Abel to Yzerman
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Quenneville: Hossa May Start Next Season In Goal
by IwoCPO on 07/02/09 at 02:31 AM ET
Comments (302)
Here’s what you do when you reach the Conference Finals and you fall short. You spend some money. And you spend it with one thing in mind and that’s taking the next step. You came so close that getting past the team that beat you is an obsession. We know all this. The Wings have been there. Twice in the last twelve years. A Conference Finals loss does weird things to you.
In Chicago’s case, it led them to sign Marian Hossa and his Mini-Marian, Tomas Kopecky. They also signed John Madden. They became stronger and they are going to be giving the Wings one heck of a run for the Central Division title next year. We knew this the moment Hossa signed.
But…
Like I said, they’re going to have a real nice regular season.
Huet and Crawford. Is that the tandem that is going to unseat the Wings as Western Conference Champs?
Oh. We’ve got ourselves a barn burner. Don’t get me wrong. It’s got all the ingredients. A defection last year of a hockey god. Some good regular season games followed by a fairly decent playoff series where the vanquished got a bit violent at the tail end of each loss. Young Hawks learning how to lose. A cheap shot that affected the Wings for the Final. And now a superstar switching sides under our noses.
But rivalry or not, unless Dale Tallon makes one more move before April of 2010? This thing is nothing more than a regular season sideshow because the Hawks aren’t doing squat with that goaltending. And while the core of the Wings is locked up for the better part of the next decade? The three most important Hawks are all up for new deals next summer with precious little cap room to maneuver under.
Oh, and don’t forget the Wing Bitch behind the bench. Woops.
Table that. Yes, they’ve got Hossa so we’ll be talking Chicago all year. And we’re going to address his signing here in a few. First, though, forget about Chicago for a second and let’s strictly deal with what the Wings have in front of them. Here are the cards Tick Tock’s dealt Uncle Mike, and it looks like this hand isn’t going to change.
Zetterberg, Franzen, Datsyuk. Filppula, Cleary, Hudler (assuming).
Draper, Helm, Homer, Maltby, Leino (assuming). And at least one spot for one more whether that’s Abdelkader or a UFA. A core of twelve forwards as deep as any across the NHL.
Lidstrom, Rafalski, Kronwall, Ericsson, Stuart (thanks George). A top five better than any in the league. Period. Add Lilja into the mix, subtracting Chelios and, somehow, Meech. Lebda stays unless something else better comes along and the blue line is still stacked.
And the inevitable regular season resurgence of Chris Osgood is a discussion for another time. Jimmy Howard’s place in the organ-I-zation is also tabled for now.
The depth isn’t what it was with Hossa. No getting around that. The firepower isn’t either. But a few things will make up for that, namely chemistry. Not to say it was bad with Hoss. I’m not claiming that. But I will say that I believe a team responds when the players who choose to stay...stay. Does that makes sense?
Now. It makes no difference how you feel about the departure of Hossa. It matters little to him and it definitely has no bearing on anything that happened the last twenty four hours. But it’s something to discuss because the emotion of this situation drives everything we, as fans and as readers of this blog, do.
Despite some sort of telepathic game I tried to play with Kenny Holland the last few months, where I honestly believed that every time I wrote “he’s staying”, Tick Tock was taking notes and nodding his head? The signing of Franzen probably sealed Hossa’s departure and the less reactionary of us understood and accepted that. There just wasn’t enough pizza dough to go around.
Oh. Re-phrase. There’s plenty of money to spend. But because of Little Gary’s lockout and his perverse CBA and the Cap number that he has flashing in neon next to the blown up picture of him and Rosby at Neverland Ranch? Because of all that, the money just sits there.
And because it does, Hossa had to move. He had to and we understand it. The idea that he’d stay for far less, that he’d take so much less to try and win again in Detroit...it could have happened, but we all knew the likelihood wasn’t great. And that’s not even really understanding all the economics of it. Maybe you do. I know I don’t. I’m certain I have no concept. Guess who does though? The anti-Digger.
Read this to see how Marian Hossa, when he made the decision to give himself one year’s run for a Cup, cost himself 30 million bucks.
