all this right now in the utmost sincerity-- NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU is ever paying for drinks when I’m around. Chief, being the ringmaster, you’re not paying for a damn thing when I’m around. A beer, a steak, a new Chief Jeep-- nuthin’. Well, maybe not the Jeep.
And there’s a chorus of voices saying everything about the Wings better than I could ever say it, so I’m not going to write anything here that you don’t need to read. I will say that I am still agape at the way this team laughed in the face of the void and and ventured into the maw of Hell itself to retreive the Cup that was rightfully theirs. Amazed. Character like that, if Cherry can’t see it, he’s not just bigoted, but goddamned blind and deaf as well.
The Stanley Cup is silver polished to a brilliant shine. It is a mirror into which one can peer and see their spirit and character reflected.
And Stuart’s said he’d like to stick around. I said it in a moment of panic about the playoffs, now I say it with the team posing with the Cup on my desktop. Next year. We’ll be better.
Oh, and I noticed Dom’s fingers too. He probably won’t be back next year, but damn, I’ll miss him, because he really is a Czech Miracle of Insanity. I don’t know what he means, but I don’t want to-- to me, he’ll always be giving the old two-fingered salute to the doubters everywhere. Dominik Hasek, a team player. I never thought I’d see the day.
Oh, and in case you’ve missed it, try to find Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s comments about the victory. He’s been doing nothing but praise us this run, offering accurate assessments of our strengths and weaknesses, and really being a great insightful voice all the way. I may have issues with the size of the equipment he wears, but I’ve gained a real respect for the man this year. He’s shown genuine class, a rarity anywhere these days, and I was surprised, but delighted to see it. It’ll make each goal we blast past him just a little bittersweet.
Anyway, enjoy the parade, those of you not at work or in Detroit. Spare a thought for those of us who’ll have to wait until the DVD comes out. Until next time, ladies and germs…
WE ARE THE A2Y 19!
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from here, wishing I was there... on 06/06/08 at 11:09 AM ET
I was waiting to be on upped by the literate (Baroque).
I remembered that one, but for others:
(Great resource especially for talks, because you can search by subject.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/06/08 at 11:20 AM ET
Baroque.
And to think I was paraphrasing an Iron Maiden song that starts with Churchills epic lines of fighting in France, in the landing grounds, on the beaches… in the hills & in the streets.
Aces High is an appropo theme for today!
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 11:51 AM ET
I value each and every one of you, and I’ll tell you all this right now in the utmost sincerity-- NOT A SINGLE ONE OF YOU is ever paying for drinks when I’m around.
I know we’ve got a lot of “transplants” (used affectionately here) in the 19. But hey… why not try to put together some A2Y 19 Stress Train Fest Summer 2008?
I guess the question is—when will you be in the metro Detroit area Chief? If at all?
Hell, we could take coolers of beer and a Weber down to an old rail depot with some burgers and dogs and spray paint “The Hasek Club Car” on the side of an old boxcar.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/06/08 at 12:07 PM ET
IWO,
Of course I have been one of the 19 since your Mlive days.
(I still go back there to read Doomsberry 
I am AMAZED at the geometrical growth of the A2Y 19 over the course of this Stanley Cup run.
Some of these live blogs had over 1,000 comments!
I bet sometimes you (and Paul) wonder what the h*ll is going to happen to A2Y ...
Anyway, that growth in readership and participation is a tribute to your hard work.
Thanks!
Keep it up! (pun intended)
Posted by w2j2 on 06/06/08 at 12:07 PM ET
On another note, you guys have to admit, now that the Wings have won the Cup, game five was positively the best hockey game I have ever seen.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/06/08 at 12:08 PM ET
I’ve been missing Mick n Ken.....
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 12:16 PM ET
WE ARE THE A2Y 19!
I’m sitting here reading Chief’s post and everyone’s comments and I’m all teary-eyed and choked up.
I wish I had something brilliant and witty or even humorously juvenile, but I’m completely speechless. This has been an unbelievable experience. I feel incredibly lucky to have stumbled across this blog. What a ride this has been.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/06/08 at 12:18 PM ET
great run, great post, great read, the only thing that has me down right now is that they are sold out of the stanley cup 08 locker room hats and now i porbably have to wait till the start of next season (can’t wait for that) to get one.
Been reading the site since march 07, but like many others not posting much but never the less is nice to come here and read from some wings fans instead of my constant local coverage of edmonton/calgary news, it’s not the teams i hate it’s the fans, 90% of them are bandwagoneers who couldn’t name 3 players on either team, i got laughed at so hard when my playoff draft had all wings, but i guess i get to laugh now since the boys came through. Another great run and i hope you people still post here occassionally during the offseason since i will be checking it everyday out of habit.
