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Detroit News’ New Business Plan: Find Someone Really Stupid And Hire Them To Write Headlines
by IwoCPO on 11/09/09 at 07:35 AM ET
Comments (43)
I’m not going to blame Chris McCosky for this one because the article he wrote really doesn’t support the headline. But, man, this is just plain dumb.
So, you lose Franzen, Filppula, Williams, Hossa, Samuelsson, Hudler and still compete…yet you have “depth issues”?
I think we’ve all come to a realization that this year is going to be the most difficult one we’ve had to endure in a long, long time. But, if anything, the recent spate of injuries has proven that Detroit’s organ-I-zational depth is the gold standard…not an “issue.” In fact, that is so clear that it almost goes without saying.
Unless you’re the Detroit News and you feel the need to prove, again, that attention to detail is just not something required in today’s world of healthy newspapers and first-class journalism.
Three top six forwards out and yet the Wings can still ice a team that features Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Cleary, Helm, Draper, Leino and Bertuzzi up front. Depth “issues”? Really?
There is going to be new stress every week. You and I both know the injuries aren’t over until we see Homer and Hank in civvies. The trend is sickening and could very well be a harbinger of worse to come. But don’t try and tell me the Wings don’t have depth. That’s just plain stupid.
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Comments
On a related note, has anyone yet coined the phrase “Salgary Cap” or “Sal Gary Cap”?
Posted by monkey from the morel high ground on 11/09/09 at 08:02 AM ET
It’s yours for the taking, monkey.
I thought depth issues were only problems for men who weren’t ‘big enough,’ but that there are new all natural enhancements for that. Are we talking about the same thing here?
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 11/09/09 at 08:18 AM ET
I think Cal would be upset that Gary is getting around on him.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/09/09 at 08:25 AM ET
I like adversity during the regular season. It brings guys together. I like giving the role players more minutes now, it gets them ready come playoff time. I like the MSM writing us off, it gives us motivation to shut them up. What I don’t like is living through this crap right now.
If they just changed the word “proving” to “causing” it would still be a better written headline, despite “Injuries Causing Red Wings Have Depth Issues” sounding like something you’d expect to read in the Angry Chipmunk Post Tribune.
So we’re in for a long remaining 2009. We get these guys back and they’re like those trade deadline acquisitions that energize a team. The guys who have been fighting out there all season get to see a guy whose been getting pissed off having to watch from the sidelines for a couple months suddenly take the ice again. He may not be able to play at full speed, but everybody out there sees him trying his ass off and they remember what’s expected of them.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 11/09/09 at 08:25 AM ET
I’m still not concerned.
Toronto is one of those games the Wings over the past years have traditionally blown anyways. You know, those games against cellar-dwellers that will be vying for that #1 Overall pick next June. We quickly forget, but during Cup years Detroit’s blown those kind of games still. It’s always a bit maddening, but not indicative of anything more.
Against San Jose Detroit wasn’t putting the puck on net enough, so against Toronto Babcock reverted to his favorite tactic: cycle back to the point and let defensemen blast away. Unsurprisingly, the result this time was the same it has been every other time they’ve tried this… tons of shots blocked, and a loss that shouldn’t have happened.
You’d think one of these days Babcock would get a clue and stop going back to tactics which are proven not to work with the Wings Things like are why I continue to insist that he’s just plain not a very good coach, and that the players often coach themselves and make him look good.
Posted by Primis on 11/09/09 at 09:48 AM ET
“There is going to be new stress every week. You and I both know the injuries aren’t over until we see Homer and Hank in civvies.”
PLEASE say it ain’t gonna happen. Please?
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/09/09 at 09:55 AM ET
You know, those games against cellar-dwellers that will be vying for Boston’s #1 Overall pick next June.
Fixed.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 11/09/09 at 10:08 AM ET
Against San Jose Detroit wasn’t putting the puck on net enough, so against Toronto Babcock reverted to his favorite tactic: cycle back to the point and let defensemen blast away. Unsurprisingly, the result this time was the same it has been every other time they’ve tried this… tons of shots blocked, and a loss that shouldn’t have happened.
Remember against Calgary when they worked the puck down low…remember? I don’t care if we’re getting as many shots, as long as they’re good ones.
