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An A2Y Tribute To Uncle Mike
by IwoCPO on 06/11/08 at 08:40 AM ET
Comments (27)
Updated 1148 EST: added a few MBCQOTD from ‘06/’07.
Mike Babcock took the Wing job after he’d “failed” in Anaheim and after Dave Lewis failed (no quotes) in Detroit. Lewis, who was hired despite Scotty Bowman’s strong suggestion that the team go with Barry Smith, was a nice guy.
And he was run over in the room. Run over by veterans who were real attached to a style that was successful for them in 2002.
So in came Uncle Mike.
And Uncle Mike deliberately cleaned house. At the same time he created a mindset and a culture of toughness. He suffered the the Punch in the Face, then the Kick To The Groin. And he continued to mold this team in his image until he felt he had it exactly right.
And now he’s a Stanley Cup champion with a new deal and a team that’s all his. And guess what? It’s a lot tougher for a team to rebel against a hardass coach when they’re wearing rings. Ken Dryden told us that.
We don’t question Uncle Mike too much around here. But we do like to poke fun. Because, despite his intelligence--which we don’t doubt, Mikey’s got some communication issues. He thinks too fast and sometimes his mouth heads in a different direction. It’s ok. We dig it.
Because he’s given us a season’s worth of Mike Babcock Consolidated Quotes of the Day (MBCQOTD). And in honor of his new three year deal? Here they are, and a few from last year too.
December 29, 2006. Good god. A glossary entry created in the confines of a MBCQOTD. Full circle baby. Infer it. Imply it. I don’t care and I don’t know the difference.
MBCQOTD.
“When Danny tipped in that third goal, I thought of Willy Wonka. That’s what that kid is, he’s Charlie with the golden ticket. Charlie Buckets, Danny Buckets. Danny would have saved Augustus Gloop when he fell in that chocolate river. I like chocolate. I wonder if Gloop can skate. Big boy. We need another big body who can skate. I can see it now, ‘Your third star, from the Red Wings...Augustus Gloop!!’. I’ll bet Budd Lynch would love that. Danny Buckets. The Wing with the golden ticket.”
January 10, 2007. Hank Zetterberg owns the Dive. Actually, every Wing does. But in this case, it was Hank’s night.
MBCQOTD
“Hank started moving in on Brouhaha and I was so happy. I was hopping on one foot, then the other. Paulie was laughing at me and pointing at my feet. I think he started hopping too. I hope so. I like it when the coaches stick together. Next thing I know Hank was moving left and I started to laugh because when he moves left I know we’re in there. Then it was so weird because he moved right and the puck was going sooooooooo slow. Was that wild or what? How long did that take, ten, twelve minutes to cross the line? Move puck, move puck, go puck, go, go, go. That’s what I was saying to myself, ‘go puck go.’ Went out for Calzone afterward.”
January 31, 2007. Nassau. The Wings brought it and Uncle Mike was glad they did. Ted Nolan impressed him.
MBCQOTD
”Teddy got the shaft. But now he’s back and boy were they back. They were physical, so physical, real physical, physically tough, lots of physicality. But I told the boys between the second and third, I told ‘em to load up on those danishes. Love danishes. So creamy. With cheese. Me and Todd took a couple back to the bench with us. I threw one at Drapes’ head after a shift. Little tyke. Love that kid. Bounced it right off his dome then looked away when he turned around. Todd almost choked he was laughing so hard. I was cool though, just whistled, looked away. I think that’s when Hank scored. Not sure.”
September 12, 2007. The bus ride.
Nobody brings out the statesman in Mike Babcock like Teddy Kulfan. Allegedly the Detroit News beat writer, Kulfan exchanged couch-side text messages with the Wing head coach yesterday. The result? Our first Mike Babcock Consolidated Quote of the Day for 2007-’08.