So how do we handle this? Marian Hossa, on the surface, left Detroit...where he could have made forty-five million over ten, to play in Chicago where he’ll make approximately 1.2 or 3 million more per season. And while it is disturbing to see him go to a team obviously stacking up to compete with the Best Team in Hockey, you have to respect that he didn’t go to LA or somewhere else only to lose for 7 or 8/season.
And no, LA is not making the playoffs this year.
And he didn’t want to leave Detroit. Unlike last year, when his comments leaving Pittsburgh sent that city into a tailspin? Does this really piss you off? Are you Hossa haters now, after reading this?
“Ken was saying after he signed Henrik Zetterberg he was going to try to sign either me or (Johan) Franzen and you have to be happy for the guy (Franzen), he improved big time and he deserved everything he got. With the salary cap, it would be tough for me to return.,” Hossa said. “Otherwise, if there was no salary cap, I was sure I’d still be in Detroit.”
Not exactly, “I’m going to the team I feel gives me the best chance to win the Cup.”
Hate the guy if you want, but I know you won’t. Boo him if you must, but you won’t do that either. You’ll have three chances to do so if you want to, but I don’t see it happening. Economics forced his hand and his competitive nature sent him to a contender. It’s as simple as that.
It’s troubling that Chicago has another gun, but it’s not enough to cause me to break out the pitchforks or the voodoo dolls. The guy gave us a good run, a good shot and a good year. He gave himself one season to throw some caution and a lot of money out the window. Now it was time to get down to business and that’s what he did.
But, unfortunately for him and fortunately for us, his glove hand isn’t as good as his wrister. And the Hawks are going to need that glove a lot more come April or May.
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Comments
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The sharks did resign Rob Blake to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, but that’s hardly an impact move. I’m wondering if they’re even shopping Marleau or Thornton.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/02/09 at 04:39 PM ET
You don’t think Grier would have any hard feelings bout his past encounters with Dangle Dangle, do you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCKLRkqvCdM
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 04:39 PM ET
Baroque, your 2% difference stat about chimps and humans reminded of something. Don’t know if this is correct or not, but I recall reading that humans shared 70% DNA with a frigging banana. A BANANA! That bent my mind but good.
And Sully, I hear ya man, I started playing floor hockey with buddies of mine who were soccer players. When it would rain and wash out the pitch in New Orleans (a, ahem, frequent occurrence), we’d head to gym to play hockey. For me, only basketball is as much fun to play. Being in hot humid hell with the only ice being in sno cones and then frosty adult beverages, it never kept me from taking to the sport either.
Don’t know about Chad LaRose, but i don’t think the Wings need more scoring. Some veteran grit, a guy who will drop the gloves, someone who doesn’t have his name on the cup. As such, wouldn’t Axelson be a better fit?
Posted by Deuce from Brooklyn on 07/02/09 at 04:42 PM ET
You don’t think Grier would have any hard feelings bout his past encounters with Dangle Dangle, do you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCKLRkqvCdM
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 05:39 PM ET
I never get tired of that video, Sully. I think they’d be fast friends, actually. Besides, if that video shows one thing, it’s that Mike Grier has the heart to still try to lay a clean hit on a player with 3:20 left in a game in which his team is getting embarrassed.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/02/09 at 04:43 PM ET
Don’t know about Chad LaRose, but i don’t think the Wings need more scoring. Some veteran grit, a guy who will drop the gloves, someone who doesn’t have his name on the cup. As such, wouldn’t Axelson be a better fit?
Posted by Deuce from Brooklyn on 07/02/09 at 05:42 PM ET
Looking at Axelsson and Grier side-by-side, I’d take either. There’s a month’s age difference betwen the two. Axelsson is a left-shooting LW and Grier is a right-shooting RW, both would be set to replace Sammy, a left-shooting RW. Axelsson has better offensive numbers in the Eastern Conference, but I know for a fact that Grier is better defensively. Axelsson is a Swede and Grier is from Detroit. flip a coin and I’d be content with either.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/02/09 at 04:48 PM ET
Besides, if that video shows one thing, it’s that Mike Grier has the heart to still try to lay a clean hit on a player with 3:20 left in a game in which his team is getting embarrassed.
