Thanksgiving

It's Thanksgiving Eve and, while I am looking forward to listening to the Wings and Avs tonight, I am less rabid about it in light of the whole Jiri Fischer situation. The press says he's fine, and I totally believe that and it's great, but suddenly the game seems more just that, a game. I checked NHL.com this morning as usual and saw that my Wings are now behind Ottawa for the league lead, and it seemed less important.

I remember having this same feeling after attending Skate America a few years ago and actually talking to the athletes, seeing them as real people (short people, mind you, figure skaters are sooo much tinier than they look on tv!). Skaters that I didn't give a hoot about how they performed previously, I suddenly wanted them to succeed. I think so often we forget how fragile, human, and real even the superhuman actually are.

Of course, even if I spoke Spanish, I'm not gonna say that to a South American soccer fan whose team's star player missed an empty net or a PK, even though those are the people who really need a reality check. I'm all about fan-aticism, but who wins the World Cup isn't going to solve world hunger or fix the ozone layer.

It's a matter of perspective. So, for the moment anyway (at least until the Stanley Cup playoffs), I am thankful for athletes who give their all and for all the fans who remember it is just a game.

Jiri Fischer

OMG one of the scariest moments I've ever experienced watching / listening to sports. I've taken to listening to the Red Wings on the radio, and I got home a bit late last night. Only moments before I tuned in, apparently, Jiri Fischer was taken to the hospital after having a seizure on the bench. Thank goodness he's okay, though I still anxiously await the press conference this afternoon.

What struck me, though, was the fact that they postponed the game. And it seemed to be the idea of the opposing team. Who was winning 1-0 and would clearly have a mental advantage if the game were to continue. I seem to recall Dale Earnhardt died during the Daytona 500 (or was it Indy? I'm not into auto racing. Sorry, Dad.) and they finished the race. I remember (uh, oh, I call myself a football fan...) a Green Bay Packer being taken from the field paralyzed and they finished that game.

Is it only in hockey where there is enough mutual respect and brotherhood for the other team to be willing to set aside an easy victory out of concern for a fallen comrade? Hockey gets such a bad rap for all of the fights, retaliation, and bloodshed, but I can't imagine another professional sport actually cancelling a game because of an incident like this.

I pause, though, as I write this, and recall one of the most widely viewed injuries in hockey, the so-called "Todd Bertuzzi Incident" when Steve Moore was knocked unconscious and taken from the ice with a fractured vertebra. As I recall it, they finished that game.

Is this a new, kinder NHL? Has the new collective bargaining agreement created a sense of unity that was not there with no salary cap? Has the lack of a season last year given the players a newfound respect for their sport and for one another?

It's hard for me to opine to the extent I would like because I live in a city that lacks an NHL franchise, so I don't hear about players who hold out and don't show up for training camps. I'm sure there are some. But I would think having a salary cap creates a sense that they are all pieces of a puzzle, that everyone has to fit in and keep balance in what used to be a free for all negotiate the best for me go ahead a buy a Stanley Cup atmosphere.

Regardless of the reason, I am glad they postponed the game. It showed respect in a way I have not seen before in men's professional sports. I'd like to see other sports take a lesson from this. No matter who wins or loses, after all, it is only game, and beneath all of the padding and protective gear, athletes are just human beings who deserve the respect and concern shown to Jiri Fischer last night in Detroit.

It's hard to live in Wisconsin and admit that I actually only watched a few minutes of the Packers game on Sunday, but I just couldn't take it any more. It's so sad. It's clearly a case still of a pretty darn good quarterback, but no team behind him. I've had this argument so many times, whether 'tis better to have a great team and a mediocre quarterback or vice versa. This seems t support my theory that the team is more important.
Kinda like the new NHL. A great team can survive with good netminding, but not so much the reverse. Case in point: the ailing Chicago Blackhawks. Since they played my Red Wings three times recently, I can say that it was not worth the money they spent on Khabibulin when they haven't got a forward who can find the back of the net. Even the Bulin Wall needs a little goal support.
Whatever you do, though, don't read the reverse into that. Legace is an amazing goaltender, I've said so for years to anyone who would listen. Mostly my friends just gave me blank stares, but when I've had the chance to talk to a hockey fan, I've gotten laughed at. No one seemed to think he'd ever be anything but a back up. But I've been in Detroit in the CuJo days and participated in the "Manny" chant, so I know there are at least a few others out there who agree with me. I wanted him in net in the '04 playoffs, but since my name isn't Dave Lewis, no one listened.
Clearly I love my Wings, and I want to support them wholeheartedly, so today I went online searching for a jersey. I've often said that I thought buying jerseys was a waste of money, especially when you don't know who will be where the next season, but at least with Detroit Yzerman and Shanahan are safe bets; they're not leaving Hockeytown. Being the Shanny fan that I am, I figured what the heck. Can anyone explain to me, then, why personalizing a women's jersey isn't possible? I don't want men's sizes, I'm too small for them, but that seems to be my only choice if I want to show my love for #14.
Speaking of jerseys, I've been annoyed for years that US Soccer offers any number of jerseys, but no Kristine Lilly. I understand Mia Hamm, but right now you can only get her jersey or that of Brandi Chastain, Shannon Boxx, or Abby Wambach. Nothing against Boxxy, but come on, Lil's the most capped player in all of soccer and she's tied for third now in all time goals. At least offer Michelle Akers before Shannon Boxx, or even Julie Foudy or Carla Overbeck.
Well, enough ranting for today. Until next time, go Wings!

First Time

Long-time sports fan, first time blogger. I read all of these blogs on sports sites, and I want desperately to toss in my two cents, but then I think my thoughts might not even be worth more than that! I'm hardly an expert, though I like to consider myself so. I'm going to use this as a place to sound off about all of the things that pique my interest in the sports that I follow.

Which means, this weekend I can over-analyze the performances at Skate Canada, cheer for my Red Wings as they take on the Coyotes, hang my head at another dismal Packers performance, and watch the US Men's National Soccer Team take on Scotland.

Of all of those, it's the hockey that has captured my interest most. The Wings are off to a great start, an amazing start, so much of it due to the play of Manny Legace. I've raved about him for years to anyone who will listen; it's great that the coach finally agrees with me! Now if only I could track down that waiter who told me Jimmy Howard would be between the pipes this year. He was right, I guess. Howard is in net. In Grand Rapids.

In other ice sports, how 'bout Alissa Czisny? Two Grand Prix medals and a trip to the final, yet she'll be fighting for a spot on the Olympic team. I'm watching the whole process with a mix of anticipation and dread, since I think the United States' best hope for a medal will be sitting at home due to citizenship issues. I hear there's legislation they're trying to pass to help out Tanith Belbin, but who knows if that will fly. Too bad for us if she and Ben Agosto can't go, they have a legitimate shot to medal in ice dance, where we Americans typically just suck. It's like rhythmic gymnastics, the ugly stepsister that is misunderstood and gets no attention. Well, Ben and Tanith will make America take notice. If they get to compete.