Abel to Yzerman
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Classic Bettman
by IwoCPO on 01/16/10 at 08:53 AM ET
Comments (48)
So you’ve seen this…
Careful not to offer or accept excuses, the Wings were shaking their heads over the latest bit of insane scheduling inflicted upon them. They flew 3 1/2 hours to Dallas after practice Friday to play the Stars at 2 p.m. today. Then they will fly 3 1/2 hours back and host the Blackhawks in a nationally televised game at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
“Why wouldn’t the Detroit Red Wings do that?” Draper said, sarcastically. “I don’t think there are too many teams doing what we’re doing (schedule-wise), but for us it’s no surprise. We’ve got to play both and our plan is to win both.”
Exactly. No surprise because the Wings have been bent over by the league’s completely neutral schedule maker for at least a decade. Victims of their own success, probably. Get to Dallas for a matinee and make damn sure all the roadkill chefs make it into whateveairlineissponsoringthestarsthisweek arena. Fill it up bitches, because they hate them some Wings deep in the hearta. Oh, and don’t forget the five or six thousand “transplanted” Wing fans.
Then, approximately 20 hours later, you’re back in Detroit for a made-for-NBC special starting at 12fauxing30. Isn’t there a league rule that mandates 24 hours between starting times?
So, shafted by back-to-backs yet again. And shafted even harder when you consider the starting times. Holy. Hell. What kind of absolute idiot of a commissioner can’t see how ridiculous this is? You want to go “tin foil hat” on us? Go ahead. But while you’re at it, defend the decision not to play tomorrow’s game at 7 or 8pm.
And for icing on the cake?
Red Winger
And guess which team plays the most games against teams that have played the night before…
Yup, Pittsburgh.
Subtle, Gary. Real subtle.
Alright. Break. Break.
In less than ten days I’ll be headed back to a Sailor’s rightful home. No bitches, not a bar. I’ll be at sea and there I’ll stay for three months before planting down in San Diego. How does that affect you? Hopefully not much. My plan is to keep the blog going best I can. But there will be challenges. Number 1, there’s a good chance that I won’t see another game after the Wings lay waste to Pinky on 27 Jan. That could last right up to the playoffs. Live Blogs will continue, but my in depth analysis will probably be altered a bit since, you know, I won’t be watching.
Frequency of posting will probably suffer also, as it has the last week as I’ve been making final underway preps. I’ll have less time and probably a lot less bandwidth.
If it turns out that I can’t post at all? I have a backup plan in place. I’ve contacted a member of the 19 and asked him to fill in, if necessary. The goal would be to let you guys maintain a regular dialogue here without having to lop on comments to a post that already has two or three thousand comments. Make sense?
Herm 2 Hockeytown will not be affected in the least. The organizers have fully taken it on and it’s moving along well. Jennifer MacRostie is your main point of contact on that and she loves to hear from each of you so write early and often…jennyquarx at gmail.com. Chris Hollis is also your H2H biotch at christopher.j.hollis at gmail.com. Expect frequent updates from them and I’ll be doing a final H2H update post before I head out.
Live blog at 1300 bitches. No rule against cracking a few well before game time.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
And I salute, Chief.
Thank you. And be safe.
The best in the freedom business:
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 01/16/10 at 09:32 AM ET
Since you will be dropping anchor in San Diego, I suppose you will be cruising in the beautiful Pacific, hopefully??
Good luck, Chief.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 01/16/10 at 09:35 AM ET
Live Blogs will continue, but my in depth analysis will probably be altered a bit since, you know, I won’t be watching.
You could still write posts and stories about the game, and just pretend that you were there - you know, like a real professional journalist, with credentials and everything.
Have a safe trip and enjoy San Diego. We’ll look forward to a hello when you hit solid ground again.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/16/10 at 09:43 AM ET
You could still write posts and stories about the game, and just pretend that you were there - you know, like a real professional journalist, with credentials and everything.
Awesome, B.
Chief, I salute you. Keep us safe, Raspberry.
I would like to donate my paysite account to you whenever you need it. If you can support a 600 kbps stream you can watch the game. If you can support a 900 kbps stream, the higher quality stream will work.
Let me know Chief, and I’ll set you up with the details.
