Michigan In Play! magazine

MIP is getting set for a RARE exclusive sit down interview with former captain Steve Yzerman in the next few days. As part of our interview we are looking for two GOOD questions from #19 fans. MIP will ask the Captain your question and get his answer. We will then publish the two questions and the Captain's answers in our upcoming issue of Michigan In Play! magazine This will mark back to back issues with the current and former Red Wing Captain on the cover. This is a first for any publication. Along with your question, please submit your first name, last initial and what city you are from in case we pick your question for the story. You can submit your question here or email it to info@michiganinplay.com GO WINGS!

BOOZE + HOCKEY PLAYER = @%#*&^#@$$@#&^ LOL!

$9 at the Joe with a $1 hot dog!

With all due respect. I am downtown Detroit 3-4 times a week for Wings/Lions/Tigers/ APBA Gold Cup/ DBI Grand Prix and I can say from my own personal experience that the downtown area is the busiest I have ever seen it. Try to find a parking spot on the weekend in GreekTown. ISSUE 1 As far as Tigers..almost 1/2 the MLB season is during the school year. April-May part of June, Sept-Oct. Thursday day games parents are at work. The Tigers are hot right now, three years ago you couldn't give away Tiger tickets. ISSUE 2 As for current players being more exciting than Yzerman. That is a judgment call but I would have to say if Stevie wanted to play again Kenny Holland would boot anyone including Dats or Zets off the team to make room for him! That's just my opinion but I would put money on it. The overall team comes first over fancy moves and popularity contests. Stevie Y brought the Wings from being the laughing stock of the NHL to the premier team and measuring stick it is today. ISSUE 4 I am not for or against a new hockey venue, but I can say I have spoken to Mr. Illitch personally face to face about this subject (it is actually his son Chris Illitch that is in charge of the new venue), and Mr. Illitch is quite adamant there is a new venue and it will be downtown. As for Detroit being a black town I'm am not going to get into that (Majority of fans and viewing audience is white for all sports combined). What I can say is that people from the Burbs always have and always will come to downtown Detroit. Almost 5 million people attend sporting events each year alone in Downtown Detroit. There has even been rumors for several years of the Pistons moving back to the city. ISSUE 5 There is only one sports/entertainment venue in the burbs (the Palace) everything else you could possibly imagine is within a 1.5 mile radius of GreekTown. The following list is whats happening after football. - The Fox - The Fischer (maybe two miles at the most) - Ford Field - Cobo Hall - Detroit Auto Show (over 1 million people for this alone) - Comerica Park - Joe Louis Arena - State Theatre - Hart Plaza (events almost every weekend) - Detroit Opera House - Campus Martius - Hard Rock Cafe - ALL THREE CASINOS! (four if you include Windsor) - the Hotel district I know I'm missing many other events and venues but I would be here all day. No I don't think the Wings are moving to the burbs anytime soon. GO WINGS

They have $9 seats in the last two rows. The Joe is starting to revert back to 80's tactics to attract fans. - $1 hot dog game days - Giving away cars at the end of the year (for now) - Cheap game packages (as Wings tickets go) - College hockey at the Joe with a Wings ticket packages - Wings are actually advertising. Anybody remember the last season you saw a commecial for Wings games? - Radio says "Still good tickets for tonight's game" all the time. I remember going down to Cobo Joes and people would get into a bidding war over extra tickets. Now there are tickets all over the place! Normally $20-$40 below face value You tell the scalper what your going to pay..or just walk down to the next guy. It's not just the Wings Pistons are not selling out either. Economy blows! I own a business in this state I know first hand. I am very surprised the Tigers are selling out, but then again you can take the entire family unit down to the park for $100. Hockey is not a poor man's sport. GO WINGS!!!

