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A2Y: McCarty’s Got A Spot
by IwoCPO on 03/28/08 at 11:33 AM ET
Comments (23)
Updated 1729 EST: Link to site streaming tonite’s game is in the comment section.
You going tonite? Not me. I’ll be sitting in front of my computer like some pathetic Blues fan gamer watching McCarty’s return through a backdoor URL that’s probably going to get me arrested and sent to whatever minimum security prison the geeks get sent to for stealing stuff like that.
Because, you know, it’s on the NHL Network, which I’ve never seen a single minute of--because Verizon Fios doesn’t carry it.
I’m having a hard time getting my head around who to blame for that. It’s right...there, but I can’t place it.
Woops. Got it.
Thanks Gary. Ass.
My wife thinks I have problems because every time her brother, a truck driver, calls and said he’s waiting to pick up a load I laugh my ass off. “He said ‘load’,” I’ll yell and away we go.
So, if I’m so juvenile that I find that amusing you shouldn’t be surprised that I literally stress over who Mike Babcock is going to sit while Darren McCarty gets his ten minutes of ice time tonite and, if he can stay healthy, the remainder of the year.
Yeah, I think he’s got a spot. No, I don’t think it’s fair. But he’s got better hands than Downey, more grit than Kopecky and probably breaks even with Drake--all things, including butts in seats, considered.
Why not fair? Because I’m a fan and from a fan’s perspective it’s hard to see a player--whether it’s Hartigan, Downey, Hudler, Kopecky or even William Tell Samuelsson--sit who’s busted their butt for the Wings all year.
But Uncle Mike doesn’t care about fair and we dig that. Let us be the ones who whine about hurt feelings and chemistry (overrated in my opinion). Babcock’s going to put the team on the ice he feels has the best shot at winning and he’s not real concerned with how it happens.
Sitting Downey tonite is a tough one because he’s got some unfinished business with the Blues before they take their annual early April vacation, but Babcock doesn’t care about that either. And he shouldn’t. I think he’s already made up his mind about who’s sitting in the playoffs. I think he’s seen enough from McCarty during practices to know he’s in good shape and his offensive skills are superior to those of Downey, Drake and Hartigan.
But you’re worried. Your concern over Homer’s health has seeped into other areas. You’re stressing about how the team’s going to handle sitting a guy who’s fought for them, the only guy really. Don’t be sad though. Downey’s handling it well.
“I’d love to get in there and play with him, but whatever happens I’ll be here to support this team. And if he’s in the lineup, I hope great things for him.”
Hey, umm, Mr. Inge? You may want to read that again, and again.
Aaron Downey is a class act, a team guy, but we all know his value in the playoffs is probably limited. He’s smart enough to realize that too.
One way or another I’m going to watch this game tonite. We’ll live blog it from here.
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Comments
Chief, don’t feel bad about having such a juvenile sense of humor. I am a Shipping and Receiving supervisor at a printing company, and everytime someone calls and says they have a load for me, I’m like, “Uh, no thanks”, and I laugh my ass off too. It helps the day go by so much faster to laugh at stuff like that.
I hope Mac has a chance to talk to Downey today before the game and Downey lets Mac know who he needs to keep his eye on tonight. Maybe since Downey isn’t going to play tonight, that Mac can take care of his light-work 
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 03/28/08 at 11:29 AM ET
Chris, here’s another favorite of mine. Any time I’m in a person to person conversation and I ask for an email address and someone responds with: “soandso@cox.net”. I’ll very earnestly ask, “that’s C-O-X, right?”
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 03/28/08 at 11:32 AM ET
William Tell Samuelsson
THANK YOU CHIEF!!!
(Boy, am I ever easily validated.)
Hey, umm, Mr. Inge? You may want to read that again, and again.
With Cabrera in the lineup, if he stays healthy, Brandon and his attitude are gone by May. Let him go to another team with a gaping need at third. Ain’t it great to be a Tigers bandwagoner?
Downey knows that if he plays the team card right, he’s got a good chance of lifting the Cup in June, a chance that very few players like him get. And good for him either way. I genuinely don’t think we can have enough guys in the playoffs to ‘keep the flies off.’ Him, and D-Mac, and Drake...good deal going here.
Welcome back Mac. It’s been way too damn long.
Time to toss my stuff in my sack and go home.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the short end of the longest day on 03/28/08 at 11:56 AM ET
Yeah, that one’s always a classic, Chief
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 03/28/08 at 11:57 AM ET
Looking ahead to Sunday against Bubba, I hope Mac gets his hands on that sawwed-off little bastard Tootoo and pounds him in the head so many times that he ends up being even shorter than he already is. I can’t stand that a**hole!!
Posted by Chris from the Hockey Hotbed that is Middle Tennessee (PFFT!) on 03/28/08 at 12:23 PM ET
Downey has some unfinished business with the Blues....and that is one of the reasons why Babs will not dress him.