To the H2H folks, paypal is being sorted out. Donation coming today, and I will be paying for the game as well. Sorry for the delay, I am doing my best.
As it is football playoffs and my brother is a huge football fan, no LBs for me this weekend.
Don’t forget, Douche Canoe Ticket Contest: Special Edition on Sunday.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 01/16/10 at 09:54 AM ET
Chief, the paysite also archives games in case you are occupied during the game. Let me know, Raspberry, let me know.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 01/16/10 at 09:56 AM ET
Chief:
Bon Voyage!
It sounds like you will be back in time for the Wings’ Stanley Cup run….
Fair Winds and Following seas!
Posted by w2j2 on 01/16/10 at 10:12 AM ET
I thought following seas were bad - better purchase for the screws if the bow was turned into the waves? Fair winds sound good, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/16/10 at 10:33 AM ET
Let me know, Raspberry, let me know.
Posted by VooX
Don’t call me Raspberry.
You’re welcome bitch. And fuch carrots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-3BMONj7WM
______________________
Good luck with the next few months Chief. Let us know if can send you out some home rations, like cheddar and PBR and tweets from Thomm; it’s the little things in life that keep us going you know.
Are you settling in San Diego for sure? Man, that would be awesome.
And you didn’t contact ME about writing. I feel offended. It’s as if I haven’t kept up the highest standards of etiquette, intelligence and chokeabitch insights all these years. Seriously, you’ve hurt me in the cockles of my heart. Maybe the sub-cockle region actually. That’s a underused spot. Take note women. That would include you Gary, if you didn’t look like a mutant penguin. Oh snap. I think I just discovered who Rosby’s test tube daddy is.
Posted by Osrt on 01/16/10 at 10:52 AM ET
Be safe and good luck Chief. I don’t know what I’ll do without those beautiful little gems atop my google reader every day but I guess I’ll find a way to get by
Posted by Rondo on 01/16/10 at 10:58 AM ET
” And guess which team plays the most games against teams that have played the night before…
Yup, Pittsburgh.”
I love this argument…just typical of people looking for excuses or “whoa is me” type thinking. Maybe they’ve had fewer back to back games, but they’ve still played the most games in the NHL, so it’s not like they’re sitting around for days and days either. add this to the list of why the dead wings don’t make the playoffs though if it’ll help you sleep at night.
and since when did Draper go from being one the more respected guys in hockey to one of the first guys to complain to the media???
Posted by Greg on 01/16/10 at 10:59 AM ET
Fuch Leno.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axwO6BkCtIo
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 01/16/10 at 11:04 AM ET
You should like that argument, Greg - whether by accident or design, a team that faces more tired teams has an advantage, just as Colorado has an altitude advantage with the location of the city, just as Vancouver has a disadvantage with their travel schedule, and just as every Eastern conference teams benefits from a lower level of overall competition and an easier travel than any of the teams in the Western conference.
Draper has been around long enough to say whatever he damn well pleases - whether or not a newspaper chooses to use the word “sarcastic” to describe his words. And Detroit has had scheduling issues for many years as a product of being a Western conference team in the Eastern time zone and a team that other cities want on the weekends so they can try to increase their attendance. Nothing new, nothing unusual.
Besides, I don’t recall anyone asking you for your thoughts.
And nice to not off the Chief the courtesy of a bon voyage.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/16/10 at 11:10 AM ET
In less than ten days I’ll be headed back to a Sailor’s rightful home.
Good luck, man. (you have be be lucky to be good, and good to be lucky)
Shame I won’t get to meet you, and thank you, in person. You sure seem to be a great guy.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 01/16/10 at 11:17 AM ET
Stay safe Chief. and as always, thanks for your work. I think next year’s gathering at the Joe we need to work around your schedule so we can all buy you one.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 01/16/10 at 11:30 AM ET
This schedule sucks and I’m glad we can always count on Draper to say what all of us are thinking.
Be safe, Chief. Good luck. And thank you.
Posted by jennyquarx on 01/16/10 at 11:30 AM ET
just typical of people looking for excuses or “whoa is me” type thinking.
Woe is me. You’re a douche.
See, that right there is quality blog material.
