Kira

I so totally understand this decision. I only wish that someone going to the service could leave a red carnation for me. There's a story behind it, and I wish it could happen.

Dawn, I'm gonna miss you and Sheri...hopefully next year will be better. Here's to maybe getting together sometime this year!

You can park at Greektown Casino free, and a walk through the Casino will get you to the People Mover. My favorite place to hang out is Hockeytown Cafe on Woodward. Their burgers are great, they have a good beer selection, and also a free shuttle to the Joe. It's like a three block walk from the Grand Circus station to Hockeytown - piece of cake! Hockeytown Authentics in Troy is also cool. Take I-75 north to Big Beaver Road east and go to John R. It's in a strip mall in front of the Troy Ice Arena. I like it there...they have some game used jerseys and sticks, some great photos and memorabilia. The Toronto - Detroit drive is about 4 hours, but if you stick to the 401, you should be okay. Have fun!

Seems right somehow doesn't it?

I know with certainty that this hit him very hard, and it is going to take a while to heal. I have a feeling he and Pasha both are going to be hard pressed to keep their minds on the game, and will be rather subdued next weekend. For those of us who will be there, a kind word passed on can't hurt.

I was hoping this would be the decision they would make. It's only right. And the true fans of the team will understand.

Far as I know we'll be getting it. Why wouldn't we?

I can't wait to see what you tell us next!

It is rather brave of him that he goes out and does what he has to do even though you know his heart isn't really in it. I hope when I see him next week in Traverse City that I can let him know how much we share his grief and his loss. That is, if I don't fall apart myself.

I have friends who will be at that game on the 27th. You'll have fun, I know. Dimaline, sounds like an informal party at our camp on Saturday night. You're welcome to pop in if you like.

Found this on nhl.com... "When asked what needs to be done in order to move forward from Wednesday's tragedy...Datsyuk looked at his inquisitor with a blank stare and said, "pray". There is more in the article...if you want to read it, it's at nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=587971

I still have tears in my eyes. This is going to take a long time to heal. For all of us. Doesn't matter which team, or who we admired. All of us have lost a loved one...I feel for our brothers and sisters in the other cities who lost a beloved member of their team...St. Louis, Vancouver, Carolina, Colorado, Dallas, New York, Florida, Phoenix, Calgary, Toronto...until you look at the list of teams these guys played for, you don't realize the impact this loss has on us all.

I am, as a matter of fact, Irish and Scottish. So it's that Celtic blood, you know. We have a tendency to see things in certain ways.

I agree with the parties above...this is not the time and place for a religious argument or anything remotely resembling one. This is a time for all of us to reminisce and to share our grief and condolences. By talking and sharing, we somehow lessen the burden we feel. But no religious arguments are needed here. Let us share our feelings and our grief in whatever manner we hope might lend some comfort.

I've loved this game since I was a kid. I don't ever remember a summer off-season so filled with tragedy and sadness. Nick said it was Pasha who walked in the room and broke the news. I can only imagine he must have been totally heartsick. Friends, teammates...gone in a heartbeat. And for Nick, this really had to hit hard, McCrimmon being his first defense partner and his first roommate. I wish I could give the guys a hug and tell them there are a lot of us out here tonight who love them and feel just as bereft and empty as they do. You can bet there will be a moment of silence at camp. At the very least. My housemate just told me that when one of the players' mothers found out about it, she had a fatal heart attack. The ripples of this just keep getting worse.

I am absolutely heartsick. I don't mind admitting I have been in tears since I read it. I had a red carnation to give to Pasha last year at camp, but I couldn't give it to him myself, so I asked Brad McCrimmon to give it to him for me, which he did. I saw him after the game and asked if Pasha got the carnation. Brad had a smile on his face and said, "Yes. He liked it." I will always be grateful to him for that small gesture. My heart goes out to our brothers and sisters in St. Louis, who I know loved Pavol Dimitra for years. What a terrible, terrible piece of news. This has been the worst summer I can think of. Ever.

For the most part they are pretty lenient at the State Park that time of year about who comes in to visit, but I will tell you that visitors are supposed to leave at 10. So take that into consideration. Of course, by 10, I'll be wanting to go to bed anyway, because I get up at 6AM every day of camp - I make sure we have breakfast before we go over for the day, and both of us being diabetic, this is important. So, take that for what it's worth.

These two crackpots who started this fiasco think they own the city of Grand Rapids. Their names are on everything in that town. DeVos also tried to run for governor, and got his ass kicked by Jennifer Granholm. He couldn't own everyone, thank God. I'm with the one who said they would write a letter to protest this. I love my team, and I always will. The love for the Wings goes back almost 50 years (yes, I'm that old), longer than most marriages last. But this is too much.

My housemate is a die hard Bruins fan, and even she said this deal is an absolute suck job. She knows it's all Tom Wilson, and he deserves to rot in hell. He sold us down the river, and it's just sickening. We're not in need of money, so why did he sell his soul to these devils? I love my guys, but we've been sold down the river. Can we formally protest this to someone in the higher ups?

I am so up for that! Maybe we can do a potluck or something. That would be awesome.

I'm not hard to find. I'll be wearing a Datsyuk jersey - probably my red one, since that's the last one I need to get him to autograph. Of course, I'll be with my other half (in a wheelchair) and Loki will be with us...just look for a black dog with white paws and tags around his neck that say he is a service dog, and he's friendly (and yes, you can pet him). I know my friend Dawn is coming up, and I do believe my friends Sheri and Jean are too. I'm also going to try and meet up with Dave Regineck, who happens to be the Red Wings' photographer (lucky him - what a job!). Should be a blast!

That I could tolerate more than those idiots trying to pull a Ponzi scheme. And I don't care if it doesn't pay the bills by calling it Howe Arena. At least we could hold our heads high doing so. Anything else, and I'd want to hide in shame.

Honey, as far as I'm concerned, you're the farthest thing from a right-wing douchebag, and to even lump yourself anywhere near these sleaze merchants is an insult you don't deserve. You're so much better than they are. I'm sticking to my guns. Howe Arena. Not a damned thing wrong with it.

If it was '05, then 29 would have been Jason Williams. I was there that year and I do know that much. I know '08, that would have been Ty Conklin. I'd have to go back into my archives and find my programs from camp for the other years to find out who it might have been wearing that number in other years.

If it covers three or four years then that opens up possibilities. I'm more than sure that one is Matt Ellis...I have it in my copy of "48 Hours", and that does cover the years I've been going up there. I usually end up getting a signature or two in that book every year.