Opie

OK so I am lucky enough to be watching another one of the teams I root for in a championship, however much like when Detroit was in control of the series, all of the national media articles are on the other team. In the SCF it was all about Pittsburgh and Therrien and Crosby, now all of the articles are about the Lakers, Jackson, and Kobe. On the Yahoo NBA page towards the right hand edge is a section where they show related articles, they do it by team even under the Boston Celtics section, which is usually articles dedicated to the team, it is all Lakers articles. What can the Lakers do to win, whining about fouls, blah blah blah. It was the same for the SCF, is it that the only thing Journalists can talk about is how the losing team can win, or is it that the teams I choose to root for are becoming like the Yankees. The Wings I can understand they are winners every year, but in the NBA the Lakers would remind me more of the Yankees than the C's. I guess if it works out like hockey, the team with all the press lost, then I am cool with it, but I was just curious if anyone else noticed this or thought it weird that the articles for both Championship series seem to focus primarily on one team, until the other team put a choke hold on the series? I mean sure there was the Leon Powe story, but other than the feel good story the majority of articles and even sports talk radio have been about Kobe not scoring (Like Malkin and Sid early in that series) instead of the C's defense (like Detroit's). Thoughts? or closed thread?

This was what I was waiting for(I called it 4-1 C's, but I would have liked a sweep), so the Lakers win at home, much like the Pens did, and again it is all about the Lakers, much like it was all about the Pens. They finally did this, they finally did that. I just don't get media anymore, it seems like everyone now is sensationalized, no one seems to report the story. Everyone has to try to make a name for themselves. Some Jack ass fat faced reporter overhears one of his buddies say the Pats video taped the Rams, instead of checking his facts and seeing if the tapes exist he writes a story about it. Bill Plashcke is still writing about how Paul Pierce faked that injury, in everyone of his articles he mentions the wheel chair or their acting. After the first two games of the SCF it was all about how Det was trapping and hooking or whatever else Therrien and Crosby spewed out of their mouths. Then I go back to Baseball, the world series and even the entire playoffs there were balanced equal articles, for every the Rockies are living the dream there was a Ryan Howard or Rollins are working to get there team back in it. For every Beckett is dominant there was a will CC Sabathia come back to form. I guess it is that there are too many forums now and too much competition for headlines, with the internet now every Tom, Dick, and Harry have the ability to post an article, and it forces Journalists (I hesitate to call them that) to have to sensationalize their articles to draw more headlines. It is turning the media world into Around the Horn and everyone is a Paige or Mariotti and that is the last thing I want to read with my morning cup of JOE!

Ohh I am sorry the +/- stats was nothing that has been brought up many times, but oh let me guess like Lang last year he either: 1. gets off the ice before the goal is scored on his turnover (that on always got me) 2. gets lucky because he teammates bail him out blah blah If you don't like Sammy just say it, but don't get into discussion about his play or comparing his play to others with nothing more than I don't like him. When you have nothing to back you case up other than you admittedly biased eyes it doesn't help your cause!

Ahh yes the undeniable I watch him play argument. I love that one!!

http://www.totaldui.com/dui_articles_mark_bell_dui.htm

Michael Jordan won 6 titles for Jackson, do you know how I know. I was a huge Jordan and in turn Bulls fan as a kid, what kid in the eighties wasn't!!! But on that horrible day when the Bulls were getting ready to go for #4 straight and Jordan changed his High tops for cleats how many titles did Phil win? How many titles did Phil win when Shaq left? The reason the bulls surged with Jackson and not Collins had more to do with Jordan than the coaches. MJ went from being a scorer to a guy willing to play point guard, to be NBA defensive player of the year, to a teacher and mentor to guys like Scotty and Horace, and none of that had to do with Jackson, it all had to do with Jordan not willing to lose. Look at the series against Utah, Jordan scored what 40 with a 104 degree temp. Jackson is a good coach, but he is not the best coach ever, that would be Red. What people forget about Scotty B is that not all that he did was in Detroit. Lets look at the people MJ won with besides Scotty and Grant/Rodman Luc Longley Will Perdue John Paxson Steve Kerr Bill Cartwright Stacey King If LA wins it this year I would say the same argument holds true for Kobe. Kobe will have to will this team to victory. Do you know how the Lakers made a comeback in game 2, they stopped playing the triangle and went to a more free form style of offense and scored at will. The Triangle worked with MJ because he would murder you with his jumper if you let him shoot them all night, if you jumped out at his shot he would dunk on your center, If you jumped his shot and then collapsed on him at the rim he would either make some unbelievable crazy move and score or he would feed Pippen or Grant for a 10 foot jumper. Jordan got the snot beat out of him against the pistons for what 2 years maybe three before he was able to get past them, he didn't whine to the refs, he hit the weight room and got stronger. Phil Jackson gets too much credit for those teams, he deserves some, but just as Bowman got too much credit for '02. Difference, Bowman got too much credit for 1 title, Jackson gets too much for atleast 6! Having MJ then Shaq then Kobe in their respective primes is like having Howe then Gretzky and then Lemieux all in their primes.