Posted by Osrt on 01/16/10 at 11:30 AM ET
I’m offended Chief hasn’t contacted me for a weekly Portuguese post.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 01/16/10 at 11:32 AM ET
Even more silly is that Chicago is on the road in Columbus. Not as far away, but it would have made for better hockey if both teams had a better schedule.
Then again, NBC is stupid. Whoa is them. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/16/10 at 11:36 AM ET
Whoa. Who allowed Keanu to start posting.
Have fun fishing Chief.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 01/16/10 at 11:43 AM ET
Keep safe, Sailor. Needless to say the thoughts and hopes of us in civvie street go with you, and look forward to your return. Kick some ass out there, CPO, and I guarantee you I’ll see you in Saint Diego sometime when you least expect it…
We’ll hold down the fort here, no problem. The 19 abides.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 01/16/10 at 11:45 AM ET
Thanks for your service and for keeping us (even Dive, Penguin and Poutry fans) safe. Godspeed to you.
Posted by Gumby from the city with more ruins than Rome on 01/16/10 at 11:55 AM ET
Achors Aweigh, Chief. God speed to you, sir for keeping our lazy asses safe here on terra firma.
Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 01/16/10 at 11:57 AM ET
I’m offended Chief hasn’t contacted me for a weekly Portuguese post.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 01/16/10 at 11:32 AM ET
How about you me and that Slovenian guy doing a word each, so it becomes Portu-weg-enian posts 
Be safe Chief
Posted by Andy from FightNight on 01/16/10 at 12:11 PM ET
“whoa is me”
Good horsemanship right there.
Picked up this quote from the Brazilian piece on the Hermfest…
Abel to Yzerman, the “king of blogs” on the Red Wings
Those Brazilians really do know them some hockey.
Shifting gears…..
Wings abundance of frquent flyer miles…Thanks Gary. Ass
Downshift….
Three months without Hockey…what kind of Navy is this?
Enjoy the time at sea sailor. May you have fair winds, dry decks and always “home safe”. See you in SD.
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, when in doubt, pinky out on 01/16/10 at 12:20 PM ET
“whoa is me”
Woe
Posted by IwoCPO
Thanks for the correction, and doing it the way you did, without killing me over the wrong usage. I’m from a Navy background myself, so best wishes.
Posted by Greg on 01/16/10 at 12:29 PM ET
How about you me and that Slovenian guy doing a word each, so it becomes Portu-weg-enian posts raspberry
Posted by Andy from FightNight on 01/16/10 at 12:11 PM ET
Sounds cool. Then the Americans could try to translate it, and whoever did it faster and better, gets a prize.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 01/16/10 at 12:42 PM ET
Fuch Leno.
Fuch Conan.
Leno didn’t make Conan’s show a symphony of suck that finishes last in the ratings. Letterman always had better ratings lead-ins than Leno, but Leno always beat Letterman in the ratings. Conan is full of excuses rather than funny jokes.
If Conan had been anywhere close to Letterman in the ratings, NBC would have simply cancelled the Leno show and let Conan keep the Tonight show.
This is all NBC’s mess. They never should have turned over the Tonight Show to Conan. Leno was atop the ratings when NBC pulled the plug and gave it to Conan. Now Conan can’t even beat nightline.
Andy Ritcher is the biggest douche ever. They should have left that loser in NY.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 01/16/10 at 12:43 PM ET
Chief, are you sailing out of SD? I’m sure that Rum, Gabe and I would love totake you to dinner before you sail.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 01/16/10 at 12:45 PM ET
That’s going to be a rough set, to be sure. There are a few others like it this season, though. I broke down the 10 Worst back-to-back sets over the summer (before this change took place).
Perhaps the worst stretch this season goes to Calgary, which played 4 games in 5 nights, then had to do the same thing the very next week (earlier this month). There are only 3 4-games-in-5-night sets in the entire NHL this season, and the Flames got 2 of them within a fortnight.
And they already travel more than anyone else, to boot.
Posted by Forechecker from Nolensville, TN on 01/16/10 at 12:58 PM ET
Chief, others here are more eloquent in expressing their wishes for you so I’ll just say be safe. We’ll be thinking positive thoughts that you’ll be home with your family soon. Oh and San Diego is absolutely beautiful.
Question though, isn’t there some sort of Armed Forces network that you can get out there to watch a game or two?