An interview with: SIDNEY CROSBY DAVID KEON: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm David Keon of the National Hockey League's public relations department and I'd like to welcome you to today's call. With us we have Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby. Thanks to Sidney for taking the time today to answer your questions and thanks to Frank Buonomo from the Penguins' public relations department for arranging this call. On Tuesday, January 1st, at 1 p.m. eastern time, Sidney will lead the Penguins onto the ice at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, where they will take on the hometown Sabres in the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, which will be carried on NBC, CBC, RDS and NHL Radio. Sidney leads the Penguins and is tied for second in overall NHL scoring with 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points in 37 games played. The Penguins will host the Sabres at Mellon Arena tomorrow in the first of the back?to?back encounters that will culminate with Tuesday's outdoor game. Again, thanks to Sidney for his time today. We'll open it up for questions. Q. How often have you actually skated outdoors when you were growing up in Nova Scotia? SIDNEY CROSBY: A lot. I mean, probably not as much as other kids in Ontario and Quebec. Our weather wasn't always consistently cold. But I've certainly done it enough. Always had fun doing it. Certainly looking forward to this time. Q. Have you been asking Adam Hall or some of the other guys on the team, Georges Laraque, who played in an outdoor game for some tips on what to wear? SIDNEY CROSBY: I think with Hall in Michigan there, it wasn't maybe quite as cold as it was for Georges and Conks when they were in Edmonton. You know, they always talk about how cold it was. They were saying kind of the best place was on the bench where the heaters were because it was so cold. So hopefully it's not quite that cold and hopefully the weather will be good to us. Q. What are you expecting? You said you played outdoors as a kid. What are you expecting as far as the conditions? The Buffalo weather can be pretty unpredictable. SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I think the big thing I'm thinking about probably is the wind. You know, as far as the cold, I think we've all prepared for that in some way growing up, whether playing outside or whatever it's been. I think the wind could be a factor. You know, it's something you have to think about. You know, you look at football. You look at the coin toss and things like that. If we're going into the wind for two periods, it might be a little bit different. It’s something you have to think about. But outside of that, I think you've just got to try to play, enjoy it and hope that everything goes smooth. Q. Looking at the game, playing outside obviously presents some interesting challenges. You talked a little bit about the wind. What is your expectation in terms of what it's going to be like from a crowd standpoint, having the crowd be so much larger? Have you ever played in front of that large an audience before? SIDNEY CROSBY: No, never. I'm not really sure what to expect. The weather, you know, might have something to do with how loud they are. I mean, if it's freezing, I'm sure they might not be quite as loud. It might be a little bit longer for them out there. But, you know, it's something I think we're all looking forward to, to play in front of that many people. You know, we're on the road but we know there's a lot of people that will go to that game and pull for our team, too. So we're looking forward to that. Q. When you were 12 years old, did you ever think you'd be playing in front of 70,000 people on national television? SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, never. I mean, I thought my outdoor days were done, for sure. I mean, as far as maybe getting home in the winter and playing the odd game outside with some kids or with some friends, I didn't think I'd be playing outside in an NHL game. I think we all feel pretty fortunate, you know, to be part of the two teams that are playing. There could have been other teams that did this, so I think we're all feeling pretty lucky we have this chance. Q. Do you think the league can do more than one game during the season? SIDNEY CROSBY: I think one's good. I mean, it doesn't always have to be the same teams, but I think one's good. It's something for everyone to look forward to. You know, for fans and players, it's exciting. I think it's going to bring attention. I don't think there's a huge problem with that as long as, you know, weather permitting, it doesn't mess anything up. It's something we all look forward to. Q. Do you remember watching the Heritage Classic between Edmonton and Montréal four years ago? You would have been in Rimouski at the time? SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I think we actually played that day so I didn't get to see much of it. I think we saw the game before. I think it was like Stars game. It looked freezing. I mean, I can remember Theodore having the tuque on his goalie mask. You know, it was something about playing outside. I think everyone realizes it kind of brings you back. We all remember those days playing outside, so there's something special about being outside playing a game. Q. You left home, you were pretty young. Do you remember when the last time you played an organized game outdoors was? SIDNEY CROSBY: You know what, in Rimouski they had outdoor rinks. I can remember, we'd have an off day, I used to get my trainer to sneak my skates in my car and I used to go shoot outside and play outside and we'd have three?on?three games with guys on our team. We