MBCQOTD
“I like our team Teddy. I like it. I liked it last year and I’m liking it today almost as much as I like string cheese even though I never tear off the pieces of string, just eat it in three bites. Everybody likes their team now though, until about November when you know they won’t be liking anything in Columbus. Nah, kidding Teddy. Don’t write that. Write this: I’m driving the bus to TC. Kenny told me so. Guaranteed it. You know, lots of people said we wouldn’t make the playoffs last year but we made them then stayed in ‘em for a long, long time. A really long time. Like weeks. Planning on doing that again. Driver gets to pick the music on the bus. Got “Rumours” all cued up for the boys.”
October 15, 2007. Sammy’s Got A “Minor” Groin.
I’m sure Samuelsson’s pleased Uncle Mike emphasized the fact that his groin is minor, rather than major. Not sure how sensitive the Swedes are about that kind of thing, you know. Thankfully, offline, Babcock stressed he didn’t mean anything by the reference.
MBCQOTD
“Look, it’s minor. Mine? Major. I mean that...Major. Sam’s? Minor. Not sure of the rest of the boys. But I’ll tell you this. It’s not good for the club if a players’ is more major than mine. We’re guys. Major and minor mean something in the room. Mine’s major.”
October 19, 2007. Shooting Down The Sharks.
Uncle Mike noticed the Wings were shooting. And when our Uncle notices something, he’s not too shy to tell you about it.
“The guys who score goals shoot the puck,” he said. “Guys who never score any goals, never shoot the puck. I wonder why that is.”
Yes!! You nailed it Mike. You frigging nailed it. Let me help you a little with that, you know....fill in the blanks.
MBCQOTD
“I’ve researched this Helene. Researched the hell out of it. You think I’m making this stuff up? Do you want a sweet tart? I see you’re drinking Tab. I love Tab. Love it. Danny Noonan turned down a Fresca from the judge you know. I like you Betty. You shoot, you score. You score, you win. You win, you get to drive through the puddles on the team bus. Started that one this year. The boys love it.”
A little foreshadowing for you before Halloween. October 27, 2007. Uncle Mike’s Not Happy With BS Calls On Homer.
No, Gary, the phantom penalties haven’t cost the Wings a game--yet. So you’d better take a look before this situation gets out of control.
“Unfair, and not right,” Babcock said of the recent penalties against Holmstrom.
Yeah. And Uncle Mike wasn’t done. Nope. Not by a long shot.
MBCQOTD
“When I see Homer smiling and laughing it reminds me of the episode when Arnold and Willis first got to the Drummonds. Everyone was so darn happy. But then when those goals get called back, and I see Homer skating to the bad place I think of Fonzie crashing after jumping those trashcans behind the chicken restaurant and I get scared. I need a Twizzler.”
November 20, 2007. There’s Wicked Wind Coming And It’s Name Is: Goalie Controversy.
MBCQOTD
“I’m 39. He’s 42. That’s 6 years I’ve got on him and I can tell you age doesn’t matter because age is all in the mind. There’s no age in a groin. How old is your groin Ansar? Do you know? Did you count the rings? Do groins age in dog years? If you were to cut open a Sycamore and sit on the stump with your back to the world would anyone wonder about whether you could make a kick save against Chicago? See my point? Dom’s my number 1 but I don’t know when he’s starting again.”
PS: That post has the first anti-Dylan reference.
December 10, 2007. Going All Crawford On Their Asses.
MBCQOTD
“Boys, there’s 18 numbers on this chalkboard. I’ve circled every one. Every one of them has to pay. And I mean that. Make ‘em pay the toll, pay the piper, pay for their pudding and pay dearly. Payment is required. Stiff payment. Paid in full. I’m thinking of buying Michael Vick’s house.”
February 2, 2008. Uncle Mike Likes It When Guys Check. He Likes It A Lot.