Yeah I know you’re right. It’s just fun to watch. I bet virtually every player who signs up for the Red Wings has been embarrassed at some point by a little Dangle Dangle. There’s footage of him against everyone who’s ever tried to defend against him getting a lesson. And the best part is, I honestly think his Danglium has become more and more concentrated with each progressing season. I could barely believe my eyes when I watched that game at the Joe against Philly and how he took the game over after the midway point. But I’d seen him do it before in Phx a few times, and at the Winter Classic, and on several occasions on tv.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 04:50 PM ET
Don’t know if this is correct or not, but I recall reading that humans shared 70% DNA with a frigging banana. A BANANA! That bent my mind but good.
I heard a similar number regarding a tobacco plant and an even higher number regarding a hamster, so I think it’s close.
It’s funny how little change in the genetic code can make a completely different organism. 
I bet virtually every player who signs up for the Red Wings has been embarrassed at some point by a little Dangle Dangle.
Remember the time he stole the puck from Jagr and flipped it over Kolzig? It was such a contemptuous little flip over the goaltender. I remember that Jagr even skated a few more strides before he noticed that the puck was no longer where he thought it was. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 04:56 PM ET
Is that P.J. Axelsson from the Bruins? His cap hit last year was $1.85 million, so any guesses as to what he would ask for?
(I’m a little slow from teh meds, so if this was discussed earlier, I;m soory I can’t keep up.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 05:03 PM ET
Remember the time he stole the puck from Jagr and flipped it over Kolzig? It was such a contemptuous little flip over the goaltender. I remember that Jagr even skated a few more strides before he noticed that the puck was no longer where he thought it was. LOL
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 05:56 PM ET
Of course I remember! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iS6gr4Qvv4
I love how Datsyuk doesn’t even celebrate his goal. Just a little “That’s what you get..”
How about the Dangle-skate-to-stick moves he makes on just about everyone? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epHAe4fpZxE (after the “Bone crushing Hit by Drake")
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 05:03 PM ET
GAH!! Spelling FAIL!
teh = the
I;m = I’m
soory = sorrry
Why does anyone take drugs on purpose to feel this mentally fuzzy? I HATE this! Stupid allergies and colds and stuff. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 05:06 PM ET
Of course I remember! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iS6gr4Qvv4
Equally good is Z setting up Pavs with a no look pass through his and the defender’s legs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tir33LZWf0Q&NR=1
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Sunny SoCal on 07/02/09 at 05:15 PM ET
Equally good is Z setting up Pavs with a no look pass through his and the defender’s legs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tir33LZWf0Q&NR=1
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Sunny SoCal on 07/02/09 at 06:15 PM ET
I remember that one too! That was the game in which Dallas accidentally sounded their fog horns after one of our goals. It would have been the icing on the cake if it were that goal, but we won anyway and they blew the horn for just a fraction of a sec after another goal. Great stuff.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 05:17 PM ET
I HATE this! Stupid allergies and colds and stuff.
Summer colds are the worst. I’m suffering through one right now myself. I never take anything for it during the day because typing and keeping my train of thought on the tracks is hard enough as it is.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Sunny SoCal on 07/02/09 at 05:29 PM ET
I remember the erroneous horn. That was hilarious!
And of course, Datsyuk embarassing poor Trevor Thompson with a game of keepaway: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj3E0ve6rl0
The best part is he can treat real NHL players the same way.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 05:31 PM ET
Summer colds are the worst. I’m suffering through one right now myself. I never take anything for it during the day because typing and keeping my train of thought on the tracks is hard enough as it is.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Sunny SoCal on 07/02/09 at 06:29 PM ET
It sucks the chrome off a trailer hitch.
And I hate taking medication for ANYTHING because I prefer to kind of judge how my symptoms are progressing, and I hate anything that messes my head up. I’d rather just suffer through the stuffy head and aches and not have fuzzy thinking, but I was just too miserable this morning.
Right now the only thing that sounds good is soaking in a nice hot bubble bath until I turn into a prune - but with my luckright now I’d get a rash from the bubbles and be up all night itching. Maybe I’ll stick with a shower instead.
Radek Bonk is available.
