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Abel to Yzerman

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Digger…Departing

by IwoCPO on 07/29/08 at 09:00 AM ET
Comments (15)

Teddy Kulfan coined a phrase.  He was the first Deep Digger Captain.  Fifty years from now when A2Y is finally acknowledged as the greatest blog ever invented anywhere on any internet, he will be given credit as one of the inspirations.

But he’s a former Digger now. 

And here’s how it went down.  An Abel to Yzerman Deep Digger Departing Exclusive.

Long-time Lions beat writer Mike O’hara is on the verge of retirement.  He’s been covering the worst organization in sports since I was a little Arthur Fonzarelli wanna be.  Since the days of Rick Kane and Greg Landry.  Apparently, mustering the will to write about Matt Millen’s genius every day was finally too much.

And that’s where the famous dominoes started to tumble at the News.  Replacing O’Hara?

Our highest hope, John Niyo.  The one guy in Detroit we felt had what it takes to cover the Wings capably? Shifted to the Lions.  Ugh.

Could have ended there, eh?  A simple switch. Legend retires.  Phenom steps in?

Not so fast.  Down goes Kulfan. Teddy’s shifting to spot duty with the Pistons and Wings.  A JV Digger.

In comes…

Dave Dye, of Sparty fame. 

And our world has tilted on its axis.  So many dilemmas.  Do we automatically move Dye into a Digger’s role, or do we give him the same opportunity provided Bruce MacLeod, the anti-Digger?  Dye’s been outspoken in his coverage of MSU.  He hasn’t been afraid to blast the Tigers, either.

What the Tigers lacked Friday night was what the White Sox got with two outs in the ninth: a big, two-run home run.

A guy who might have provided one of those rockets was, once again, not in need of a shower afterward. Thames might be the most disciplined person in the Tigers clubhouse. He has kept his mouth shut across too many games in which he should have been in the lineup.

Whoa.  Slow down big fella.  Watch...the tone.

Dye’s a long-time Detroit guy.  Grew up in Michigan, went to State.  Been with the News for 23 years.  Now his responsibilities shift to the Dynasty.  A fresh voice, new outlooks, nifty grammar. 

And the benefit of the doubt.  We’ll give you some leeway Dave, a little bit.  We’ll see if the John Hahn puppet strings attach themselves to your shoulders before annointing you a Digger.  You’ve got some time, but know this.  We’re watching.  Once you’re a Digger, there’s no turning back.  And don’t think we didn’t notice this in your bio, Dave.

Childhood idol: Former Maple Leaf Dave Keon. I went to his hockey camp and wore No. 14 because of him.

Now...Niyo.  In all honesty, there’s probably no better job in America than Lions beat writer.  What an opportunity to cover a train wreck. Every day.  The News obviously felt that the Lions are the team Michigan reads about the most, so they put the guy they feel deserved the job in a spot to cover them.

Greedily, we would have liked to see him jump into Kulfan’s role.  But the suits made the call they felt would bring them the most bucks.  And if you’ve been following along, you know that bucks are a bit of a concern at the News right now.

Recap:

--O’Hara: Done.  A noble guy calls it quits to enjoy a Lion-less existence.
--Niyo: Steps into the circus that is the Millen playhouse.
--Kulfan: A Digger departed.
--Dye: On probation.

Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
 

Comments

We get to tear the FNG a new one, Chief?

Hopefully, he’s buying the beer, too.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 07/29/08 at 09:05 AM ET

O’Hara: Done.  A noble guy calls it quits to enjoy a Lion-less existence.

Like our boy Barry Sanders, except he toughed it out longer than Barry did.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 07/29/08 at 09:31 AM ET

He’s dead on about Marcus Thames.

Stupid Tigers.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/29/08 at 10:49 AM ET

As long as Dye uses spell check, proofreads his work for grammar, conducts the periodic interview, and uses 1/24th of his brain on the job, he will be an improvement over sweaty Teddy Kulfan.