@Orst I’m all for helping out putting an A2Y care package if we can do that.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 01/16/10 at 01:03 PM ET
Chief, I pretty sure that none of us are going anywhere while you are away.
When you roll back into port, you’ll not only have your wife and daughters waiting on the dock, but “19” imaginary friends.
Here’s hoping you left the temporary sheriff instructions to “terminate with extreme prejudice” any trolls that cross the line, whatever that line may be.
Posted by dougie on 01/16/10 at 01:04 PM ET
.just typical of people looking for excuses or “whoa is me” type thinking.
“Whoa” is me? Is that where Keanu Reeves is troubled by his life. Good job champ.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 01/16/10 at 01:04 PM ET
Here’s to getting your sea legs back quickly, Chief.
And avoid the scurvy, if at all possible.
Posted by RedMenace from the darkest recesses on 01/16/10 at 01:11 PM ET
@Orst I’m all for helping out putting an A2Y care package if we can do that.
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate
Right on. I nominate jennyquarx to coordinate everything (blueberry).
Whoa is them.
Posted by Baroque
Awesome.
Posted by Osrt on 01/16/10 at 01:23 PM ET
Sounds cool. Then the Americans could try to translate it, and whoever did it faster and better, gets a prize.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 01/16/10 at 12:42 PM ET
haha, yeah.. BTW, we have to win tonight cause my baby sister is a Stars fan
Posted by Andy from FightNight on 01/16/10 at 01:24 PM ET
@Orst I’m all for helping out putting an A2Y care package if we can do that.
An album of photos from H2H since he can’t make it, but was instrumental in getting it started?
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/16/10 at 01:28 PM ET
I love this argument…just typical of people looking for excuses or “whoa is me” type thinking.
It wasn’t an argument, it was a statement of fact.
And if you want to make the case the above scenario, coupled with the Wings schedule, is not a benefit for the Pens and a detriment to the Wings, respectively, then be my guest.
I’ll wait.
Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 01/16/10 at 01:33 PM ET
Right on. I nominate jennyquarx to coordinate everything (blueberry).
HA! I’m down for this. 
Baroque’s idea is great. Other ideas that are allowed by the USPS are awesome too, which means no warm PBR unfortunately.
Posted by jennyquarx on 01/16/10 at 01:36 PM ET
Not just USPS to be concerned about. What’s considered contraband by the USN, or does seniority allow you to get around some of that? The package should definitely include a program from the game.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 01/16/10 at 01:41 PM ET
What’s considered contraband by the USN, or does seniority allow you to get around some of that?
On MASH they labeled things “kitchen supplies” to get around it or something, didn’t they? Although they did label the ribs and sauce “medical supplies” when they ordered them from Chicago.
The package should definitely include a program from the game.
That would be a nice addition - we could just get an album intended for wedding pictures and scribble “Hockey, bitches!” on the front. Or we could do something nicer.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/16/10 at 01:50 PM ET
In less than ten days I’ll be headed back to a Sailor’s rightful home. No bitches, not a bar. I’ll be at sea and there I’ll stay for three months before planting down in San Diego
God love you Chief, and thank you. You are one heck of a manly man. Bitch.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 01/16/10 at 01:59 PM ET
Or we could do something nicer.
Depending on the number and quality of photos that we have, we could put together a print on demand commemorative book: http://www.blurb.com
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 01/16/10 at 03:01 PM ET
Woe, who would have thought I’d get such a response just by misusing one word…
Still dont see the issue though with the games on back to back days, even with the poor scheduling. The Wings will have all Friday in Dallas to get ready for for the game saturday, then they hop on their private plane, probably are home by 7p-8pm and play early Sunday. Obviously not ideal, but that’s what happens when NBC owns the NHL.
Posted by Greg on 01/16/10 at 04:09 PM ET
Thank you, Chief, for your service to the country. It is much appreciated. And please pass along my thanks to your wife and family, as well. I was a Navy wife—for a short time, before we had children—and it isn’t an easy job, at all. I am in awe of anyone who can be in your line of work and the families left behind. May God bless you all.
Posted by cmk from the top part of MI on 01/16/10 at 10:34 PM ET
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Thanks, Gary. Ass.
L.G.R.W.
Let’s get a"W” today AND tomorrow.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 01/16/10 at 09:26 AM ET