Abel to Yzerman
Next entry: No Rush For Homer, Zetterberg or Maltby
Previous entry: Western Swing After Action
The Son Of Hockeytown
by IwoCPO on 12/31/07 at 10:52 AM ET
Comments (18)
When he pummeled Claude Lemieux in March you shook your fist with him. Every punch to Lemieux’s head was collective vengeance, community payback for a dirty hit too many of us have pointed to as a reason the Wings lost the year before. Of course it wasn’t. Lemieux’s assault on Draper was the bitter memory of a series won by a better team and a better goalie. But Draper’s face became the symbol of that loss.
McCarty’s fists, and maybe a knee if you watch closely enough, closed an early chapter. Lemieux’s blood on the JLA ice was like tonic to the Detroit masses. I wish there was a way Al Sobotka could have preserved it there, along the boards, appropriately in front of the Wing bench, for all time.
90 minutes later and Mac did it again, beating Roy in overtime, beating Colorado in the most epic, most important, regular season game in Detroit--perhaps NHL--history.
Three months later and McCarty did it again with a miracle rush up ice, then a move by Niinima, backhand to forehand and Hextall was done. McCarty exploded with the Joe after that, slamming into the boards, pounding the glass.
Hockeytown’s Son. Fedorov could have scored that goal and we’d all remember it. The emotional outburst wouldn’t have been any different. But it wasn’t Fedorov, or Shanahan, or even Yzerman. It had to be McCarty because he had started it in March. Or finished it.
Of all the images of ‘97, that one’s my favorite. McCarty celebrating with the fans, with the people he partied with, sang for, played softball with. It was Mac hosting a party with his neighbors.
Fast forward eleven years and Darren McCarty’s in Troy, trying out for the Flint Generals, a team owned by Kris Draper...one last obvious favor from the guy he avenged in ‘97. Maybe, when Draper sat down with McCarty and Mac asked him for a chance, just one more, Draper was remembering McCarty’s cocked left above Lemieux’s head, waiting for an opening as Lemieux cowered, kneeling, hugging the ice. Of course it was Draper that Mac sought out after the game winner. That hug was about much more than an OT goal in March.
McCarty’s “trying out.” Of course, he’ll make it because he’ll bring in the crowds. According to Draper, he’s been working out and seems to have a renewed motivation.
“Then you could see when I sat down with him. He really felt he wanted to give it all he had. When you sit across from a guy and he tells you that ... by not missing any workouts, he showed up, he worked hard. Those are things he probably hasn’t done in a long time.”
Draper also said the two hadn’t talked...in three years. Three years? They were the best of friends. Partners on a line, on tshirts. Best friends who haven’t spoken in three years.
Only one thing can keep best friends apart for three years. Not even a woman can do it. Only money. Either anger over a debt or embarrassment. I’m guessing it’s both. We all know the problems McCarty’s had the last, yes, three years. Bankruptcy, a result of gambling--or so the rumors say. We also know Mac’s issues with alcohol over the years, and the marital problems that probably crushed him. It’s not a stretch to imagine that before he reached rock bottom he turned to the friend who probably felt he owed him in a way only guys really understand.
Lemieux drove Draper into the boards, mangling his face. Darren McCarty beat up Lemieux because that’s what a brother does. And Draper felt he owed him, because guys think that way. I’m guessing that payback came in the form of a loan that was never repaid, which led to three years of silence. Until now.
So what’s next? I wondered at the beginning of the year, if the Wings were willing to give Aaron Downey a roster spot, why not offer the same chance to McCarty? Attendance was, and is, a huge issue. Wouldn’t have Mac helped that, at least a little? It’s naive to think Detroit didn’t consider the possibility. And the fact that they didn’t says more about Mac’s condition at the time than anything else. But now...Draper’s giving him another shot.
Let’s not even consider the possibility anymore of McCarty re-joining the Wings. There’s no room on the roster and there’s a real possibility that the bridges he may have burned weren’t just those that led to Draper. Carolina needs a player like Mac. A few teams could use him. An enforcer, a community guy, a great teammate. What’s the motivation for McCarty though? Is he trying to come back for the love of hockey, or because he--frankly--needs a job. I guess it really doesn’t matter. Each is reason enough to get someone off their butts and on the ice.
