Back where it belongs
For the 11th time — 1936, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1997, 1998, 2002 & 2008 — welcome back to Hockeytown, Lord Stanley’s Cup!
Congratulations to Nicklas Lidstrom on being the first European-born player to Captain a team to a Cup, and to Henrik Zetterberg on winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
-ghp
Let’s Go Red Wings
Let’s Go Red Wings!
Crosby & Malkin?
Bring ‘em on!
I’ll take the Wings’ top two of Zetterberg & Datsyuk.
Not to mention Holmstrom, Lidstrom, Franzen, Hudler, Kronwall, Rafalski, Samuelsson, Filppula, & Osgood.
I think this has all the earmarks of a great series. That said. The Wings will prevail in 7. Ozzy will be the MVP & Lidstrom will be the first European born Captain to hoist the Cup.
Here’s the full Stanley Cup TV Schedule:
May 24 Game 1: Penguins @ Red Wings - VERSUS
May 26 Game 2: Penguins @ Red Wings - VERSUS
May 28 Game 3: Red Wings @ Penguins - NBC
May 31 Game 4: Red Wings @ Penguins - NBC
June 2 *Game 5: Penguins @ Red Wings - NBC
June 4 *Game 6: Red Wings @ Penguins - NBC
June 7 *Game 7: Penguins @ Red Wings - NBC
* If Necessary
-ghp
The season starts
The NFL regular season starts tonight.
Yay!
I’ve always been a pro football fan (it’s a shame that Detroit doesn’t have a pro team, y’know?), but it’s only been in the past 10-15 years that the NFL has become my favorite league, and pro football my favorite sports season. Basketball (pro or college) is nowhere near the force it was for me growing up. Baseball is still important to me, but more on a personal & nostalgic level. Hockey comes close, and the Red Wings will always be my #1 team. College football is ok, but oddly enough I haven’t cared about it quite as much ever since I actually went to college. Attending Ann Arbor for a semester cured me of living & dying by what the Wolverines did on the field (thus, the App State travesty wasn’t all that traumatic for me…).
The NFL just strikes me as the best run league out there. Labor peace. Optimal season length. Smart salary cap. Non-guaranteed contracts. Fan friendly. Fun like fantasy football (although I don’t play) & pick’em contests like those at ESPN & Yahoo. Granted, it all gets a little too over the top by Super Bowl week, but it’s an amazingly enjoyable ride to get up to that point.
In response to Hank Jr.’s question, yes, I’m ready for some football!
-ghp
Honoring Yzerman
[Edited 070103, after the ceremony & game]
Steve Yzerman’s number 19 was retired by the Red Wings Tuesday night. It joined the 5 legendary numbers previously retired by the Red Wings (shown above — to be followed, I would wager by Nick Lidstrom’s number 5 within the decade…).
The coverage at the two Detroit newspapers (the News & Free Press) will be more than thorough, but an article over at ESPN.com really does a great job of illustrating why Steve Yzerman is held in such high esteem by the folks of Metro Detroit & Wings fans everywhere. The Captain wasn’t just a great hockey player - that alone wouldn’t generate the affection that he receives.
Nope, he’s just a great guy. Decent & honest. A good man.
That’s why he’s beloved.
Additional coverage can also be found at DetroitHockey.net and Detroit Red Wings.com
-ghp
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