Abel to Yzerman
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To All 19 A2Y Readers: Thank You And Farewell
by IwoCPO on 04/01/09 at 07:38 AM ET
Comments (79)
As many of you have pointed out, the writing’s been slow here the last two weeks. I could easily blame that on blogger apathy and an outright disgust with the way our Wings “prepare” themselves for their Cup defense.
But that’s not the case. In reality, I’ve been cutting back the last ten days as I prepare to transition from Kuklas Korner to one of the Detroit dailies where I’ve been hired on to provide a “voice of the fan” outlook on the playoffs, the Wings in the future and the Michigan sports scene in general. Contractually, I can’t reveal which paper I’ll be joining and I can’t post the link here. But I can dole out some details.
Is it a paid position? Yes. It is. I won’t deny that and I won’t deny the fact that the money had a lot to do with this decision. I’ve been blogging for essentially nothing going on three and half years, devoting roughly 60 hours/week to it and when the opportunity arose to make good cash, I couldn’t turn it down. Is it substantial? Not really, but it’s good enough to help me make this decision.
Will the tone of my writing change a bit since I’ll be affiliated with a Detroit paper? It has to, and I believe you all understand that. A2Y was built, largely, on the backs of failing beat writers. In other words, I was disgusted with the coverage the Diggers provided and that was one of the platforms we used to begin this thing. Now? I’ll be working for one of the companies I used to criticize, so blatant slams just won’t make sense. Will I still give it to them when they deserve it? Yes, but subtlety and tact have a place in our conversations too. I just haven’t elected to use those techniques here.
Will A2Y just go away, or will the name follow me to my new gig? Paul and I have been in something of a negotiation phase the last few days, but I’ve always considered “Abel to Yzerman” to be my intellectual property. Quite honestly, that matter is still up in the air. I believe we can reach an amicable conclusion. Either way, I owe Paul Kukla a lot for the opportunity he’s given me here at The Empire.
Will you be blogging or is it going to be a regular column, or what? The paper I’ll be working for made it clear that based on my inexperience in the newspaper business, I will be referred to as a “blogger.” That’s fine with me. I’ve never claimed to be a journalist, only a fan who likes to type about the Wings. They did say that once I’ve been working continuously for six consecutive months, we’ll re-open the conversation as to whether my title will shift from blogger to staff writer. At this point, it doesn’t really matter to me.
Will you have press box, lockerroom, and team access? I’m still going to be writing from home, not from Detroit. So that issue is kind of irrelevant. Plus with the economy the way it is now, the paper can’t afford to fly me in for the playoffs or whatever. I will be driving up to Michigan for a few home games, staying with relatives, paying for my ticket and being given the opportunity to talk to the players after the beat writers have filed their stories. So, that should work out good.
What about the A2Y staples...the glossary, the Live Blogs, the use of the term “bitches”, etc? The glossary’s coming with me, but a scaled down version. There are some things I simply won’t be able to say in a family-oriented publication. “Bitches”? I’m sorry, but that’s gone. The live blogs will be tough. I don’t know the framework of the paper’s web site well enough to be able to say whether it’s possible or not. I’ll let you know by the time the playoffs start.
How long have I been discussing this move with the newspaper and with Paul? With the paper? About six months. They contacted me in November and my original intent was to join them over the summer. But the money factor is such that I’ll make a little more if I switch before the playoffs, so that’s what I’m doing. I told Paul on Monday.
Do you really expect the 19 readers of A2Y to follow you to a Detroit daily? Won’t they view this as a betrayal? What about your fellow Wing bloggers? I don’t really care what fans or bloggers think. I thought I’d made that clear a long time ago.
April Fool’s Day...bitches.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
But I say that in the most respectful way possible.
Happy Wednesday Bitches.
Posted by ITDeuce on 04/01/09 at 07:43 AM ET
Thanks, Chief - ass.
I was simultaneously reading and reaching for my “good” pitchfork.
Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 04/01/09 at 07:49 AM ET
I seem to remember, then quickly forgot.
April 1st? Ann Arbor? I forgot again. Oh, I just remembered. Crap I forgot, again. Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/01/09 at 08:07 AM ET
chriiiiist… Here’s hoping that’s the only April Fools that gets me today.
