Darren McCarty is apparently in bankruptcy, which means all of his (valuable) worldly possessions are up for auction. After looking things over, I’ve come to a conclusion: Stanley Cup Rings are SUPER DUPER ugly!
(click picture for full sized shot)
Steve Yzerman announces his retirement
For years while living in Michigan, I couldn’t care less about hockey. Until I went to a game. After that I just couldn’t get enough of the sport and became a rabid Red Wings fan. And for 22 years, being a rabid Red Wings fan meant that you practically worshiped Steve Yzerman. Because he was the Red Wings. The Captain.
Steve Yzerman was an offensive player with little equal early in his career. From 1987-88 to 1992-93, he scored 50, 65, 62, 51, 45 and 58 goals. That’s good. Really good. Problem was, the Wings just weren’t winning. So they went out and hired Scotty Bowman, a notoriously hard to play for coach that had a impressive history of winning. Bowman brought with him a defensive style of hockey that clashed with Yzerman’s style. Big problem, right? Not a problem at all. The Captain was smart enough to realize that what they had been doing wasn’t working, so he embraced the change and became one of the best two-way forwards in the league, even going on to win the Selke Trophy in 2000. He didn’t bitch and moan and ask for a trade. He made himself better. He didn’t tell the other guys on the team to start taking care of their own zone, he showed them how to do it. That “C” on his chest really meant something, and he led that team not with fiery speeches and slamming locker doors, but by showing what he expected out on the ice. Playing through adversity, through injuries, coming back from disappointment and continuing to work towards a championship. That is what The Captain did.
His numbers make him a sure-bet Hall of Famer, and puts him into the conversation with Gordie Howe when people talk of Red Wing Greats. But it was his leadership and unselfishness that make him The Captain. He has worn that “C” on his sweater for 19 years. What the Wings will do now I don’t know. Lidstrom is probably in line to succeed Stevie Y, but I’d love to see the organization just play with three alternate captains for a year as a tribute. If it hasn’t been already, #19 needs to be retired and hung from the rafters immediately.
If it weren’t 95 degreed out today, I’d be wearing my #19 Detroit Red Wings red road sweater. I leave you with one of the signature Stevie Y moments–stealing the puck from Wayne Gretzky and ripping a game winning shot from just within the blue line, ending a game 7, double OT game with St. Louis in 1996. Please not that near the end of the clip the thumping of “Whomp, There it is!” can be heard reverberating through Joe Louis Arena. How Steve Y was ever able to overcome such distractions, I will never comprehend.
Lambeau Field played host to an NCAA Hockey game yesterday between Wisconsin and Ohio State.
This is the third such game in recent memory, and should continue to be a part of the hockey culture. It takes hockey back to its roots, and creates a special atmosphere in mid-season. If overused, I’m sure these type of events would lose their luster, but they are currently a huge draw. The Lambeau game drew 40,890 spectators. A game in 2001 between Michigan and Michigan State that took place in Spartan Stadium drew 75,554. And an NHL game 2003 between Edmonton and Montreal drew 57,167.
Obviously there is interest in outdoor games. So long as the fans fill up with enough antifreeze and bundle up, the cold temperatures are bearable at worst, and a non-factor at best. It has got to be an unforgettable moment for the players too. The previous Wisconsin home game was attended by 15,237, so the Lambeau game had almost three times as many fans. Crazy.
I would love to attend one of these games at some point, as I can hardly imagine what kind of atmosphere would surround it. How great would it be to have the Olympic finals in this kind of setting? 50,000 fans rooting for their country? Or how about the All-Star game? That would actually make sense though, and hockey is generally lacking in any sort of common sense at the moment. But that is another rant for another time…