MBCQOTD
“I like checking. I like to say the word. ‘Check...check, check, check, check, check, checkitty, check, check, check. Try it Ansar. Say it. Just once. I’m not kidding. I’m not saying another word until you say ‘check.’ Hmmm, hmmmm. Say it. You did it. I heard it. Good job. Wanna sing a song? We’ve got pigs in a blanket back in the room because it snowed today. Malts showed up because he said there’s no snow days in hockey. Love that guy. Sundin drop his no trade clause yet? I’d trade him for Maltby straight up. Straight up Ansar.”
And here’s a good one to end on, in honor of the new contract and all that.
April 8, 2008. Gimme My Contract Kenny.
It’s been way too long since we’ve done a Mike Babcock Consolidated Quote of the Day. From the Joe, a conversation between Uncle Mike and Teddy Kulfan after practice.
MBCQOTD
“Todd, save me three pigs in a blanket. Abadabbadoo’s on the third line with the runt and Drapes. I watched your interwebcamcast Teddy and I could have sworn Kenny said I had a ten-year deal. He meant it too because he paused for 19 seconds in between every word. Did you see that? That’s called emphasis Teddy. That’s enunciation. Kenny’s a serious man Teddy. Teddy. TEDDY. Dammit son. Listen to me. We’re rolling four lines. Four lines kept a rollin’ all night long. Aerosmith. Dream on. Dream on. Dream on while I walk this way cuz Janie’s got a gun Teddy. A big one.”Uncle Mike’s in rare form, and he’s on board.
You are the man Uncle Mike. The conductor, if you will. Here’s to three more years of incoherence.
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Comments
Reading MBCQOTD is like having a stroke while listening to Bach. You know it’s good stuff but you can’t quite comprehend what’s going on.
Posted by Mike from La-La Land on 06/11/08 at 08:19 AM ET
I remain a critic. Babcock is still makes some of the dumbest in-game moves I’ve seen in DET (remember folks—Babs is the one who keep splaying Lilja, and remember earlier in the playoff with his horrible time and timeout management?). Without knowing obviously, I can only assume he’s an incredible motivator, because his in-game work sometimes is beyond puzzling and even damaging…
Posted by Primis on 06/11/08 at 08:37 AM ET
Freaking A. I almost spit coffee all over my monitor when I saw the Conductor photo. Good stuff.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 06/11/08 at 08:41 AM ET
Primis, you’re an idoit; the “horrible” in game timeout? Yes it didn’t work, but that doesn’t make it horrible.
Posted by moore00 from GR on 06/11/08 at 09:11 AM ET
Hey ,Chief....I know you can’t post all the MBCQOTD’s, but my personal favorite was the Xmas post that ended with “I want a Wii”. That’s the line that stuck in what’s left of my brain.
I stole the vanity license plate idea from RWBill, “11 Cups”, went down to the North Carolina DMV and ordered it today. Pictures at eleven.
Somehow, I never felt like I properly celebrated the Cup win this year. I wanted to do something different, but it just never seemed to happen. Raleigh just isn’t feeling the Wings, or hockey in general right now. But then I got an email from the Hurricanes today, announcing a 2006 Stanly Cup game 7 viewing party at a local watering hole at 7 pm tonight. Looks like I found my celebration venue! I wish I had time to download the most recent Cup celebration from TiVo to laptop to bring to the party. I think my “19” sweater will be a good conversation starter, eh? 
Posted by dougie on 06/11/08 at 09:12 AM ET
Primis, you’re an idoit; the “horrible” in game timeout? Yes it didn’t work, but that doesn’t make it horrible.
the only horrible timeout I saw was when Therrien called a timeout before the 5-on-3, which gave Zetterberg a rest...and he subsequently went out and performed The Kill.
one of the worst coaching moves I’ve ever seen. do you really need to spend a timeout PLANNING a 5-on-3?! much better you keep the other team’s best players, who just finished a shift killing the 5-on-4, tired.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/11/08 at 09:40 AM ET
damn. 11 CUPS isn’t available in Florida. I wonder who has it.