(I’m not saying we shoudl get him, I just like saying his name. Bonk Bonk Bonk.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 05:38 PM ET
Whilst we’re Youtubing this blog, I’m pretty sure we all thought the same thing when Marian Gaborik made headlines with his ridiculous contract deal with the Rangers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5u0khFnHUg
I LOVE Ken and Mickey in this one. One of my favourite courtroom “Exhibit A” type pieces of evidence when I tell people who the Red Wings attract bad calls more than any other team just because we’re better and smarter than everyone else. “Exhibit B” could be the Kronwall Hit on Havlat. Another list of Exhibits could be the non-calls that the Ducks, Pens and everyone else gets away with against us.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 06:45 PM ET
Datsyuk and Zetterberg should never be split up again. Just my opinion.
Posted by Aimee in Austin on 07/02/09 at 06:46 PM ET
LaRose resigned with the ‘Canes, no dice there.
It looks like if we assume Lilja’s back, Leino gets $1M, Howard is the backup and Helm’s with us for the whole year that we have $5.77 for two remaining forwards before we’re over the cap
My calculations have that if Lilja stays and we resign Leino for the $875k he was getting last year, we’re looking at $2.454 million in cap space. Really not much to work with. Gotta think at least one blue liner is gone, and it’s likely Lilja to free up another $1.2 m. Maybe we can sign both Happy and Sammy with that. Maybe we’d just trade Liljs for a role playing forward. Not sure where that goes, but I’m sure Tick Tock would like some more breathing room.
Posted by CaptNorris5 from Chicago via Detroit on 07/02/09 at 06:53 PM ET
Datsyuk and Zetterberg should never be split up again. Just my opinion.
Posted by Aimee in Austin on 07/02/09 at 07:46 PM ET
Video evidence tends to agree with you. And if it helps, I do as well. Remember that shift, shorthanded against the stars in Game 3 I think it was, when Z took the puck into the Dallas zone, circled until he had all 5 of their undivided attention focused on him, then sends it across to Datsyuk, wide open for the hat trick? Beautiful.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 06:53 PM ET
@Sullyosis - What a great game by the Eurotwins. Though I’m pretty sure Datsyuk’s third goal was even strength. Z had a shorthanded goal earlier in the game. He went one-on-one with Richards and you could just tell the moment when Z realized he was going against a forward.
I could be wrong. I, like many others here it appears, am sick with a summer cold and I’m not being conservative with the meds.
Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 07/02/09 at 07:02 PM ET
Our ill feelings towards Hossa isn’t just based around him going to the Wings, you arrogant pricks. But keep thinking that, with your false sense of entitlement.
The why did you start off your post with the crying about him going to the team that beat you?
I responded SPECIFICALLY with your whiny bitching, and now you’re saying that’s not why you were bitching so whinily?
How about you pick a viewpoint and stick with it, instead of saying one thing, then berating the responder because that’s not what you meant?
Jackass.
Posted by Garth on 07/02/09 at 07:05 PM ET
We need a new thread that doesn’t involve Hossa. I don’t want to talk about him, think about him, or hear anything else about anyone from that country other than Tatar. It is possible that around 2pm yesterday my husband was convinced that I was more upset about Hossa going to Chicago than I would be if he were to divorce me or die, but we’ve moved on. No ill will and no hoping that he spontaneously combusts. It is done. Finished. Over.
Posted by Aimee in Austin on 07/02/09 at 07:11 PM ET
Radek Bonk is available.
Baroque, I know you’re kidding, but I don’t want to even entertain the possibility of another player who was part of so many great Ottawa chokes anywhere near the Wings roster.
Posted by thethirdcoast from Rottenchester on 07/02/09 at 07:14 PM ET
Though I’m pretty sure Datsyuk’s third goal was even strength. Z had a shorthanded goal earlier in the game. He went one-on-one with Richards and you could just tell the moment when Z realized he was going against a forward.
Once again, the video evidence speaks the truth. You are correct sir, what a highlight reel that game is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXql-FWSk2s
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 07:21 PM ET
We need a new thread that doesn’t involve Hossa.
Agreed. The only people that seem to be really upset that Hossa is gone are pens fans and they are angry that we aren’t all that angry. It was funny to read for awhile, but now its getting a bit sad.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 07/02/09 at 07:36 PM ET
You are correct sir
I’m a ma’am, miss, or anything synonymous. And, yeah, that game truly was a highlight reel. There were a number of shots I couldn’t believe didn’t go in, including Z’s almost second shorthanded goal from point blank range.
Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 07/02/09 at 07:36 PM ET
Once again, the video evidence speaks the truth. You are correct sir, what a highlight reel that game is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXql-FWSk2s
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 08:21 PM ET
I heart Datsyuk.
And I miss Drake.
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 07/02/09 at 07:55 PM ET
Once again, the video evidence speaks the truth. You are correct sir, what a highlight reel that game is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXql-FWSk2s
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 08:21 PM ET
You know what that hat trick reminded me? Hossa was the biggest Arby’s tease ever! I mean, seriously, how many two-goal games did he have and he NEVER got us any roast beef sandwiches. EVER. What a horrible person.
I also heart Datsyuk.
And I hope that we aren’t all catching computer viruses. That be horribel!
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 07:59 PM ET
That WOULD be horribLE.
I’m going to just stop correcting myself if the meaning is clear enough the first time, because pretty soon I’m going to start messing up the errata comments and it will be an unbroken string of “whoops!” posts.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 08:00 PM ET
The only people that seem to be really upset that Hossa is gone are pens fans and they are angry that we aren’t all that angry. It was funny to read for awhile, but now its getting a bit sad.
Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 07/02/09 at 08:36 PM ET
+1. I’m done with Hossa as well.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 07/02/09 at 08:28 PM ET
I’m a ma’am, miss, or anything synonymous.
Piss! Accept my humblest apologies. I should have known, what with your lack of overusing obscenities and juvenilicious comments and an overall maturity when it comes to commenting. Sorry, won’t happen again. I shall use ‘Lady’ from now on, as I refer to all of my female Red Wings brethren, and no one else. For example, there’s no such things as “Lady Pen(i)s fans” to me. Yet there exists “Lady Penis Fans” for some reason. “Lady Dive Fans” is still up in the air...Oh well, I’ll quit while I’m behind and keep drinking....A good day to all!
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 08:59 PM ET
I gave you bitches the Flu. Your welcome.
Thanks for the reminders of Dangle’s brilliance. I never saw that clip of him with Thompson before; that was awesome. Him talking to Hull and, more importantly, Larionov after pulling that move on Jagr and Olie is just too awesome for words. I mean, seriously, pulling a goalie out of his pants and then talking to a child hero about it. Awesome.
I’ll never get tired of the fact that our current guns were groomed under unquestioned legends.
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/09 at 09:01 PM ET
I’ll never get tired of the fact that our current guns were groomed under unquestioned legends.
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/09 at 10:01 PM ET
That’s a luxury I need to bask in more often. I really need to watch more Hull/Datsyuk/Zetterberg line highlights. I pretty much only think of The Captain when I think of tutelage for our current players. I rarely bask in the glory that Datsyuk is as great as he because of the mentoring he had from The Professor and maybe even a little from Fedorov. That 2002 group was something else. They help mould Datsyuk into the player he is. And for the record, I think Datsyuk is one of the best ever. He won’t have the most goals when he retires. He won’t have the most assists. He probably won’t have the most stolen pucks, blocked shots, hits, wins, NHL Awards or Stanley Cups. But he’s the most gifted athlete I’ve seen in a long time, and I truly love watching him play. Without ranking him on any kind of list, he’s one of my favourite in terms of the excitement he brings with and without the puck. But who are we kidding, when he has the puck it’s something special. I hold my breath everytime. He’s a great artist. It’s like living during the time of Mozart of Beethoven or Tchaikovsky. It’s wonderful to watch!
Hey speaking of mentors...anyone else think it’s funny that when we hear Larry Murphy’s drunk ass commentating that he mentored Nicky Lidstrom some years ago? What a turn of events? That drunk teaching The Perfect Human how to win Cups…
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 09:16 PM ET
As long as we’re getting nostalgic:
Fetisov Tribute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euoR5hKmsv8
Perhaps the most under appreciated member of the Russian Five...just a quietly reliable, rugged Dman who didn’t spend nearly enough time with the Wings.
LEGEND.
Larionov Training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mIFEXvxfiU
Hey....that looks similar to my routine...good to know I’m doing the right things for athletic performance!
Posted by thethirdcoast from Rottenchester on 07/02/09 at 09:26 PM ET
I gave you bitches the Flu. Your welcome.