And for god’s sake…STOP PUTTING ERICSSON AND LEBDA ON THE ICE TOGETHER…it’s poison.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/09/09 at 10:21 AM ET
Posted by Primis on 11/09/09 at 09:48 AM ET
If it is true that the players coach themselves more than Babcock does, then it is entirely possible they were the ones reverting to the old cycle-to-point shot tactic. That is a familiar way to play for most of the players. The HOF hoopla surrounding the game distracted them, and the team criminally underestimated a basement-dwelling team with a new, burgeoning confidence. When the game started and they we’re on their heels, they were shocked. So they did what most teams do when they come out flat, try to simplify and play ‘their’ game. Which, apparently, many took to be the cycle-to-point shot tactic of old. As Babcock mentioned after the game, the team can no longer play like this and expect to win. They can no longer cycle, cycle and control the puck constantly, they don’t have the skill to do it. As they did in the three game winning streak, they have to play as a 5 man unit, just “like a mirror”, right Pav?
I only have one possible explanation for that last defensive unit. Babcock is givng Ericsson a trial by fire. He’s saying, “See Bret over there, the one eating a pogo instead of doing drills? He can’t defend shit. You’re goal is to make him look even remotely capable of defending. Remember that wrinkly chili man, yeah just like he did. When Lebda looks serviceable on your pairing, you have what it takes to defend. Now here’s a belly rub, big guy.”
Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 11/09/09 at 10:24 AM ET
Has it been 4 years since we drafted Tatar?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/09/09 at 10:25 AM ET
You know, those games against cellar-dwellers that will be vying for Boston’s #1 Overall pick next June.
Fixed.
And that’s the hilarity of the situation. Toronto can’t even rebuild properly like everyone’s favorite model NHL franchise.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 11/09/09 at 10:25 AM ET
Wait…what? The Snooze is still in business? Wow.
In between sessions of giving God the finger, I’ve been thinking that this adversity will be good for us come April…as long as the injuries don’t last until then. If they do, frigate—it’s a transitional year and maybe next year won’t taste so much like suck, and have less broken flesh & bone to boot.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 11/09/09 at 10:27 AM ET
From last thread:
By the way Voox, you are exactly what I pictured you to look like after all these months of reading A2Y. No letdown at all ...
Just great, Tyler. I didn’t know one could LOOK cocky and obnoxious.
As long as regular sacrifices are made to Jobu, I would hope we have had our share of LTIR injuries for one team. We don’t want to be the Oilers of 2007-2008 in any way.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/09/09 at 10:32 AM ET
VooX, are you making the right sacrifices? I heard rumours that Bertuzzi was thrown in a volcano, but it spat him out like in a “Woody Woodpecker in Hawaii” cartoon.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/09/09 at 10:37 AM ET
VooX, are you making the right sacrifices?
Well I keep finding beautiful virgins to sacrifice. The problem is by the time I get them to the altar, they’ve “mysteriously” lost their virginity. I am only a man, forgive me Jobu, I am weak.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/09/09 at 10:44 AM ET
You gues see this crap?
http://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/2009/11/9/1121635/george-malik-is-a-whiner
Apparently, Malik has a fan…
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/09/09 at 11:50 AM ET
Apparently, Malik has a fan…
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/09/09 at 11:50 AM ET
Great response on NOHS Drew. Though, you’ve gotta cut Leafs bloggers a bit of slack. Think of how insane we’re going because were just a few points back of the Central after a month of hockey. Extrapolate that in every way possible - icing a terrible team for years and years. Toss in not winning anything in 42 years and you’re bound to be a bit of a lunatic.
That being said, Malik is the cat’s pajamas.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 11/09/09 at 12:14 PM ET
Yahoo is too kind.
Instead of saying they lost 3 of the last 4, and Crosby is in a 4 game slump, we get this:
The Penguins opened the season 7-0-0 on the road but have lost two straight after winning at Anaheim on Tuesday night.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 11/09/09 at 12:40 PM ET
“See Bret over there, the one eating a pogo instead of doing drills? He can’t defend shit. You’re goal is to make him look even remotely capable of defending. Remember that wrinkly chili man, yeah just like he did. When Lebda looks serviceable on your pairing, you have what it takes to defend. Now here’s a belly rub, big guy.”
For. The. Win.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 11/09/09 at 12:40 PM ET
we should have Gustavsson…..he’s Swedish; why did we let burkey go in there and convince him Toronto was his best option out of 30 teams.
Posted by Itrusteddrrahmani from Nyc by way of A2 on 11/09/09 at 12:42 PM ET
My apologies for you’re instead of your, but hell, I’m just quoting our Uncle verbatim.
Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 11/09/09 at 12:43 PM ET
Though, you’ve gotta cut Leafs bloggers a bit of slack. Think of how insane we’re going because were just a few points back of the Central after a month of hockey.
CaptNorrist:
A few points back of the Central is a pretty irrational statement when you consider the
Central is this years Western Conference joke so far…..
One team in playoff position?
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 11/09/09 at 12:45 PM ET
Apparently, Malik has a fan…
The best part is that, at the end of the post, the dude COMPLETELY proves #7 on Malik’s list.