Thanks for the memories
p.s. lets get hank, fil and stuart all signed up
p.p.s am i the only one who feels slightly bad for Datsyuk? i mean to me it just seems Z and Dats should get every reward as a pair and not have it broken up. It seems that a lot of the articles i read they were Z this and Z that and just threw dats in as an afterthought a lot of the time.
Posted by Jay from canada on 06/06/08 at 12:22 PM ET
Chief, wonderful post. Thank you for this.
I deleted Game 34.7 right before the start of Game 6. I know it was a very exciting hockey game but I don’t ever want to watch it again. Even the thought of it is a gut punch. I prefer to focus on Game 6 which I saved on TiVo and will watch many a time again (though probably with the volume turned off).
A2Y saves me, being a Wings fan out in Dive country isn’t always easy and this place helps keep me sane. When I was watching Game 5 on Monday over at my friend’s and I got on the computer in between periods, I said, “I have to check in with my people.” Thanks to you all for being here.
Enjoy the parade today. I’ll be anxiously waiting for the DVD.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/06/08 at 12:31 PM ET
I love this blog, and I love you all. Thank you for a wonderful 07-08 season, and a fantastic playoff run.
I’m still not leaving the Hasek, though. I’ll even help with the reconstruction efforts.
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/06/08 at 12:33 PM ET
Hi Chief. I would like to thank my son for turning me on to A2Y. He cringes every time he sees a comment from me. Good hockey people. Good nonsense. Everyone here makes you feel right at home.
I know I sound like a cheerleader at times, but I like to look for the positive when things get dark and gloomy. Silver Lining ect… I do have my dark side.
This has been a hell of a run. I have been a Wings fan for decades. Games at the Olympia were great. You could sit behind the players bench because the Wings were so bad back then. Sections 14-16 were where we stood on weekends or if the seats were full. We got in for $2.00 because my Uncle Jerry knew Jack the usher.
All these years and still a hard core, die hard Wings fan. Because when your from Detroit, that’s how you roll. Bitches!
“THIS IS THE YEAR!”
“BRING IT ON!"AGAIN!
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 06/06/08 at 12:42 PM ET
“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Nashville, we shall fight in Dallas & in the Igloo. We shall fight at home & on the road, whatever the costs maybe.... We shall never surrender.”
Posted by MOWingsfan19
Exactly like that. Never give up. There’s so many players on this team that fit that it’s crazy.
Posted by jrl123 on 06/06/08 at 12:43 PM ET
Churchill quotes? I’m sure we can paraphrase this one for our bitter friends in Denver and St. Louis (to name a couple bittervilles):
I may be drunk, but you’re ugly. In the morning I’ll be sober, and you’ll still be ugly.
Posted by cephalopod from Chicago, on the poop deck, not over it yet on 06/06/08 at 01:22 PM ET
I’m more close reader than contributor to A to Y, mostly due to sweeping bouts of lethargy and game-time tension that tend to paralyze me from emitting my usual gaseous verbosity. But, as a Detroit-born West Coast-living Wings fanatic, I’ve found this to be the most vibrant, witty, proudly adolescent Wings blog in existence. It can get lonely out here in between times when my fellow Michigan diaspora fight the freeway mayhem to join me for the face-off, and this blog is the revitalizing force that powers me through the year as I watch every Wings game on Center Ice (except the ones on the NHL Network. Thanks, Gary. Ass.). Anyway, this is my thank you to Mr. Houlihan for sharing this space with this fan who remembers suffering through the Ned Harkness years (yes, it’s okay to face that dark period now), and who, as a kid, used to cut through Ted Lindsey’s backyard to get to a golf course to play pond hockey. Always remember that even beyond The 19, there are more of us out here cheering you on.
Posted by JimS on 06/06/08 at 01:27 PM ET
Because when your from Detroit, that’s how you roll. Bitches!
I love when we say this. Bitches!
I remember I started reading A2Y right before the infamous hiatus and was incredibly dissapointed to have found such a good Wings blog, only to see it dry up so fast.
Thank God Paul rescued you and brought you to The Empire.
That’s how you roll, motherf*cka.
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/06/08 at 01:30 PM ET
I don’t have much to add that hasn’t been said already. Started lurking around here before The Absence, too… lurked a long time before my first post. I’m not as prolific as some of you but I feel like I know most of you because I’m here every day—well, except after Game 5 I couldn’t read or post for a few days.