enjoyed that a lot. I can remember playing under the lights. That was the best time. They'd flood the ice around 8:30, think everyone is done for the day. I'd sneak out around 9 or 9:30 in Rimouski. So I had a lot of fun doing that. I'm looking forward to playing outside. Q. What kind of extra equipment or long underwear, scarves do you think you might have to wear for this game? SIDNEY CROSBY: I think they've talked to some of the football people about maybe something that's going to cover your neck and your head. Definitely you're probably going to be changing your long underwear between periods, at least your top shirt. We'll have to see about gloves, whether guys are comfortable wearing maybe winter gloves underneath their own gloves. They would have to be pretty thin. I'm sure there are a few ideas bouncing around. We get the opportunity to practice I think once the day before. I think that's when you'll see some of the adjustments. But, you know, I think we're kind of going in and just kind of winging it with the practice and see how things feel. Q. Have you thought about wearing eye black if the sun is out? SIDNEY CROSBY: You know what, that never even crossed my mind. But, you know, that might be something that's an issue, too. I never even thought of that, to be honest with you. That could be a possibility. That would look pretty funny, though (laughter). Q. You have a lot of guys on your team who are certainly capable of playing in a free?wheeling type of game. Do you think from a nostalgia standpoint, remembering playing on the ponds, this might be a bit more wide open than the typical game? SIDNEY CROSBY: I hope so. I mean, those were fun games, a lot of scoring. We'll see. I mean, it depends on a few things: obviously the conditions and how the ice is, whether it snows or things like that. But, you know, if it's a little bit colder, guys might not be quite as quick. Who knows. But I'm sure our coaches are going to make sure that teams are still playing the same way. As much as you enjoy playing outside, you got to remember it's a regular?season game and there's points on the line. You can't change too much. So both teams are good skating, like you said, so hopefully it will be up and down. But hopefully, you know, not too confusing or having everyone everywhere. Q. Looking at your team, it's obviously been a bit of an up?and?down first few months. You won a couple games in a row. Are you starting to get a sense that things are starting to come together? SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I think. We've just got to make sure we're consistent. You know, there's sometimes where we've played some good hockey two or three games in a row and been rewarded, and there's been other times where we played well and came out on the wrong side of things. I think that's where the league is right now. You look at the standings, one night we get a win, we're fifth in the conference, and you lose one and you're back in 11th or 12th. So everything's really tight right now, and that's just the way things are. Q. Are your folks coming to this game in Buffalo? SIDNEY CROSBY: Yes, they are. Q. Something like this, where it's almost like a great family flashback, can you talk about some of the sacrifices your parents did, not just financially, but lifestyle?wise to ensure you played the game? SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I mean, it's endless, whether it's getting up early in the morning, rushing home from work to get you to practice, cooking you a pre-game meal. You know, there's a lot of things that parents do, you know, little things that go a long way, have allowed us I think as hockey players to live out our dreams. We owe a lot to them. For them to be able to share this I think is something we all look forward to. I think they all remember when we were coming home soaking wet, cold, and asked for some hot chocolate after a day outside in the rink, they look at those times, and now they're looking at us playing in the NHL, living our dream, and playing in an outdoor game, I think it's special for them, too. Q. People are asking you about playing outside, all sorts of things that go on in the league. You're the centerpiece of the league. The marketing, everything that goes on with the league revolves around you. Have you ever stopped to think maybe it drags on you a little bit or it becomes a little too much? SIDNEY CROSBY: Well, I think it's got to be managed. But there's certainly times where, you know, it's just probably more than usual. But, you know, that's the way it is. I'll be the first one to tell you I'm never going to complain about that. My mentality doesn't change as far as what I have to do. You know, if things start getting away with that, I'll have to make sure that I change it and manage it right. But, you know, really that's kind of out of my control to some degree. I got to make sure that I worry about playing and try to stay fresh mentally as far as that's concerned. Q. Have you learned to say no to a few things, whereas maybe in the past you wouldn't have? SIDNEY CROSBY: Yeah, I mean, there's a bit of a balancing act there. I certainly feel a little bit of responsibility of helping in that area. But also, like you said, if it becomes mentally draining or too much, there's got to be a time where you manage it and maybe sometimes say no, too. I think I've tried and done my best to do that. And it's not something that happens overnight. You have to learn as you go through it and experience it and find out what works. But, you know, I think that's just part of gaining experience. DAVID KEON: Thanks very much, Sidney, for your time today. SIDNEY CROSBY: Thanks. Interview courtesy NHL Media