See maybe here is MY problem, I post things and say they are my opinion, I use phrases like I think or I see this happening. The last thing I do on an internet forum is assume anything about the topic or the person posting it, I take it at face value. I agree 32 games is unlikely for Howard, but Larsson may get 5-10. Not sure how it will work out, but what is the point in bringing in a guy like Conklin when you POTENTIALLY a better netminder in house. There is only one way to find out if Larsson or Howard can cut it in the NHL, and that is not in GR for another year. IMO, Ozzie is the best mentor for Howard, let him back up Ozzie for 2 years, learn from a guy who has been through it all, reinvented himself and still has come out a winner. Does that mean it will work out, not at all, but since draft day J-Ho has been touted as a can't miss franchise goaltender, do you really want to give that up because he was never tested at the NHL level. As mentioned before Liv never lived (pun unintended) up to expectations. He never got used to the NA game. Now with Howard he has shown consistency and I say the loss he suffered to Dallas when the top D pairing was Lilja and Lebda showed what he can do. I am not a hockey scout so my opinion may be off, but the guy has played 3 seasons as the starter in the AHL, the only reason he can't handle 30 in the NHL is if he just doesn't have the skill. If that is the case, than (in my best David Spade) BUH - BYE!!!! Stamina should not be an issue, it will all come down to can he stop the puck at an NHL level, and none of us can say yes or no to that with any reasoning to back it up. Because he hasn't had that chance. Which is why I asked how you knew for sure that he was no where near ready.

You my friend need to learn to read, Ericsson is in the 3rd pairing and in Detroit the 3rd pairing sees the least minutes. Lids #1 Ralf #2 Kronwall #3 Stuart #4 Cheli/Ericsson/Meech/Quincey depending on who is playing will all be 5 or 6. So who is on drugs again? And as seen in this post season there were even times when Lids and Ralf were taking turns on the 3rd pairing. Not sure how you saw Ericsson on the 3rd pairing and instantly thought 4th d-man?

According to Babs he was ready this year? So what makes you think Ericsson isn't ready? Are you some sort of super scout that knows more than Babs?

If he were not even close, do you think Holland would be entertaining the idea or hunting down a back up. I love the way so many of you state your opinions as if they are known facts like you are a scout for the team!!

And YOU know the bolded part how?

When was the last time the Red Wings made a big splash in the UFA market? 02? That was before the cap, now with the Cap I don't see Holland making a big splash. He will find out what he has to work with in TC, then make the necessary move. I have a question though, how is it that a fan wanting a player back because he likes them is justifying why a team should bring said player in. Feds is more than likely never coming back to the Wings. Get used to the idea, how many players ever go back to a team that they left in a tumultuous way. Whether you blame Feds or the Org the way he left was not conducive to his returning, and the Wings have shown that moving forward is there new MO. Besides the Mac deal, which imo was only doable because he cost them nothing and if it didn't work so be it. I see the wings signing Stuart and Cheli as UFA's, trading Sammy and Lebda for a 4th liner like Drake. The forward lines looking something like this: ZDH Mule Flip Hudler Cleary Draper Maltby Abdelkader Helm Kopecky/Mac/Downey Defense: Ralf Lids Stuart Kronwall Ericsson Cheli/Quincey/Meech There really is no need to sign a Feds or especially Sundin. This team is heavy down the middle, the young guys are looking really good, the playoff success that Mule, Flip, and Hudler experienced should make them better players, they all have now been deep into the playoffs and performed there. Feds and Sundin are not depth signings they will take away time from the young developing forwards. They only UFA signing I see the wings making is for a Ryan Malone type player. Do they make a play for a Hossa, sure what do you have to lose, but I doubt they land him.

Lids, IMO, ranks higher because I think defense is more important than offense in Hockey, as proven by this SCF, offensively (individually as well) the Pens were a better team, however defensively the wings were leaps and bounds ahead of the Pens. Yzerman is higher on the list of heroes however on the list of greatest hockey players Lids is above Yzerman in my list. But we will all disagree to some extent on this topic, because of personal feelings or memories for one or the other.