Posted by BDH on 04/01/09 at 08:08 AM ET
I suppose I should have known better...*loosening the noose around my neck and stepping off of the chair*
Kudos, Chief...I was buying that hook line and sinker.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 04/01/09 at 08:30 AM ET
Kudos, Chief...I was buying that hook line and sinker.
Frick, me too. Dick.
Posted by Cwix from Roanoke, VA on 04/01/09 at 08:41 AM ET
You son of a bitch, you got me....
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 04/01/09 at 08:42 AM ET
Nothing like a little rollercoaster of emotions to get us ready for the playoffs. I’ll be boarding the Hasek now…
Posted by Hap from Grand Rapids, MI on 04/01/09 at 08:48 AM ET
Sorry Chief. I will admit, last year you had me hook, line and sinker. But the scar of 04/01/08 that remains only reminded me today us just one year after Uncle Mike left us with broken hearts and not a block of cheddar to be found.
Good story tho. Maybe I’ll read it to the kids at thier bedtime.
Semper Fi!
Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 04/01/09 at 08:52 AM ET
Chief, I have you on an RSS feed on my Google Reader, and as soon as I saw this headline, it was painfully obvious it was an April 1 joke. You gotta do better.
Nevermind that if you didn’t figure it out from the headline, it was clear it was a joke at this point:
Yes, but subtlety and tact have a place in our conversations too.
Hah! Yeah, “subtlety and tact” are two words I would definitely use to describe you… 
Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 04/01/09 at 08:53 AM ET
Had be going… bitch.
Posted by Big John on 04/01/09 at 09:00 AM ET
You had me going for about 6 seconds…
6 painful, *#$%@& you seconds.
You’re a dirty little bitch, Chief.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/01/09 at 09:10 AM ET
(And for the record...it was the 60 hours/week thing where I realized it was BS. )
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/01/09 at 09:13 AM ET
And for the record...it was the 60 hours/week thing where I realized it was BS. )
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/01/09 at 09:13 AM ET
In hindsight, that should have been the kicker for all of us. But who could blame us? Our blind faithfulness to our team and our Chief has us ignoring rationale on a nearly daily basis!
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 04/01/09 at 09:16 AM ET
I wish I’d taken a look at today’s date before reading this… While believing it, on one hand, I was excited that some of the Wings fans might leave with you, but I knew I’d miss reading some of your ridiculous (in a good way) posts.
Posted by NHLJeff from Boston, MA on 04/01/09 at 09:19 AM ET
Real 6’-5” spoof - made me sad all the way to the end of the post.
Posted by AdjustableSlogan from Portland on the left on 04/01/09 at 09:28 AM ET
Real 6’-5” spoof
isn’t that how tall Jonny Ericsson is?
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 04/01/09 at 09:37 AM ET
Next thing you know Orsen Wells is coming back from the missing . . . . and quick . . ..
Nice one
Posted by bobbo from romeo,mi on 04/01/09 at 09:41 AM ET
Ha FRIGGING Ha.
Oddly enough dropping my little dude off at school this morning we had a chat about the first day of April & how nobody had pranked me in a loooong time. Ya bastard, bitch.. whatever.
Funny how A2Y is something many of us started out peeking in every so often had become something we umm.. rely on, enjoy, commiserate, argue, complain, celebrate, live blog Cup parades… etc. Not even sure how I stumbled on the Empire & A2Y now that I think about it, but being a Wings Fan would be different without A2Y, the 19 & the LB’s.
Thanks Chief.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 04/01/09 at 09:41 AM ET
I can’t believe how many people fell for this. Out-fricking-standing.
Posted by ITDeuce on 04/01/09 at 09:42 AM ET
I can say, in all honesty, I didn’t buy it. One bit. You see, I have a younger sister that is the Queen of April 1st with her totally perverse sense of humor.
Better luck next year Chief.