Posted by TDeters on 07/29/08 at 01:14 PM ET

Well, at least we didn’t lose Niyo to the Pens.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the office, contemplating buying out Khan's contra on 07/29/08 at 02:31 PM ET

Oh my Andrew, I have to clean my screen off now!  I just spit water all over it reading that comment.  Well done.

Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 07/29/08 at 03:02 PM ET

Well, at least we didn’t lose Niyo to the Pens.

Hah!

I voted Kuflan in the last post before reading this one because it made me feel all warm. Wonderful news!

Anyone know when Dye is scheduled to deliver his first article? Tough time to find a story.

The wait for George’s reign continues.

Posted by Osrt on 07/29/08 at 03:23 PM ET

Hope ‘bout somebody Deep Diggin’ on the Walter situation?  It’s nearly August and I’m gettin a little antzy.  Arbitration based on the no-talents who are getting $3.5M could bust him off the Red Wings roster.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 07/29/08 at 05:54 PM ET

No worries RW; they have a 2 year fall back contract and are just using this time to figure out if they can do a long term deal.

Posted by Osrt on 07/29/08 at 06:35 PM ET

Well, they’ve got 3 more days until Walter’s arbitration date.  I’d like to see a deal done before then, but something tells me it’s going to get done regardless.

As for Andrew, bravo.

Posted by Clemshady from South Carolina on 07/29/08 at 06:49 PM ET

Wally’s arbitration hearing isn’t until Friday - don’t try to tell me that no one else ever finished typing a paper the night before it was due, and grabbed it off the printer on the way to class, needing to hunt down a stapler in the lecture hall?  Plenty of time. 

(That’s why I loved binder clips - carry a few in my bag, and I didn’t have to worry about finding staples.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/29/08 at 07:24 PM ET

John Hahn puppet strings attach themselves to your shoulders before anointing you a Digger.

I’m more worried about seeing him fall into “digger syndrome.” The Wings are a pain in the butt to deal with, period, and the glares and grumbles you get when you’re attempt to get anything done, you either get used to, or you stop trying, and you start sticking to the “pack” that wades into a scrum or two and then leaves the room instead of getting an extra quote or two, asking another question or two, and continuing to press the boundaries of those organ-i-zational constraints. 

You’ve got to want to challenge yourself and want to talk hockey with players and coaches, because if you actually stop and ask a hockey player a question and let him talk, nine out of ten times, he will.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/29/08 at 07:57 PM ET

You’ve got to want to challenge yourself and want to talk hockey with players and coaches, because if you actually stop and ask a hockey player a question and let him talk, nine out of ten times, he will.

Exactly why you should be the anti-digger Captain and help us get some serious coverage.

Posted by Osrt on 07/30/08 at 02:07 AM ET

Osrt pulled out the same words I was going to…

I’ve been reading any & everything Wings related for a long time. Eventually ya get sick of the Mitch fluff mailed in from LA or wher ever he lives, HSJ, Niyo and Khan(!) and Ted all saying the same bloody thing and none evidently are truly hockey people. I relish every opportunity to just go to The Joe nevermind making a living and having the opportunity to go.
Mr Malik on the other hand writes pages & pages from being at the prospect camp, for example. That’s the stuff I can’t get enough of! The 19 of us pretty much know the info the MSM Twits are spoon fed before the MSM Twits can taste what’s on their spoon.
Bruce needs some help (or we think he could use some)… and we would appreciate reading-hearing more from a true Wing nut (no offense George!).
I don’t think Kenny will push Fil’s luck with arbitration. The chance of him being pushed out of our capology is pretty steep. There’s only been one arbitration hearing so far this year IIRC and historically 99% of the time the monoey “awarded” is ludicrous.

Posted by MoWingsfan19 on 07/30/08 at 07:52 AM ET

My demeanour doesn’t necessarily indicate the fact that I yell and scream, rant, or wear Red Wings stuff any less than the average Wings fan, MoWings You guys just haven’t read a good rant from me in a while.

That aside, I really appreciate the compliments, but I’m still at the ECHL level, working my way up, and I think that the Chief did a nice job of throwing his hat in the ring with breaking Filppula’s signing today.  Time will tell.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/30/08 at 04:39 PM ET

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