Posted by w2j2 on 03/28/08 at 01:13 PM ET
Iwo,
You’re not the only one that laughs every time he hears the word “load”.
Funny thing is one time I was driving to NYC, and on the devestatingly boring drive across PA, I stopped at a toll booth next to a truck whose trucking company slogan was “We care about your load.”
I have pictures. Of the truck with the funny slogan… not of the load… sickos.
Posted by Nathan on 03/28/08 at 01:14 PM ET
Whether or not McCarty came back, I don’t see any situation other than an abundance of injuries that had Downey anywhere near the lineup in the playoffs. Nothing against him, I love what he’s brought, but players like him don’t get much icetime in the regular season, let alone in the playoffs.
Posted by Heaton on 03/28/08 at 01:44 PM ET
Because I’m a fan and from a fan’s perspective it’s hard to see a player--whether it’s Hartigan, Downey, Hudler, Kopecky or even William Tell Samuelsson--sit who’s busted their butt for the Wings all year.
It’s really no different than what’s going to happen to Lebda. Stuart rolled in at the deadline and, once he’s healthy again, Scooter will sit...at least until one of the D-men pulls a groin. And I’m guessing he’s going to take the same “what’s good for the team” approach as Downey.
On a different topic, I hate to be dense about this but I don’t get the “William Tell” tag for Sammy. Can you enlighten me, Andrew?
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 03/28/08 at 01:52 PM ET
Get your tickets now to the Grind Line Reunion Tour, coming soon to a 7 game series near you.
Posted by D town in Bubbaville on 03/28/08 at 02:11 PM ET
Yeah, D Town, but unfortunately Bubba probably won’t be around this April for the tour to come here. While I will laugh when Bubba is out of it, the downside is not seeing the Wings play here in the playoffs.
Posted by Chris from Middle Tennessee where hockey wouldn't exist if no on 03/28/08 at 02:21 PM ET
BTW, that tagline on my last post should read, “Posted by Chris from Middle Tennessee where hockey wouldn’t exist if not for Red Wing transplants”. Just so you all (not y’all) know.
Posted by Chris from Columbia, Tennessee on 03/28/08 at 02:23 PM ET
On a different topic, I hate to be dense about this but I don’t get the “William Tell” tag for Sammy. Can you enlighten me, Andrew?
If I were to hazard a guess, I’m thinking it is an ironic reference to William Tell’s legendary (excellent) marksmanship - and to our own illustrious Mr. Samuelsson’s legendary (poor) marksmanship.
But I’m just taking a shot in the dark, as it were. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/28/08 at 02:59 PM ET
NHL Center Ice, no NHL Network. Glad I shelled out that $150 at the beginning of the season. Can anybody help with the aforementioned back-door live feed?
Posted by PDX from Portland, Oregon (Hockeytown West) on 03/28/08 at 03:08 PM ET
Hey if Grand Funk Railroad can have a reunion tour so can the Grind Line!
Posted by Rumbear from Sandy Eggo on 03/28/08 at 03:22 PM ET
NHL Center Ice, no NHL Network. Glad I shelled out that $150 at the beginning of the season. Can anybody help with the aforementioned back-door live feed?
Agreed with PDX, I need that feed! DAMN YOU NHL NETWORK!
Posted by E on 03/28/08 at 04:22 PM ET
Here you go boys. You didn’t get it from me. Screw it. Yes you did. Go to the forum and find the post explaining how to install the necessary software, etc.
http://www1.myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=&part=sports&discipline=icehockey
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 03/28/08 at 04:29 PM ET
Just in case you all didn’t read my post a few days ago (shame on you), I will be in attendance tonight!
14th row, don’t remember what section, but on the blueline.
That’s my load.
Posted by Osrt on 03/28/08 at 04:33 PM ET
NHL Network-Screwed-Center Ice Subscriber-Wings Fans everywhere THANK YOU for the streaming link, IWO.
Posted by PDX from Portland, Oregon (Hockeytown West) on 03/28/08 at 04:54 PM ET
...I’m thinking it is an ironic reference to William Tell’s legendary (excellent) marksmanship - and to our own illustrious Mr. Samuelsson’s legendary (poor) marksmanship.
Ah, got it. Thank you, Ms. B.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 03/28/08 at 06:05 PM ET
right hand, nice one Stewart (Harry Houdini)!!
Posted by christpuncher from detroit on 03/28/08 at 06:16 PM ET
If I were to hazard a guess, I’m thinking it is an ironic reference to William Tell’s legendary (excellent) marksmanship - and to our own illustrious Mr. Samuelsson’s legendary (poor) marksmanship.
Spot-on. Thanks for covering me, Baroque. I do like my Middle European folk legends.
BTW, OTC, good take on Lebda. You’re right-- nobody is going to complain about it in the playoffs if they’re benched; they’ll all take the ‘team’ line.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from hunched over a book of curious and forgotten lore on 03/29/08 at 02:28 AM ET
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Posted by jmara85 on 03/28/08 at 11:26 AM ET