If it wasn't for advertising you wouldn't be watching the Wings on TV for free and this "Fan Club" would not exist. Nobody forced you into this post and nobody forced you to read what I posted. As for the people out there bashing Bob ; TONS and TONS of people are interested in what Bob is up to and tens of thousands of people are anxiously awaiting this book written by the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the NHL! Maybe you weren't at the last Red Wings Alumni game at the Joe and maybe you weren't at Yzerman's retirement ceremony last January 2, 2007. For those of us that were there, when Bob stepped on the ice...it almost brought the roof of the Joe crashing down!!! Bob's ovation was second only (and barely) to Stevies! I would give anything and I do mean anything to see all these people laughing and giggling like little school boys repeat their comments to Bob's face...Ya that's what I thought! An avatar is easy to hide behind. Bob donates more of his time to charity events and good will efforts in one month then most people put in a lifetime! Have you been to Afghanistan? If you have; god bless you and thank you for going so I didn't have to. Everyone is entitled to their opinion sonny, just do it somewhere else, please keep your bashing out of my post. If you don't like what I write...don't read it! THIS SPOT IS RESERVED FOR RED WINGS FANS ONLY!

Bob And Joe are working on it right now. Bob Duff from the Windsor Star is the writer. No time frame yet on when it hits the shelves. MIP will be the first to know and pass along the to our readers.

Michigan In Play! magazine is set to interview Steve Yzerman for our upcoming cover story. We would like to know what our readers want to know from the Captain. If you have any questions or suggestions please email them in before January 2, 2008. info@michiganinplay.com Thanks and look to see if we use your question in our interview.

I have seen and held a pair in my hands and watched a demo down at the Joe. I don't know what to think of them either? There are wires, battery and a button. You don't see any of this and you can't tell though. The battery is supposed to be good for one complete game, but what happens if you forget to recharge your skates? Your just as good as you always were. LOL! Wayne Gretzky owns part of this company and he is the major spokesperson for Thermablades. Thermablade has done a bunch of head to head testing and their data does support what they are saying but who knows...are we splitting hairs here? Just because one skater is a micro second faster than the next guy may be because his thigh muscles lare bigger ...like Drapes! Is it more physiological than anything else, who knows?