That is, if you are still doing this.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/01/09 at 09:43 AM ET
In reality, I’ve been cutting back the last ten days as I prepare to transition from Kuklas Korner to one of the Detroit dailies where I’ve been hired on to provide a “voice of the fan”
You lost me at “voice of the fan”. besides as soon as you started getting paid you wouldnt care what the fans think remember. Evil Drew 101
Posted by AxeMaster9 on 04/01/09 at 09:43 AM ET
Well crap. Guess I’ll have to go become a member at Mile High Hockey.
Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 04/01/09 at 09:52 AM ET
Thank god I decided to read to the end. This was nearly breaking news on Puck Daddy.
Congrats, as it is.
Posted by Greg Wyshynski on 04/01/09 at 10:05 AM ET
Two years in a row. Unreal. Such an *#$%@&.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 04/01/09 at 10:15 AM ET
Such an *#$%@&
It rhymed with glass bowl. *#$%@&.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 04/01/09 at 10:17 AM ET
JFC. Trying to kill us before the playoffs start? Fell for it for about five seconds, then remembered what day it was. 
Posted by Bella from on Clark St. on 04/01/09 at 10:29 AM ET
This is not what I needed while finishing up an all nighter. I know what day it is, it’s the day I have two major projects due, but the spirit of the day was lost on me. Well played Chief. I wondered how a master chief had sixty hours a week to devote to blogging, then I remembered it’s a government job, so you got me all the way to the end. I’ll use the fact that I’ve been up for 25 hours as an excuse for not catching on sooner.
p.s. Just kidding about the gov’t job.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Sunny SoCal on 04/01/09 at 10:36 AM ET
The title gave you away.
Posted by Jeff from Loveland, CO on 04/01/09 at 10:46 AM ET
Nope, didn’t get me this year. Only because I heard Frank DeFord’s piece about animal mascots being banned this morning and I realized what day it was. If I hadn’t heard that, you might have gotten me.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 04/01/09 at 10:54 AM ET
If I hadn’t seen the LeBrun article and been reminded of the complete incompetence of the Detroit press corps, I would have believed you. That and the Navy requirements on outside employment.
Posted by TDeters on 04/01/09 at 11:04 AM ET
Funny how A2Y is something many of us started out peeking in every so often had become something we umm.. rely on, enjoy
So it’s like masturbation?
Abel to Yzerman: The Hairy Palm of Red Wings Hockey.
Posted by Gabriel from San Diego, CA on 04/01/09 at 11:06 AM ET
Brilliantly done. If I hadn’t already written “April 1” on a couple checks this morning, I think you might’ve had me. “I don’t really care what fans or bloggers think” was a particularly nice touch.
Posted by Sadie from Ann Arbor, MI on 04/01/09 at 11:19 AM ET
You SUCK. I woke in a great mood and then felt like my dog died. Ive never been happier to read the words “April fools”.
Posted by Surfer Ken from San Clemente on 04/01/09 at 11:28 AM ET
41 Wooooooooo!
Epic post Chief. You really jobbed me on that one. Your such a dick toucher. JOKE.
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Earth. on 04/01/09 at 11:43 AM ET
So it’s like masturbation?
Speaking for yourself.... and what’s up with hair on your palms?
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 04/01/09 at 11:48 AM ET
(looks at hands)
Nope, no hair, must not be reading hard enough.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 04/01/09 at 11:54 AM ET
Hook. Line. Sinker. I admit it. Thanks for making my day, Chief!
Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 04/01/09 at 11:59 AM ET
In other news...Wysh pokes some fun at the Wings’ goaltending…
Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 04/01/09 at 12:10 PM ET
Yeah, you got me, but I got about 5 hours of sleep last night and was reading through a coffee-less haze, so that’s my defense.
And this is why I don’t even try any more. Mine’d just be too lame.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 04/01/09 at 12:55 PM ET
that’s happiest i’ve ever been about being called a bitch
Posted by chloefpuff from west michigan on 04/01/09 at 01:25 PM ET
Are the Wings serious about this Beard thing, or, is this an April fools joke? Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 04/01/09 at 01:25 PM ET
Haha. You had me going. I was getting upset.
I love you. :-p
Posted by SteveYzerman on 04/01/09 at 01:34 PM ET
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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:
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Chief… you’re a tool.
Posted by ITDeuce on 04/01/09 at 07:43 AM ET