Darren McCarty was the toast of Detroit. He was the Son of Hockeytown. But...I just don’t see this ending well. I see him taking the ice for Flint, becoming a target of opportunity for every IHL tough guy trying to prove himself and, sadly, further example of another pro athlete who squandered everything.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Mac will surprise us all and prove he still has something left. But hopefully he’s realistic enough to understand that a return to the Wings, on the ice, just isn’t in the cards.
Maybe in the booth. If Murphy can do it, you know McCarty can. He has the personality and he definitely has the following. Look at Mickey Redmond. McCarty could have a job in Detroit for the next thirty years. Close to the team, close to his fans, back in Detroit.
Whatever happens, success or failure in Flint, a return to the NHL, a job with the Wings, or another disappointment...nothing can ever take away what he did for this town eleven years ago. He avenged a brother, ignited a championship and planted roots in a city that doesn’t forget its sports heroes.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
Well said, Baroque. A novel idea, hire McCarty to do PR for the Wings, you know have him do a couple of events with autograph signings with another Wings player, give away some tickets. Something where he interacts with the community that loves him so.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 12/31/07 at 12:47 PM ET
Love to see Mac back in the Winged wheel.
He’s got decent hands, and he had enough skill to fill on the current 3rd line if needed, I don’t know that Downey could do that. I’d love to see the Wings pull a Joe Kocur with Mac, but the big question is, how much damage was done before he left? I’m with chief, I think it may be too much to forgive and forget.
Either way, it looks like his life is getting back on track and I wish him the best.
Posted by wingsfanindenver from 'lanche land on 12/31/07 at 12:54 PM ET
I should explain the “decent hands” thing. I should have said decent hands for an enforcer. A handful of goals every season except his last, and about a dozen points. Not much, but better offense than Downey’s every put up.
Posted by wingsfanindenver from 'lanche land on 12/31/07 at 12:58 PM ET
It’s not a stretch to imagine that before he reached rock bottom he turned to the friend who probably felt he owed him in a way only guys really understand.
I think you are wrong there, Duke. Friends do not keep score, they just pick up where they left off, sometimes even decades apart. When help is asked for it is granted.
Darren McCarty’s in Troy, trying out for the Flint Generals, a team owned by Kris Draper
Drapes has a 20 % interest in the Flint Generals, and some influence, don’t confuse that with owning the team.
I wish McCarty all the best, but it was not his lifestyle that did him in. His body gave out. He missed a lot of games with Back and Knee issues the last 2 yrs in Det. That probably had more to do with the decision to buy out his contract than anything else. Same thing happened in Calgary. It is sad, but you may be right about his future being in the media.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 12/31/07 at 12:59 PM ET
Gramps, I don’t care if Draper owns 2 percent of the team. If he lets the other owners know it would be a good idea to sign McCarty I have a feeling they’ll agree.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 12/31/07 at 01:24 PM ET
I thought “some influence” covered that.
I just wanted to set the record straight.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 12/31/07 at 01:27 PM ET
I too, have a warm spot in my heart for Darren McCarty. That does not mean he can still play NHL hockey.
The last thing in the world I would want is for him to play for the 07-08 Wings.
Holland and Babcock? Forget about it.
Posted by w2j2 on 12/31/07 at 01:45 PM ET
The Wings often make it a habit of bringing back players who’ve made certain contributions to the team/organization. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Wings bring McCarty back in some way but it wouldn’t surprise me any less or more if he doesn’t.
McCarty certainly deserves another chance but how? If I had my druthers, I’d put him on the pro scouting staff.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 12/31/07 at 01:48 PM ET
Why do the Wings owe McCarty anything? McCarty has taken as much as he’s given, if not more so. The guy was/is a hero in Hockeytown, he was extremely overpaid for the skills he brought to the table and the Wings were more than patient with his transgressions over the years not to mention his awful band. McCarty made a whole career out of a Lemeuix beating and a Stanely Cup Final goal. Believe it or not, I am a McCarty fan, one who hopes he turns his life around, but the Wings owe him nothing, he would’ve retired as a Wing if not for his personal demons and the way he treated his family.