See I took the Crosby over Lids, Z, or Dats as a NA vs Euro thing. Where as in the NBA Garnett, Pierce, Bryant are all North American, well actually wasn't Kobe born in Italy or spent a good chuck of his youth there? But I do get your point, it just seems weird to me, I don't remember such one sided coverage for the Sox Rockies WS last year, and the Sox owned the Rockies. As I remember there were stories/articles covering both teams, whether it was Beckett's domination to Holliday, or the young pitching of Col.

I honestly think the D will shake down like this: -Stuart resigns for about 250k discount around 3.25-3.5 m a year for 3 years (with Ralf and Kronner up in 4 you don't want your top 3, at that time lids probably will be in the rafters, coming up in the same year). -Lilja is picked up by another team, becomes a solid #5 d-man and some wings fans blame Holland for getting rid of a solid D-man, after all this is LGW.com! -Quincey and Cheli take turns with Cheli seeing more time than Quincey. -Ericsson plays the #5 role for the majority of the season with Meech giving the youngster a rest when he can. So it looks something like this when healthy Lids Ralf Stuart Kronwall Ericsson Cheli Meech Quincey I left Lebda off because I see the wings packaging him and Sammy (now that Mule has shown what he can do) for a gritty winger to play the 4th line ala Drake!

This is the ol' Jim Rice argument and I subscribe to it whole heartedly if you have to make a case or an argument that some one is either Hall of Fame or Retired Jersey worthy than they are not! It is an honor bestowed upon only the most respected wings of all times, Ozzie did unreal this year, and would need to keep this up for at least 2 more seasons and win at least 1 more cup as the starter before I would consider him to get his number retired. Think of it this way look at the two names in the topic: Lids Ozzie What are the reasons posted in this thread for Lids to be retired, NONE, it is a forgone conclusion, and IMO that is how this should work. The only question surrounding the #5 going into the rafters is what year, and what game will the ceremony be. As much as I am rooting for Ozzie this upcoming season, I can not at this point in time say that the #30 in the rafters is a forgone conclusion. Now if Ozzie ends his career holding most Det goaltending records than yes it becomes a forgone conclusion, however at this point I have to say no to Ozzie in the rafters.

A point which was probably emphasized by either Malkin's tear he went on when Sid was out of the lineup or by the fact he didn't show up for the finals until it was too late!

WOW this place is not quite the same unless there is a goalie controversy, so much so that people are making one out of the backup position. Here is a question, if you have an all star netminder who just took you to the cup, why do they chase down a starter to put behind said all star. Kolzig, Ellis and others are not going to come to Detroit to back up Ozzie. And the Wings are not going to pay a guy 3 mil to back up Ozzie. They did it with Hasek because they were unsure of his health and what he could bring. They know what Ozzie can bring. Ladies and Gentlemen this one is pretty cut and dry, the Wings will let Howard show his stuff in Training camp and let him know he is the back up unless he costs himself the position with poor play. If Howard looks to be a bust or to be a career AHLer, the Wings will act accordingly, if he looks legit, the Wings will act accordingly. Have faith in the org that just won the cup!!

How can anyone wager a guess or even speculate when you have two completely different shots, the only things similar in those two pics are: they are both photos both have people wearing red and white They are not even the same angle, not that I care if it was 7 million or 7 thousand, but your photos do not make any kind of justification of either side possible.

While players may be expendable skill wise or salary wise that does not mean they are replaceable chemistry wise. A veteran player who has joined Pit in the off season for a run at the cup may not be as content to back check and bust his balls defensively while Malkin is cherry picking at center ice. All Players, including Lids, are replaceable for one reason or another, but there are reasons why you don't see teams that go through a total revamping have the same success the following year. Losing players, especially young ones who are playing and competing for a job, and then replacing them is easy as far as skill set, but not so easy if they are a leader on the ice, or play a role that another player isn't willing to do. I wouldn't be surprised if Pit missed the playoffs or finished 1st in the east next year, it all depends on how/what they do this off season. Where as a team like Det, SJ, Dal, Mon should be relatively in the same boat next year as they were this year.

I noticed that after the ratings started to soar for the SCF, ESPN started to show it a little more coverage. Marrioti yesterday on PTI talked about the NHL needing to be back on ESPN, it led off ATH, PTI had it second behind the NBA finals. ESPNEWS is covering the parade. Do you think the great ratings from the SCF may have ESPN thinking or is it just them covering a championship? BTW game 6 got a 4.4, I can't remember last years numbers but weren't they like 1.something?

He is the only one that has his kids in the team pic with the cup after the game!

Hahaha this dude needs 2 mics

OK get to the players this is killing the parade!!!!!!

People voted for that woman?