Bob Probert's first column for Michigan In Play! magazine. And yes this is really Bob Probert writing this. "OUTSIDE THE BOX WITH BOB PROBERT It’s been a long road that’s brought me here to my 42nd year in this world, and I have to admit it’s been one hell of a ride. When I look back at some of the things I’ve seen and experienced I’m even a little surprised by it all! I’ve battled toe to toe with some of the fiercest men in professional sports night after night and came out on top most bouts. I’ve had some of the more famous and skilled people in the game as teammates and friends. I was there as the foundation was built for the Red Wing’s championship teams. I had the honor to play alongside Steve Yzerman as he developed into the leader and competitor that we grew to know over his career. I watched the speed and agility of Paul Coffey from ice level as he made another dash towards the net. All in all it’s been an amazing journey. Playing in the All-Star game in 1988 was one of the ultimate experiences that I grow to appreciate even more as I look back on my career. My years in Chicago were awesome too. To include guys like Chris Chelios, Doug Gilmour, Ed Belfour, and Jeremy Roenick as teammates was something that I couldn’t have enjoyed more thoroughly. The locker room environment from the jokes to the comradery was always one of the main reasons I loved the game. I’ve had some of the best coaches in the world that helped me develop into the player I became. Then there were always the fans! I was blessed to have played before some of the greatest fans in professional sports. The people in the seats in Detroit and Chicago were one of the main reasons that I was able to show up for work every night and do one of the tougher jobs in professional sports game after game. The sound of 20,000 fanatics cheering after a big goal or a tough fight still echoes in my memory today. Along the way I’ve met some great people, had some fantastic times, and experienced it all. I really am blessed to have had the life that I’ve had. This isn’t to say that there wasn’t a bump or two in the road along the way. In case you hadn’t heard I did have a few incidents that proved to be news worthy! Once again, it was friends, my family and teammates that made sure I landed back on my feet again each time. Recently I’ve been getting more involved with the community as I volunteer my time to worthy events such as the Red Wings and NHL alumni games and I take every opportunity I can to work with kids. Taking the ice with a group of energetic youngsters is one of the greatest pleasures I have. My hockey school based in Windsor has its inaugural session this spring and is just one of the ways that I get to journey back to my youth through these enthusiastic youngsters. They are so eager to learn and they try so hard. I’m not certain that the tips and advice I give them will turn them into pro players, but if it makes them enjoy the game a bit more that’s all that matters. So here I go in a new direction today in this article. Bob Probert, contributing writer for Michigan In Play! Magazine, I like the ring to that! I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to give you all in these columns each month but I can promise you this; it will be much the same as what I gave you on the ice. It will be straightforward opinion and observation from someone who has lived it all. One thing for sure this is going to interesting. My past has a million stories and lessons in it. My present is amazing and I’m sure it will be mentioned more than once. My future… who knows? It’s going to be fun writing about it all here in the pages of MIP. I plan to share stories, tips, and anything else I can with my readers. If you have any specific topics that you may want me to address please feel free to email me at 24@michiganinplay.com Looking forward to hearing from you. So step up, latch on, start swinging, and let’s see who drops first! " You can check out Michigan In Play! magazine at the following link http://www.bluetoad.com/subscriptionfee.ph...gazineid=347_10 (Cut and paste this link and send it to all your hockey buddys!) Email Bob a question if you like! Let him know if you enjoy reading his columns or not. His MIP email address is at the end of the article. Feel free to go through all the past issues to get lots of other interesting Detroit sports stars column like 31-6 Denny McLain column entitled "Sounding OFF!" Check us out each and every month!

This is an excerpt from Bob Probert's column for the June 07 issue of Michigan In Play magazine. And yes it is really written by Bob Probert! "You know sometimes it feels that there is a bit of a target on my back. In my playing days my target was worn with honor. Every potential enforcer rising through the ranks of the leagues heavyweights eventually landed in front of me looking for their shot. I was always happy to oblige, as I knew what these guys had been through to get to this point. I remember a young Tie Domi lining up next to me prior to a face off saying, “Probie give me a shot at the title.†In the back of my mind I knew that he was kind of on the bubble with his club so away we went. He stood in pretty good with me and I’m sure that it didn’t hurt his position with the front office of his team. The target I wear at times now is not so simply dealt with. It is the result of a certain level of notoriety and my own indiscretions. I’ve never ducked the events of my life. I’ve taken my lumps with the best of them. It’s just tough knowing that if I step left or right of the tight rope I find myself walking on at times, there are those who are only too happy to make sure the spotlights catch every inch of the fall. My advice to anyone reading this (especially the younger people) is never place that target around your neck. It’s tough to shake once it’s there." To read Bob's entire column go to http://www.bluetoad.com/subscriptionfee.ph...gazineid=347_10 (Cut and paste this link and send it to all your hockey buddys!) Click on the archive tab at the top of toolbar, click on the June cover, page eight. Email Bob a question if you like! Let him know if you enjoy reading his columns or not. His MIP email address is at the end of the article. Feel free to go through all the past issues to get lots of other interesting Detroit sports stars column like 31-6 Denny McLain column entitled "Sounding OFF!"