You sorry son of a bitch! I hate you! (not really)
Thanks for the reminders of Dangle’s brilliance. I never saw that clip of him with Thompson before; that was awesome. Him talking to Hull and, more importantly, Larionov after pulling that move on Jagr and Olie is just too awesome for words. I mean, seriously, pulling a goalie out of his pants and then talking to a child hero about it. Awesome.
I’ll never get tired of the fact that our current guns were groomed under unquestioned legends.
Posted by Osrt on 07/02/09 at 10:01 PM ET
You never saw the Thompson clip? I’m glad I tossed it in there, then. I love that bit - he just handles the puck so effortlessly, like it is the most natural thing in the world, the same way anyone else would idly fiddle with a pen while in a meeting and distracted. It’s like he’s not even trying, but the only way it looks so natural is because he is both talented and has worked so hard to perfect it.
And I like how he was talking with Larionov after he made Jagr look silly.
Zetterberg and Datsyuk just belong together. They are very good apart, but together they are just magic.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 10:29 PM ET
I just want to say that not only do I agree with all the latest posts, but I’d also like to add that this blog and the 19 are to NHL blogs what Datsyuk/Zetterberg together are to the NHL.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 10:38 PM ET
I shall use ‘Lady’ from now on, as I refer to all of my female Red Wings brethren, and no one else.
Did you ever call me Lady? If you didn’t I’m hurt. Wounded in the very heart, yet!
/pouts
(Of course if you tell me you did, and I don’t remember, I think I’d believe that, too.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/09 at 10:45 PM ET
Did you ever call me Lady? If you didn’t I’m hurt. Wounded in the very heart, yet!
Well now I know officially that you, Baroque, are a Lady also. Perhaps it’s best neither of us don’t remember if I never said so before and neither of us care. I have only recently indulged in chivalrous literature and have only recently decided to refer to my female friends as “Lady.” So far, it is you, Aimee in Austin, Kate from PA, Aphaea from PA, Bella and any other Lady I encounter as a Red Wings fan at the Detroit vs. Phx games in Glendale dubbed with official title of “Lady.” As for Bingo Bango Jessie, she gets a slightly more venerable title from me but that’s only because her blog is f***ing crazy awesome. I can have built up stress that is relieved by reading it, without actually doing any stress-relieving. We should all be thankful of her. She’s the the “Joan of Arc in a wore a Red Wings sweater”, or Christine de Pizan if she wrote letters to the Swedish King instead in regards to OUR dynasty of the French Royalty about nobility.
Anyway, you all kickass. I’m thankful for the tremendous following of Ladies the Red Wings have, whether I’m in a relationship or not.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 11:07 PM ET
Perhaps it’s best neither of us don’t remember if I never said so before and neither of us care.
Did I just drop a triple-negative, btw? Oh boy, I need to work on my tolerance....
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/02/09 at 11:19 PM ET
Whew. What a thread that you all going here today. The 19 stood tall once again against the trools with their idiotic logic. You were all in mid season LB form. Welcome back Mandingo. Now all we need is RW Bill and the 19 chemistry would be complete. Well done you 19 bitches. Thank you all for being my home away from home (in Michigan). By the way, I have immunity genes for sale. I deal with sick bastards and bitches on a daily basis. Occupational hazard I guess. 
Posted by cigar_nurse from Greenville South Cakalakee on 07/02/09 at 11:40 PM ET
Because of those YouTube clips, I ran across this one: a collection of Soviet Hockey dominance on the international stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8j9ag_FnSE
No wonder Cherry is who he is. Canada might have invented the game, but the Russians made is astonishing to watch.
Posted by Osrt on 07/03/09 at 12:07 AM ET
Montoya’s mother was from Cuba. He plays hockey.
Abdelkader’s family is part Jordanian. He plays hockey.
Kadri’s family is part Lebanese. He plays hockey.
Oduya’s family is part Nigerian. He plays hockey.
Not to mention Alain Nasreddine, an unsung hero formerly of the PITTSBURGH PENGUINS. John is forgetting his own history there...or maybe he never knew it in the first place, given that Nasreddine played before 2008?
I was recently involved with a ridiculous argument with someone who insisted on referring to Aborigianal Australians as “African-American” based entirely on skin color
I once saw, as did many others, an American commentator on a BBC program refer repeatedly to Nelson Mandela as an ‘African-American.’ Probably afraid of using the word ‘black’ (which incidentally is not a pejorative word anywhere else in the world but the US-- not even in Africa), but she really had no idea just stupid she sounded.