I’ve been watching hockey… forever, I think… saw my first live game as a kindergartner at Maple Leaf Garden some 50+ years ago… and this is the best friggin Wings team I have ever seen. Until next year, that is, when they’ll be even better!
Babcock’s one hell of a coach, Don Cherry can kiss my puck, NHL officiating is a joke, and the A2Y 19 rules!!!
Posted by BobTheZee on 06/06/08 at 01:56 PM ET
Chief and the 19,
I just want to say that that this blog is the best on the internet. It makes me laugh, out loud at times, but most of all it makes living away from michigan a lot easier. Although I don’t post all that often due to my schedule, I look forward to every posting and I try to read most of the comments. Oh, and I don’t know how you people pay attention to whats going on in the live chat. I tried once but it became a bit difficult while rocking back and forth in the chair, feet curled up in the fetal position.
One thing though that I have to point out. Babs, although brilliant on Wednesday night, was pushing his luck with his play of Lilja. He was out on the back end of the 5-on-3 (note: I didn’t actually see him out because I was opening a beer but heard Emric say his name and couldn’t believe what I heard so I could be wrong) and he was on the ice on the six on four at the end of the game. I don’t understand why, particularly given his poor play in the opening minutes of the first period. Was there no other option? The only explanation I can think of is a man crush. Lilja might turn out to be an ok 5 or 6 dman someday, but Babs was dancing with the devil wednesday night.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 06/06/08 at 01:58 PM ET
But hey… why not try to put together some A2Y 19 Stress Train Fest Summer 2008?
Hell yes, mofos! I’d even fly across the Atlantic for it! And yeah...drinks are on me. Even if you’re drinking imported.
And don’t worry, if it goes ahead, I’ll take requests for smuggling.
And this is about a week too late, but I FINALLY found The Onion blurb about goaltending being ruled a penalty (a la Gabe’s BRILLIANT satirization of Michel Therrien’s post-game presser in the Game 4 Liveblog):
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/44841&confirm=1
January 26, 2006
NHL Players Protest New Goaltending Penalty
NEW YORK—Less than six months since players returned from a yearlong lockout, hockey is once again in turmoil following last week’s announcement that “goaltending,” or attempting to obstruct a shot on goal or impede the puck’s progress with one’s body or stick, would become a two-minute minor penalty, a rule change that went into effect Monday. “Increasing scoring with rule changes and cracking down on obstruction is one thing,” said Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Curtis Joseph, who claims his job is being banned by the league. “But to take a page from the NBA and just outlaw goaltending outright… Maybe it’s just me, but I think that rule just plain goes against the spirit of hockey.” Veteran NHL centers, forwards, and some defensemen took issue with Joseph’s remarks, claiming he was still angry over being penalized seven times in the Coyotes’ Monday night game against Dallas, in which Joseph had zero saves and lost 88-105.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the crease, trying not to draw a penalty on 06/06/08 at 02:01 PM ET
Great write up Chief.
Lots of love to all of you, but only on one condition; that you don’t turn all ‘normal’ and stop checking in 5 times a day during the off-season. Stay vigilant against ‘real life’...stay in Wonderland.
Besides:
Andrew gave us another clue with his codeine addiction, TDub killed god with a .45 for his Philosophy class, and B has proven that troglodytes can in fact be together without violence...err...without internal violence.
I’m definitely looking forward to a repeat run but without some excess baggage. Lilja (who played well but isn’t going to get the money or ice-time he wants), Hartigan (ass, won it with the Poultry last year...GTFO) etc…
Bring on Meech and Ericsson and Home Keys and Helmer… I call 3pete heard it here first!
Posted by Osrt on 06/06/08 at 02:13 PM ET
Ok, thats twice I’ve seen troglodyte on this site… good words like that make the juvenileacity all the more fun.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/06/08 at 02:24 PM ET
Disch:
Just give it time. Watch a tape of the parade today. You’ll feel better. I was strangely unsettled all day Thursday. Only this morning have I begun to feel really joyful.
I think it is very interesting to think how good we will be next year. I think Filppula is going to have a real breakout year in 2008-09. I see our centers as Z, Fil, Franzen, Draper, Helm. I mean, come on! Who else has that kind of depth up the middle. I’m very excited about how either Meech, Ericsson, or Quincey will emerge. I see Osgood backed up by Howard.
And I really don’t see a team matching up with that sort of lineup.
Posted by TDeters on 06/06/08 at 02:56 PM ET
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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. 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:
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It sounds great, Chief.
Anyone who’s interested in the parade and doesn’t live nearby can watch it by following the link provided by Paul on the front page. Just letting people know in case they missed it.
Posted by AndrewB from TN on 06/06/08 at 07:37 AM ET