Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: Friday Odds and Ends
Previous entry: As Expected...The Delicate Genius Chimes In
Problems With Bert? Good.
by IwoCPO on 02/28/07 at 01:32 PM ET
Comments (13)
A day later and I have a few impressions. They’re mild and I certainly don’t mean to ruffle feathers, because that’s not who I am.
So here we go. Are you disappointed that the Wings have acquired a man who blindsided another player from behind with a sucker punch that essentially broke his neck? You are?
Not me.
Nope. I like it. I like his fire, if he still has it. I like his violent tendencies, if he’ll still succomb to them. I like his temper, if he’ll use it. I like that he’s battled and bruised Chris Chelios. Chelios despised him, but for all the right reasons.
Does that make sense? Do I ever? Of course it does. Chelios hates Kariya because little Paulie’s a fairie on skates who dives and whines. He hated Bertuzzi the way Ali hated Foreman...respectfully.
I like this move for another reason and I’m not afraid to say it: the few Avs fans left in Denver despise Bertuzzi. In that regard, this move is better than making them choke on the vomitous thought of Floppa in the Wheel. How many games do we have left in Colorado? Damn. None. How great would it be to watch that? Ah well, maybe we’ll see them in the playoffs.
Woops...probably not. 10th seed today. What a shame.
I like the fact that the Wings have dealt for the player Denver hates. Do I condone what he did? No. But, I “forgave” him long before yesterday, and I’ve said so here many times. Am I happy that fringe player and near-goon Steve Moore had his career and life changed by the hit? No.
But does it bother me to see the player who assaulted him on the Wings? Just the opposite. I like it, and I’m betting there are more than a few of you who see the beauty in it.
If I were a columnist for the Detroit Free Press, and I actually knew where the Wings played their home games, would I be writing this? No. I’d be fired for my lack of sensitivity. None of the radio hacks will say it either.
But I can, and I will. I’ll defend it if I have to but I’m not changing my stance: I love this deal because it’s another way to stick it to Denver. If any Dique fans take issue with that, feel free to cc: Kris Draper with your responses.
Oh, and while Denver moans about our newest Wing they can take solace in the fact that their organization’s big deadline day move was bringing back the offensively gifted Scott Parker.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
Dang it,Bill !! I was doing such a good job biting my lip on this one, and you had to ask point blank....I.ABSOLUTELY.HATE.IT.
Not from some candy assed ,put skirts on ‘em Albom point of view, either.I realize these guys are hired to win hockey games, and some of them aren’t going to be model citizens.
It’s what I perceive to be a total lack of personal honor and character displayed in not only “the incident”, but how it was handled afterward. Those things are important to me. That is why I worshiped at the shrine of Stevie Y all these years.
I cringe to see Bertuzzi in a Red Wings sweater, and I hope he is long gone before I ever have to see one on the back of a fan in the stands.
Not that I feel strongly about it, really.....
Posted by dougie on 02/28/07 at 04:33 PM ET
If all Bertuzzi does while he’s in Detroit is make some Avs fans mad, his time here will have been a complete waste. He’s here to contribute to the playoffs, not to rekindle a rivalry with Colorado.
I just hope his back lets him suit up and that he hasn’t become soft, or else that unclean feeling I’ll get from seeing him in the Winged Wheel won’t go away.
I can’t say I’m exactly happy the Todd Bertuzzi Era has begun in Detroit, but I am interested in seeing how he can contribute. I’m definitely conflicted on the whole thing, because I know he can bring what the Wings have needed, but it still feels wrong in some way. Whatever. I can deal with it.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 02/28/07 at 06:21 PM ET
Once in the lineup, Bertuzzi’s presence will make the opposition think twice about leveling Datsyuk or Zetterberg. If you go after one of the stars, it’ll be a safe bet Bertuzzi will respond to it. That in itself will be a good thing. At the same time, it brings me great joy thinking about Bertuzzi crunch Peter Forsberg 
Posted by Zetterberg40rule on 02/28/07 at 09:43 PM ET
As for me, I’m done with the Wings as long as this thug is on the payroll. It’s the NHL’s everlasting shame that he wasn’t banned for life. The Wings have created their own shame by bringing him on board.