11TH CUP is available, but I don’t like that as much.
I wish “SUCK IT LEAFS” would fit. not sure how many people realize we tie their all-time Cup total this year.
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/11/08 at 09:44 AM ET
PaulinMiami…
will II CUPS work? (replace the ones for capital eyes!)
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 06/11/08 at 10:05 AM ET
My favorite is Uncle Mike telling Todd to get him an oreo and a fresca. That entire MBCQOTD was my personal favorite. Keep it up Iwo!
Posted by Dahrken from Grand Rapids, MI on 06/11/08 at 10:28 AM ET
I’m liking it today almost as much as I like string cheese even though I never tear off the pieces of string, just eat it in three bites.
What makes stuff like this so damn funny is the fact that it’s completely plausible that Babs would actually say those things.
Here’s one of my all-time favorite Babs interviews...“Did they change that when I wasn’t watching?”
And we get to look forward to three more years of this stuff. Man, life is good! 
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/11/08 at 10:48 AM ET
Or what about “XI CUPS”?
I would try to sound that out..."IX-EE CUPS”.
Too close to Dixie Cups...and nothing good can come from having that on your license plate.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 06/11/08 at 11:27 AM ET
One more reason to love Uncle Mike - he’s a good person too.
http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365599
Posted by Paul A from Ypsilanti, MI on 06/11/08 at 11:29 AM ET
ESPN blasts Detroit, says Motown sports doomed:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3427112
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/11/08 at 11:48 AM ET
Might bother me if I thought ESPN knew very much. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 12:33 PM ET
I liked Mike Babcock ever since I heard a quote he gave after he led his first practice in Traverse City. Apparently he had pushed the team pretty hard and they weren’t used to that from the years before. If memory serves, when asked about it afterward Mike said, “Why would we want to practice going slow?”
ESPN blasts Detroit, says Motown sports doomed
Good thing I don’t read ESPN, The Mag, any more than I watch ESPN, The Network.
Posted by BobTheZee on 06/11/08 at 12:41 PM ET
http://redwings.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365599
“Kids, this here’s a cup. Not the kind of cup you might sip your juice out of, or your Maalox if you’re Michel Therrien, but a special silver cup. And the guys who won this cup wear cups. So you might say it’s part of the whole circle. The cup is circular too. It’s the circle of life, but different ‘cause it’s in sports. See, that’s from The Lion King. And see, Detroit sports are kind of like that. Because when the Lions died on the field, we won this Cup. Circle of sports, kids. Think about it. Now who wants to watch The Little Mermaid?”
Pale imitation of the genuine article, I know…
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from ESPN HQ, leaving an anonymous package on 06/11/08 at 12:50 PM ET
moore & PaulInMiami -
No, I was referring to Babcock using his only timeout in the FIRST PERIOD of a key game in the DAL series—equally as stupid a move as the one THerrien did. But thanks for confirming that now that the Cup is won, nobody remembers any of the warts that happened prior to the SCF…
And again I repeat: Babcock continued to dress Lilja when we could all see he was a disaster on-ice (especially at the end of games). Why is this so hard to understand, people?
Posted by Primis on 06/11/08 at 01:44 PM ET
No, I was referring to Babcock using his only timeout in the FIRST PERIOD of a key game in the DAL series—equally as stupid a move as the one THerrien did.
why was it stupid? wasn’t that to rest his players for a PK? considering the importance that the first goal of every game held, it was a good move, IMO.
considering Babcock called a timeout in the Nashville series after the Preds tied the game, and Draper scored on the first shift after the TO...I’ll give Babs the benefit of the doubt on knowing when to use it.
there is no way Babs using a timeout early like that even compares to Therrien letting the Wings get a rest before killing a 5-on-3.
But thanks for confirming that now that the Cup is won, nobody remembers any of the warts that happened prior to the SCF…
of course we do. they’re always there. every year, every team. nobody is perfect.