That being said, I DETEST Hyphenated-Americans anyway. I don’t refer to myself as Jewish-American. I’m an American who happens to be Jewish. Born and raised in the States? You’re American, no matter what color you are. Born somewhere else, but came to the US later in lfie? They maybe you’re Italian-American, or African-American, or whatever. My Italian grandfather would have been horrified to hear the term ‘Italian-American.’ He was proud to have been naturalized, and proudly wore the simple term ‘American.’
And that works in reverse. When you live outside the States for so long, you learn to be proud to be simply called ‘American.’
I recall reading that humans shared 70% DNA with a frigging banana.
Humans actually share 98% of their genes with crabs, too.
Have the Sharks done ANYTHING at all
I thought I’d read somewhere that they’d re-signed Rob Blake. That’s pretty good. I think they may be running out of cap space and need about two more lines’ worth of forwards, however. San Jose, say hello to the Calgary Solution!
Good idea about Grier, JJ. He’s a native Detroiter, in fact. African-American, too. And one hell of a penalty killer that would provide some sandpaper to our third/fourth line.
I Hart Datsyuk.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 07/03/09 at 12:14 AM ET
Because of those YouTube clips, I ran across this one: a collection of Soviet Hockey dominance on the international stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8j9ag_FnSE
No wonder Cherry is who he is. Canada might have invented the game, but the Russians made is astonishing to watch.
Posted by Osrt on 07/03/09 at 01:07 AM ET
Am I the only one shedding a tear over how beautiful that is? If so, I don’t care...I noticed their offensive creativity; their passing (esp on odd-man rushes); their break-out passes; their physical defense; their hitting in general; their cheesy ‘80s synth; and I can’t help but be reminded of the Detroit Red Wings. Do you ever wonder how many of those crushing hits from defensemen were either Fetisov or Konstantinov?
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/03/09 at 12:41 AM ET
I once saw, as did many others, an American commentator on a BBC program refer repeatedly to Nelson Mandela as an ‘African-American.’ Probably afraid of using the word ‘black’ (which incidentally is not a pejorative word anywhere else in the world but the US-- not even in Africa), but she really had no idea just stupid she sounded.
I see you’ve woken up before I could fall asleep in today’s ridiculous comments. Well let me say that I was in an uproar for 2 reasons over today’s retarded issues over race:
1) I’m a child of a racial couple. I won’t tell which 2 races bred me, but I will tell you that NEITHER proud nation has a national hockey team come Olympics or otherwise! (!x1000)
2) My roommate in college grew up in West Africa (Coite de Iviore) and France, and although he doesn’t follow hockey as devoutly as we, he still watches us everytime we’re on cable. And everytime I talk to him now he says “Hey! What happened in the finals?” and I say “F*** you! What happened to Drogba in the World Cup in 2006?” And he says “Yea yea, fair enough” because he played in a match with Drogba. So our class and sportsmanship, and my pride as well, transcends the Atlantic Ocean.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/03/09 at 12:51 AM ET
Hey Sully. Early start this morning.
Well, technically we’re all children of racial couples, but heck...I’m of unusual ancestry as well. Still doesn’t keep me from being AMERICAN. That’s it.
And you knew someone who played with Didier Drogba? Wow-- I don’t even like soccer, but that’s pretty cool.
BTW, Cigarnurse, I don’t work in a hospital, but I’ve got the constitution of an ox.
Runs in the family, along with its evil twin, perthyroidism. Mean’s I don’t get sick very often-- about once a year, if that. About the only GOOD part of my family’s genetics. My wife jokes that if an illness bad enough to put ME down, I should be in quarantine.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 07/03/09 at 01:21 AM ET
And you knew someone who played with Didier Drogba? Wow-- I don’t even like soccer, but that’s pretty cool.
Yeah I think it’s pretty cool also. He grew up in a boarding school in French “Ivory Coast.” The only P.E. sport there was soccer, or “football.” Anyway, they’d run em 10k there on ‘lite’ days and do “indian runs” on tough days, which is a run where the rear of the line sprints to the front and that repreats for miles until someone drops out. Anyway, he says he played for the ‘city’ team, which was the only group of kids that could pass try-outs, and then after a few games they made it to the next level, which was regionals. And at that time Drogba was same age as him, about 18 or 19, and his team got destroyed by Drogba’s and his soccer career was as good as done. But he can still boast he played.