Jackasses.
Posted by Garth on 11/09/09 at 01:09 PM ET
They don’t have depth this year, stupid. There, I said it.
Posted by WingsRule on 11/09/09 at 01:11 PM ET
Quick question: which Hall of Fame class is better, 2007 or 2009?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 11/09/09 at 01:24 PM ET
I like PPP, but I don’t really get where that’s coming from. The Leafs have won 3 out of fifteen games and Malik a) can’t be upset with his team’s performance, and b) say that the Leafs are bad? Who’s whining again?
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 11/09/09 at 01:47 PM ET
Brasil, if it was only The Captain and Brian Burke’s shirt with chili-dog stains on it being inducted, it would still be the best HHOF year of my lifetime.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/09/09 at 01:49 PM ET
Tyler, and 19, I’d recommend reading the recap at downgoesbrown.com it is much better.
In general, PPP are one of only a couple of Leafs blogs I can tolerate. The others are TSN blogs, DGB, and http://www.truthandrumours.net - today the PPP are unusually riled up.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/09/09 at 02:04 PM ET
I saw the DGB post. I check that site before I do anything in the morning (Eat, drink, breathe).
And that recap was usual A+ material: http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2009/11/leafs-vs-wings-my-night-at-acc.html
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 11/09/09 at 02:07 PM ET
Brasil, if it was only The Captain and Brian Burke’s shirt with chili-dog stains on it being inducted, it would still be the best HHOF year of my lifetime.
Right On. Hear hear. Bravo and agreed.
For the first time, the Hall should be humbled.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from The Winged Wheel, stuck in Chicago on 11/09/09 at 02:15 PM ET
George Sipple, Freep.com, has the latest from Wings practice today - - Ville taking Willy’s place, Eaves skating, and Lebda sick :
Ville Leino replaced injured forward Jason Williams on a line with Dan Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg at practice today at Joe Louis Arena.
“We’ll see what happens,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We think Ville’s a real intelligent hockey player. He’s played real well for us in the past. He’s at a point his confidence isn’t as good as it has been in the past. So he’s gotta do his part, and we’re going to try and help him out. Obviously if you end up playing with Z and Clears, those are good players.” . . .
Wings forward Patrick Eaves made it through practice, though he still has a bruised left foot. He remains on a line with Kris Draper and Darren Helm.
“That line prior to last game had been real effective for us, with either Draper or Helm or Eaves on it, or sometimes Leino,” Babcock said. “We’d like to put them back together and get them going.”
Defenseman Brett Lebda didn’t practice today. Babcock said Lebda is sick.
Lebda sick? Defensitis? Amnesia (forgot how to play defense)? Bi-Positional disorder - - thinks he is really a forward?
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 11/09/09 at 02:17 PM ET
Lebda sick? Defensitis? Amnesia (forgot how to play defense)? Bi-Positional disorder - - thinks he is really a forward?
BPD gets my vote…...good one.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 11/09/09 at 02:23 PM ET
Babcock said Lebda is sick.
No, that’s wrong. Babs actually said that he is sick of Lebda.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 11/09/09 at 02:32 PM ET
BPD gets my vote…...good one.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd
Make that 2 (two) for BPD.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 11/09/09 at 02:39 PM ET
STOP PUTTING ERICSSON AND LEBDA ON THE ICE TOGETHER…it’s poison.
-Animal Drew
You’re damn right, Drew. Ericsson is the Wings’ leading scorer on the blue line and is playing a 6th spot role with Lebda?? Makes no sense to me, but what do I know about hockey?
Posted by Hippy Dave from Portland by way of Detroit on 11/09/09 at 02:50 PM ET
Babs actually said that he is sick of Lebda.
This.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 11/09/09 at 02:52 PM ET
There is no known cure for BPD. Bertuzzi should take Lilja behind the toolshed and end his misery with a well-placed crosscheck to the temple.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 11/09/09 at 03:13 PM ET
You’re damn right, Drew. Ericsson is the Wings’ leading scorer on the blue line
...and 4th overall on the team *retches*
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 11/09/09 at 03:24 PM ET
And with the 32nd pick in the 2009 NHL draft, the Red Wings select:
Someone other than Ryan O’Reilly. Thank Roy for that.
Posted by rwhater on 11/09/09 at 03:57 PM ET
I think Cal would be upset that Gary is getting around on him.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 11/09/09 at 08:25 AM ET
That should read: “I think Cal would be upset that Gary is “reaching around” on him.”
Posted by calquake on 11/09/09 at 04:51 PM ET
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Wavelength, same.
From the Oakland Press:
Headlines proving News has brain issues
Posted by monkey from the morel high ground on 11/09/09 at 08:00 AM ET