What I’ve always liked about the Wings wasn’t just that they won, but that they did it with classy guys like Yzmerman and Lidstrom. Apparently, that’s over now. I’m moving on.
Posted by Ray R. on 03/01/07 at 06:32 AM ET
First off, you called it - so kudos. Where do I pay my $11 for this page download anyway???
Second, I like the deal. I like it because for very little loss/risk, Kenny secured someone who at the very least was capable of being a true menace: both physically and frankly more importantly on the score sheet. If he gets healthy and confident - it’s a steal. IF not, no big loss to moan about.
Third, we’ve come a long way since the days of Howe and Lindsay. They may not have broken anybody’s neck, but they might well have displayed more ‘goonery’ (’new’NHL definition) throughout their careers than Bertuzzi is even capable of. I never had any trouble ‘forgiving’ them. While Bert clearly had a bit of malice on his mind (something we all agree the Wings could use from time to time - no?), I seriously doubt he had any intention of breaking Moore’s neck. Bert’s paid a heavy price - I’ve moved on. Hopefully he can too.
Last of all, a burning question: do you pronounce Dique “Dyke” or “Deek”? I must needs know this…
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 03/01/07 at 07:46 AM ET
I love it. I did a little dance when I found out we traded for him. And if for some reason he doesn’t get healthy or he doesn’t really help us in the playoffs, we didn’t lose a ton - no top prospect, roster player, or high draft pick. We definitely would have lost more had we gone for a Tkachuk or a Guerin and there is no guarantee they would’v helped us or even re-signed. I like the risk.
My only problem is that he’s using Yzerman’s locker room stall. But I guess someone had to start using it someday…
Posted by Christy on 03/01/07 at 10:31 AM ET
I hate it as well and many have stated the reasons why. I also have huge doubts about his health. Maybe I just have too many bad memories of Uwe Krupp.
Kudos to you for getting the “no Guerin” and the “yes-Bertuzzi” trades right. My check is in the mail! Did you hear that the Wings wanted Owen Nolan but he turned them down. I guess his wife is about to give birth and they didn’t want to upset anything in their lives at this point.
Hoser - I have always pronounced it “deek” as in the last part of “Nordiques.” But that’s just me.
Posted by hockeychic on 03/01/07 at 10:56 AM ET
hockeychic - yeah, that was my first instinct for the same reasoning… but I’ve harbored this sneaking suspicion that The Chief might have a slightly different take on it…
Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula on 03/01/07 at 12:46 PM ET
His health is a question for me, too...which is obviously why a paragraph-long set of conditions was attached to the deal.
As for punishment...the only thing he could do was sit out for the suspension determined by the league and not assault another player afterwards, and he has done that. It was not his responsibility to determine what punishment was appropriate, and if I disagree with the decision made by the league, I will be upset with them over it, not Bertuzzi. He isn’t responsible for the arbitrary pattern of suspensions and fines that the league hands out to miscreants.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 03/01/07 at 03:00 PM ET
Baroque, your point makes a lot of sense to me....at least it gives me something rational to consider as I try to get the bad taste out of my mouth. I really don’t want to be a hater where the Wings are concerned, eh?
Posted by dougie on 03/01/07 at 05:23 PM ET
Chelios talked about Bert and other topics today.
The feature will be appearing on A2Y when IwoCPO is available.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 03/01/07 at 06:32 PM ET
I think Bertuzzi totally lost his temper and threw a sucker punch. No more, no less. What happened with the broken back because of a bad fall was a shame. Bertuzzi has paid his dues and will continue to (did that civil suit settle yet?). This season I’ve seen two other sucker punches from behind and someone get get intentionally whacked in the head with someone else’s stick. Any of those victims could have fallen and hurt themselves, but they didn’t so it is okay and only the stick incident even brought a suspension.
