Oh, for Gordie Howe’s sake...It’s not like players haven’t baptized their kids with water from the Cup before. 

I don’t get it.  Isn’t that a sign of seriously taking the Cup’s worth into account, or treating it like a Holy Grail of sorts?

I’m just kinda lost here.  Cup goes to bottom of Lemieux’s pool?  Oh, Mario, you know him.  Cup goes to strip club?  Oh, Mess, you know him.  Cup used for Timbits, baptism: OH WHY OH WHY? 

And Kris Draper’s daughter wasn’t exactly the first kid to poop in the Cup, nor was it the first time that the Cup was sanitized to get rid of germs--you know, the whole passing it around the dressing room or passing it around the bar thing is germy, too.

It’s the Cup.  It’s supposed to be a people’s trophy, be something that is used to commemorate events great and small, and there are going to be some dings along the way.  That doesn’t mean that it’s not respected or cherished.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/30/08 at 11:46 PM ET

I am afraid the press is generating a myth that “The Red Wings do not respect the cup”.

Posted by w2j2 on 07/31/08 at 06:28 AM ET

Cranky old man alert!

(Not you, George.)

I guess crotchety old guys have to complain about something.  Haven’t any kids walked on his lawn lately that he could yell at?

It isn’t a lack of respect, it’s a desire to welcome the Cup into all the ceremonies that matter in a life - weddings, baptisms, christenings, etc - like a member of the family.

George posted a link to a photo gallery of pictures of Datsyuk with the Cup, and my favorites were the family portraits of Pavel and his daughter with the Cup.  To treat the Cup in a stand-offish manner doesn’t show respect, but a lack of family affection for possibly the most beloved trophy in sport.  Everyone’s favorite stuffed animal as a child was the one that had bald spots worn off in its fur - the least favorite was set on a shelf collecting dust.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/31/08 at 06:40 AM ET

1. Fischler’s a tool
2. Agree with George. Isn’t a baptismal kind of the most obvious display of respect?
3. It’s “the mug” now, eh?  I guess that’s reverence.
4. Fischler’s a tool.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 07/31/08 at 07:17 AM ET

Here, I’ll plug myself while grumbling--danger, danger, baby splashing in Cup alert!

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/31/08 at 07:58 AM ET

Here, I’ll plug myself while grumbling--danger, danger, baby splashing in Cup alert!

As long as you’re plugging yourself, how about the link to the Datsyuk photo gallery? 

(I can’t believe how big his daughter has gotten.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/31/08 at 09:34 AM ET