And again I repeat: Babcock continued to dress Lilja when we could all see he was a disaster on-ice (especially at the end of games). Why is this so hard to understand, people?
Lilja is a solid penalty-killer. he had some bad games, but he also had a great game in game 4 against the Penguins.
who should have been put in, in his place?
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/11/08 at 02:39 PM ET
wasn’t that to rest his players for a PK?
I believe that was indeed the one. I think he didn’t have the players he wanted on the ice, either - he had no good options, but if they were rested they might give up a goal, if they were tired they almost certainly would.
Lilja is a solid penalty-killer. he had some bad games, but he also had a great game in game 4 against the Penguins.
Best shot-blocker on the team. Gets in trouble when he plays too many minutes and tries to do to much, but in a limited role is pretty effective.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/11/08 at 02:45 PM ET
The Dallas timeout was because the fourth line had been on the ice for 1:30+ and iced the puck. Morrow, Modano, and Ribiero were getting ready to step over the boards. They scored after the timeout anyway, does anyone think they wouldn’t have scored if Babcock doesn’t call a timeout there?
Therrien’s timeout on the 5-on-3 was a good one. Yes, it let Babcock keep Lidstrom and Zetterberg out there, but he didn’t have a choice. Pittsburgh’s second power play unit sucked, so he rightly wanted to keep his first unit out there. The only other option was to leave them out tired against fresh penalty killers.
And seriously, have people already forgotten that Babcock called the most lauded timeout in the entire postseason? Game 2 against Nashville.
Lastly, Lilja is a better player than a lot of people give him credit for. The fact that he makes obvious (and epic) mistakes doesn’t mean that he makes more mistakes than anyone else. In most situations (basically without the puck), he’s better defensively than Lebda, and he was a noticeable step up from Chelios when subbed back into the lineup.
Best coach in the game.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 06/11/08 at 03:05 PM ET
I still agree best coach in the game, though I would have played Cheli all series. Doesn’t make him a bad coach because you disagree with one decisions (two, which is the timeout, which I did agree with then and still do).
Posted by moore00 from GR on 06/11/08 at 03:26 PM ET
Reading MBCQOTD is like having a stroke while listening to Bach. You know it’s good stuff but you can’t quite comprehend what’s going on.
bwahahahahah
The only reason Dallas scored on that PP was because either Morrow or Ribiero fell and held on to Lebda’s stick. The pass went through the open lane where Lebda would have been and they got a clean one timer off to beat Oz.
Therrien’s timeout was worse because his 2nd unit was clicking far better than his 1st one in the previous few rounds. They were playing a simpler entry and setup than Malkin’s foolish heroics.
Best coach in the game.
without question
Posted by Osrt on 06/11/08 at 03:26 PM ET
The Dallas goal wasn’t on the power play. And they scored because Lebda was too tired to make any effort to pull his stick away and force the ref to make a call. I’ve since forgiven him, but no other mistake or weak play all playoffs made me so angry as that one.
There isn’t a coach in the league who’ll choose to replace Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, and Gonchar with a bunch of middling talent during the best scoring opportunity you’ll likely get in a one goal game in the Stanley Cup finals. I don’t care how badly the first unit PP has performed in the past, if Babcock took Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, and Rafalski off in that same situation, it’d be a terrible decision. And the difference between Detroit’s second and first units is much smaller than Pittsburgh’s! As a coach, you should always lose with your best players on the ice.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 06/12/08 at 05:30 AM ET
if you call a timeout and it doesn’t work out, it does automatically make it a bad timeout…
of the ones i can remember him taking, everyone was a good move at the time.
Posted by Pharazon from England on 06/12/08 at 05:40 AM ET
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Gawd bless him. Here’s to three more years of Mike Babcock Consolidated Quotes of the Day.
“Three more years! Three more years! Three more years!”
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the Babblecock For Mayor campaign offices on 06/11/08 at 08:06 AM ET