Get over it. He a Wing. If we can put up with Probert’s revolving door in and out of rehab, we can handle someone who once got angry and punched someone. I’ll bet if Bert had been convicted of slapping the crap out of his wife then that would have been deemed more forgivable than “the incident” by many fans.
Posted by wedge from MI on 03/03/07 at 01:47 PM ET
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Most Recent Blog Posts
Create Your Own Headline For The Wings/Habs Live Blog
Mellow Is The Man Who Hosts About 120 Live Blogs Per Year
“Faux”…Interesting. Do You Use “Faux”?
Detroit Media: Zero Outrage. Fedorov? Plenty
Well Gary? Your League Is A Joke
Gambling In Havana? Hiding In Honduras? Dad? Get Me To A Live Blog…STAT
About Abel to Yzerman
Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome:
A2Y Stuff
-----------------------------
Wanna Feel Smart?
Does confusion make you sad? When you read words like "enigma" and phrases like "Thanks Gary. Ass", do you wonder why mean people speak in languages you don't understand? Fret no longer friend! The A2Y Glossary will bring you great joy and enlightenment.
-----------------------------
How Others View The A2Y 19
"Hell, I guarantee the content co-opters at Abel to Yzerman were about to link this article under the heading “Bitter Blues Fans” again right up until they just read that last half-sentance. Thanks but no thanks, you Kukla hangers-on."
--St. Louis Game Time
"I realize it’s the slow summer season, but can this guy tone down the tough-guy histrionics? His posts are fatiguing on an otherwise excellent site."
--A2Y Fan, Eternal_Fields
"I constantly marvel at how Bill (IwoCPO) and his disciples at Abel To Yzerman can be so pompous and full of themselves throughout every regular season, but come playoff time they collapse into wavering puddles of stress and nervousness as they anxiously await the impending and unavoidable collapse of the Red Wings in the post-season."
--Mile High Hockey
"I hate them because they are better than us. Of all the frigging teams…"
--In The Cheap Seats
"It's just a shame that the most classless, uneducated, lowbrow fanbase in the league gets this sweep. Red Wing fans don't deserve their team."
--Thhom
"I really don’t care what fans or bloggers think."
--Drew Sharp
"Why is it you Detroit fans are still so classless when you have such a classy hockey team, with such a professional GM and gentlemen players? I understand that the author of this blog is a manner-less cad, but the rest of you should be better."
--A2Y Fan, Jeff Beaumont
"Have you ever *read* A2Y? Its the most opinionated, juvenile stuff i've read."
--Paul Nicholson
"I actually like the Detroit team and have a sh&% load of respect for them, but their fans are the biggest douches next to Canadians."
--KStewy, PensBlog Commenter
"Just when it looks like we have bottomed out, the 19 hit a new low."
-A2Y legend, Hockeytown Todd
"And for the record, I don't hate the Red Wings, I hate their fans."
--Douche Bag at Puck Daddy who isn't Wyshynski
"You’re nothing but a douchebag ****, c3po. Go f**k yourself, and learn something about hockey in the process. Nothing ruins my day more than seeing your byline on the kk page."
--Hector, A2Y fan, statesman, Pittsburgh Chapter of Jonas Brothers Fan Club President
"I can just imagine the kindergarten teacher’s reaction when the tyke blurts out 'Mommy says Gary Bettman is a f*cking f*ckface! He wants to give ‘Rosby the bad touch.' ”
--Bella, of the 19
"A2Y is what other blog sites aspire to be when they fail to grow up: intelligent immaturity for the juvenile genius set”
--Captain Dennis Polonich, of the 19
Head to Hockeytown
Blogs the Chief Likes
I am with you on this one...I love this trade. Bertuzzi will be a great fit for the Wings.
Posted by Bethany on 02/28/07 at 03:36 PM ET