The funny thing is that he’s one reason I was sensitive to the racial comments from earlier in this thread. I lived with this guy for a year, studied Mining Engineering with him for 4 years, and we got along every minute of it He’s a Red Wings fan, by the way. He grew up in Africa and France and I made him a hockey fan whilst he made me a soccer fan. He also made me a fan of Le Mans and the Dakar Rally, which is very intense; if you’ve never experienced it.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/03/09 at 01:57 AM ET
He also made me a fan of Le Mans and the Dakar Rally, which is very intense; if you’ve never experienced it.
I’ve been to Le Mans, but never the Paris-Dakar Rally (though I’ve watched it on TV). It’s not so much intense as it is overall INSANE. Freakish what those guys go through, especially the ones on bikes-- don’t they have any self-preservation instinct at all? And the amateurs that enter it...again, I have to wonder what they’re thinking. It’s all well and good until you reach Africa-- at that point, you really have to realize that crossing the Sahara is NOT a leisurely country drive.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 07/03/09 at 03:32 AM ET
Speaking of crossing the desert…
Number One: This ritual is called...Crossing the Desert.
[Homer gets paddled on the butt by Hibbert, Skinner,
Brockman, Krusty, Moe, Quimby, and Willy in succession]
Number One: And this, we call The Unblinking Eye.
[he gets paddled by the same people in reverse order]
Homer: Hey...have you ever noticed that the Crossing the Desert is a lot like The Unblinking Eye? And it’s *exactly* like The Wreck of the Hesperus!
Number One: And now, the final ordeal: The Paddling of the Swollen Ass...With paddles.
For my second Stonecutters reference of the thread…
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 07/03/09 at 03:37 AM ET
The thing is I don’t get sick very often at all - which is why I have a couple months worth of accumulated sick time at work. when I do it’s usually minor - this is the first time in quite a few years that I’ve been really blasted.
I was recently involved with a ridiculous argument with someone who insisted on referring to Aborigianal Australians as “African-American” based entirely on skin color
You know what makes that stupid to someone who knows the genetics of it?
Humans as a species evolved in Africa, with dark skin. As they spread to areas of the world such as Europe, they lost the melanin because it was no longer needed to protect the skin from damage from the sun, but it did inhibit the formation of vitamin D. Australia was originally settled by people who had lighter skin and reacquired the darker skin after reaching the continent.
And of course, logically, every human on the planet is an African-American if you go back a ways.
But really, human genetic diversity is so miniscule it’s amazing. Possibly because of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Toba about 71,000 years ago, it looks like all human on the planet are descended from only a few thousand breeding pairs. Human beings were nearly pushed into extinction in the evolutionarily recent past, and any population that goes through such a bottleneck has a much reduced genetic diversity. Same thing happened with many island species, same thing happened with cheetahs - in fact, cheetahs are so genetically similar that any two individuals will not show immune rejection to a tissue graft. This is a serious concern for conservation because if one is vulnerable to a disease, they all are, and an epidemic can wipe out the entire population. :(
A couple species of songbird that are impossible to tell apart unless you see exactly how far along the breast a white patch extends are more different genetically than a man from Sudan and a man from northern Scandinavia. It’s just stupid when you look at the science to divide anyone along those lines.
(And I only use hyphenated American for the first generation born in the US, because that was how it was used historically. My grandmother was Polish-American because she was born in the US, but both her parents were immigrants from Poland. My mom is just plain American. More than one generation removed and the hyphen goes away.)
********
George is up early: http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2009/07/red_wings_will_resign_ville_le.html
Leino is looking like a two-year deal, Hudler is going to file for arbitration (means no offer sheet), and Sammy is most likely gone as he is looking for more than $2 million a year and Holland is offering more in the $1.5 million range.
(I think Dan Cleary might be breathing a sigh of relief at that.)
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/03/09 at 05:25 AM ET
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Only thing the Sharks have done is retain Rob Blake.
Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 07/02/09 at 04:38 PM ET