Posted by bababooey on 12/31/07 at 02:22 PM ET
Dang… what a beautifully written post. Who needs the “three best sports writers” when I can read beautiful, moving words like these from a true fan of the game.
Keep up the good work. And by the way, I agree with everything you said about McCarty. Brilliant work.
Posted by Jennifer on 12/31/07 at 02:26 PM ET
Bababooey, I don’t disagree. I like Mac, but the Wings don’t owe him anything necessarily. I don’t believe that will stop them, though, from giving him a chance when he fianlly decides his playing career is over.
Jennifer: thanks. No idea why it took me so long to write that.
Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 12/31/07 at 02:35 PM ET
I think Mac would be way better than Murphy alongside Daniels. Mac would have the same attitude and opinion as Redmond. A little rougher in the ways of voicing his opinions, but that would only last til he gets some experience. I’ll explain in an example:
D Mac: That @#$%^ ref needs to call those @#$%^ cheap &^%$#, *&^%$#, and @#$%%^^ up his &^%$ so his wife can !@#%$ his %^&*%$%!!!!
Mickey: Now. Kids at home. If you’re still up and watching. This is poor officiating. (silence) aw man.
D Mac after a few years: That ref is full of crap if he thinks that’s roughing. (Then breaks out in song and dance from his Grinder days).
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 12/31/07 at 02:36 PM ET
Mac helped our first championships happen and for that, I am very grateful. I do not, however, think he would be a good person to have on the PR staff, signing autographs with any current Wing, and I’m not convinced he has the hockey sense to be a good scout.
The words “another chance” will follow him in all his new endeavors and I don’t think the Wings want, or should want, his now soiled image attached to them.
Now I will contradict myself.
Seeing Mac in the broadcast booth, though, would be wonderful. Why this and not other positions in the organ-I-zation? Because people would get a chance to get to know him much better, get a chance to humanize and forgive him. Otherwise he remains a charity case.
Posted by srt on 12/31/07 at 02:42 PM ET
Only playoff bound teams will have an interest in Mac.
If they lose a player to injury and want someone to play on the 4th line with some playoff experience, Mac may fit the bill.
Other than that, I don’t see a team spending 750K on Mac. They have others in the organization who they would rather play than sign a player like Darren.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 12/31/07 at 02:47 PM ET
i’ll never forget that hatty vs Colorado in 2002. Being over the pond, we never got games back in the late 90’s so i missed most of the 1st and 2nd cup runs, but that hatrick vs Roy was the beginning of the end for him.
Posted by Pharazon from England on 12/31/07 at 02:53 PM ET
Not sure I agree with the bad blood idea between Mac and Draper...in the article, Draper says
I hadn’t talked to him, really talked to him, in like three years
I think that just means there haven’t been any heart-to-hearts. I have a few close friends who’ve hit rock bottom...L.A. musicians with poor judgement and who’ve made series of bad decisions. And without exception, one day they suddenly just close up. Maybe it’s embarrassment or maybe depression – probably both – that comes along with the realization of all that they’ve lost, but suddenly your closest brother becomes someone you hear from a couple times a year.
No matter what, I wish him the best. My #25 jersey will always be my lucky one.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 12/31/07 at 03:44 PM ET
I think it may be too much to forgive and forget.
I think this is the kind of organization that doesn’t hold grudges. They have the honor and respect to look a hometown hero in the eye, say “we understand, life happens” and of course..."welcome home.”
Posted by Paul from Miami Beach, FL on 01/02/08 at 10:37 AM 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
Maybe just that he has nothing else left, except for hockey.
My hope is that he doesn’t embarrass himself or (more likely) get some body part destroyed by a kid looking to make a name for himself, and at least can find some measure of peace. It’s never easy trying to reassemble the pieces of a scattered life, and the older you get the tougher it is to glue the fragments back together into a whole.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 12/31/07 at 12:32 PM ET