This is an excerpt from Bob Probert's column for the July 07 issue of Michigan In Play magazine. And yes it is really written by Bob Probert! "The mood in the camp was noticeably tenser than anything we had experienced to that point. The soldiers were armed 24/7 and in full gear at all times. We found it hot in flak jackets and helmets but that was only a taste of what the enlisted men dealt with. Adding to the tension was the sense of loss that hung over the camp due to the deaths of six Canadian soldiers just before our arrival. A moral boost was definitely needed but I was doubtful we could have much effect after such losses. The heat during the afternoon was intense. Temperatures in excess of 105 degrees F were common. Adding to the heat was the fact that we finally realized we were in the middle of a war zone. As happy as everyone was to have us there, they were all business when it came to their duties. We received a pretty good wake up call one morning as sirens sounded and we were informed that a missile had been fired at the base. They gathered all of the players and brought us to a bunker until the "all clear" was announced. I have to admit the mood in the bunker was pretty tense. The guys were quiet as we listened to the soldiers briefing us on the situation. When they stopped talking we sat in silence. With everyone looking so tense I took it upon myself to loosen up the mood a little. I looked across and saw former Leafs Tiger Williams, Mike Pelyk, Dan Daoust, Kevin McGuire and Dave Hutchinson across from me and cracked, “Maybe the Taliban finally found out the Maple Leafs were here!†It was just the thing needed to break up the tension. " To read Bob's entire column go to http://www.bluetoad.com/subscriptionfee.ph...gazineid=347_10 (Cut and paste this link and send it to all your hockey buddys!) Click on the archive tab at the top of toolbar, click on the July cover, page six. Email Bob a question if you like! Let him know if you enjoy reading his columns or not. His MIP email address is at the end of the article. Feel free to go through all the past issues to get lots of other interesting Detroit sports stars column like 31-6 Denny McLain column entitled "Sounding OFF!"

This is an excerpt from Bob Probert's column for the September 07 issue of Michigan In Play magazine. And yes it is really written by Bob Probert! "I remember one particular night during my early years in the league. We were in Toronto adding another chapter to that lengthy rivalry when a line brawl broke out. I was on the bench as were a few more of our guys that we would have preferred to have on at that point. Brad Park was our coach and he could tell that a few of us were just itching to go over the boards and join the fight. We’d motion and he’d say “No boys! No!†So we watched for another second or so before trying to go again, and Brad would say “No!†again. Well the third time he was a little slow with the No! So away we went! There was so much respect between guys back in the day and this may sound odd, but it was easiest to see sometimes during bench clearings. Guys would pair off with a guy that was either going to give them a good fair fight or just keep a hold of them so that no one was cruising around loose. No body was looking to be on either end of a mismatch and the heavy weights always found each other. I wound up in one of the main events with Bob McGill. Bob is a tough guy and he and I squared off and went at it pretty good. The problem we had was that there were several other fights going on at the same time. The officials were pretty busy keeping track of everything and making sure they broke up the scraps that looked as though someone had the upper hand. So Bob and I just kept throwing bombs at each other! The fight had continued for a long time and in the heat of the battle I wound up head butting him. I caught him flush in the face with it and down he went. I instantly regretted the move but I was still kind of riled up from the brawl after the game in our locker room. As I sat at a locker a Toronto sports reporter approached and asked me why I had head-butted McGill. My immediate response was that it had been a long fight and my hand was getting sore! The things that come out of the mouths of youth! While it was considered a pretty funny statement around our room, it wasn’t viewed as humorously at the NHL head offices and I was handed a well-deserved suspension. Fortunately Bob and I are pretty good friends these days as are most of the combatants from back in those days. It’s that factor of respect that I mentioned before. Bob and I were team-mates on the ball hockey team that went to play the troops in Afghanistan a short while back and we had some pretty good laughs over there and I was glad to have to have the chance to hang with him for a while. I’m going to have another tough guy from my past to hang with a bit over the next while as well. I’m happy to say that Joe Kocur and I are in the beginning stages of putting together a book about our playing days as the Bruise Brothers. " To read Bob's entire column go to http://www.bluetoad.com/subscriptionfee.ph...gazineid=347_10 (Cut and paste this link and send it to all your hockey buddys!) Click on the archive tab at the top of toolbar, click on the September cover, page six. Email Bob a question if you like! His MIP email address is at the end of the article. Feel free to go through all the past issues to get lots of other interesting Detroit sports stars column like 31-6 Denny McLain column entitled "Sounding OFF!"