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Lovin Jiri Fischer

America's Hockey Team

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I like how you take a flip comment by a blogger (NOT a journalist) and turn it into how the American media wants to destroy the NHL.

Anyway, back to the original point of the thread: I say, SWEET. Anyone notice that the Wings topped the Yankees, Cowboys, and Lakers in approval rating? Also, the Pistons and Michigan football also garnered a mention in their respective sports.

Fact is, the Red Wings are not just America's hockey team, but the world's. Apologies to Peter Forsberg and Jaromir Jagr, but we have the world's pre-eminent Swedish player and the world's pre-eminent Czech player suiting up for our team. And once upon a time, the world's pre-eminent Russian player, too. On this site alone we've got fans from Sweden, England, Scotland, Finland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Russia, and Australia and that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. Maybe Poland? Switzerland?

Now, it's worth noting that this blogger is based out of Flint. So maybe, some bias. But still. I'd call it just another nugget of proof that Detroit is the epicenter of the sports world in America. Best sports fans, best sports town, period. Not Boston, not Dallas, not New York, not Los Angeles, not Chicago. Detroit.

Don't forget about the Wings also at one time having IMO sports greatest captian, and one of Canada's greatest players either.

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I could see the top 5 being something like...

1. Detroit

2. Boston

3. Rangers

4. Buffalo

5. Philly

None of those were really surprising. In college football I would have thought Ohio State or Michigan, and in the NFL I would have thought Green Bay, Chicago, or Pittsburgh. Still, nothing unexpected there.

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Boston has ALOT of fans internationally though.

Where I live, all the favourite teams consist of Detroit, Toronto, and Montreal. Right behind them 3, lies Boston.

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Nope. They were definitely not in the .600s. The Red Wings were the ONLY team in the .600 and above. Do research if ya need to. But I know for a fact we were the only one that high. That I know. I couldnt remember exactly where the devils were. But they werent near ours. Check up on it. Prove me wrong.

Since the 1989-90 season the Red Wings had 770 wins, 420 losses (including OTL) which equals a .647 winning percentage.

In that same time frame, New Jersey had 711 wins and 477 losses (including OTL) which equals a .594 winning percentage.

You're right, the Devil's weren't at .600. Although I'd say they're a lot better than the .460 than you originally claimed, and I'd say they were pretty damn close to the Wings.

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Guest DetroitIan

Since the 1989-90 season the Red Wings had 770 wins, 420 losses (including OTL) which equals a .647 winning percentage.

In that same time frame, New Jersey had 711 wins and 477 losses (including OTL) which equals a .594 winning percentage.

You're right, the Devil's weren't at .600. Although I'd say they're a lot better than the .460 than you originally claimed, and I'd say they were pretty damn close to the Wings.

I already said before that I was never sure of the exact percentages. I just knew we were .600+. And not one other team was. And just so ya know, .594 and .647 isnt as close as you think when we're talking about 18 seasons worth of games. And not one other team is even within the .600s? As I said before. We are by far the most winning team in almost two decades. So it makes perfect sense that the Red Wings are America's team.

Edited by DetroitIan

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As I said before. We are by far the most winning team in almost two decades. So it makes perfect sense that the Red Wings are America's team.

That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. :lol:

1) I've always though that labeling any team in any sport as, "America's team"....is stupid. And writing an article that discusses who is "America's team" in each major sport, is even more stupid.

2) And why in the hell does it make "perfect sense" that one of the more successful teams over the past 10 years, is "America's team"? Are you saying Americans are nothing more than bandwagon fans?

3) And I've got news for you...Detroit is also one of the most hated teams in the NHL as well...so I'm not sure where that figured into the equation.

The whole concept is dumb to me. But whatever.

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3) And I've got news for you...Detroit is also one of the most hated teams in the NHL as well...so I'm not sure where that figured into the equation.

So are the New York Yankees, and their arguably "America's team" in the MLB.

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2) And why in the hell does it make "perfect sense" that one of the more successful teams over the past 10 years, is "America's team"? Are you saying Americans are nothing more than bandwagon fans?

The whole concept is dumb to me. But whatever.

Are you saying that they're not? When it comes to the general public? There was a certain little Detroit-based hubbub about Tiger tickets this year... and all it took was the scent of success to waft into fans noses.

Main point's just this: Winners attract attention, that's the way it is.

It's not really a dumb concept, although I don't put a lot of stock into it. It's a natural concept though. Especially in the media.

Edited by Flip-check

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I like how you take a flip comment by a blogger (NOT a journalist) and turn it into how the American media wants to destroy the NHL.

unfortunately, in many cases, the internet/blogs represent a voice that more than just the blogger share. In the NHL's case, sometimes the random individual's voice is more representative than the "media".

As someone who has spent a lot of his time in California, I can tell you that the media has largely written off and ignored west coast hockey. Heck, even with the Mighy Sucks winning the cup... I've yet to see one person in a Ducks jersey before or after a game...anywhere. And I'm minutes from Orange County.

I also have worked for news stations in San DIego and L.A., and I can tell you that the NHL is non-existent as far as sports casters/news anchors go. The local news here tlaked about the cup being won for about 15 seconds, that was it.

BTW, I thought THIS was America's team...

IPB Image

Edited by Defenseman13

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So why are the Dallas Cowboys considered America's Team? They've been crappy since Troy Aikman retired.

Big market team, and the bandwagoners still believe their good.

I don't know why the Patriots haven't been considered America's team yet. I mean, any new bandwagon fans like to hop to success, and the Patriots have been a very successful team in the NFL. More more so than Dallas, who hasn't won a Superbowl since 1995.

I guess some people are still living in the past. Teams like the Cowboys, Yankees, etc. will always, for some reason, be considered America's team no matter how bad they are.

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I can certaintly see why the Red Wings are "America's team". Not only for the success they have had the past 20 years, but people know the team, and the players, even if they dont know the sport. Take for instance the area where I live in Alabama. I live in a town where the only thing people care about is FOOTBALL, but for some reason I have seen Detroit Red Wings jerseys everywhere around where I live. It is amazing... from McCarty to Fedorov to Hasek to Yzerman... I have seen them all around where I live at. The only other jerseys I have seen around here are a few Yankee uniforms, Alabama Crimson Tide or Auburn Tiger football jerseys(very big deal in my state), and of course Titan or Cowboy jerseys. But for a very small city like Florence, Alabama to have people walking around in the summer no less, with a Detroit Red Wings jersey on is either out of insanity or just out of PRIDE. I am proud to wear my Yzerman jersey, and I love to hear people try to pronounce his name when I walk by ahhahaha.

Edited by Salviaman

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BTW, I thought THIS was America's team...

IPB Image

Me too. Before opening the thread that's what I thought it was going to be aboot.

Those guys are the reason why I'm a hockey fan. Truly America's team IMO.

No city team can represent a nation.

Though when I became an NHL fan one reason I picked the Wings b/c they are a Midwestern team.

Regions and states I guess are do-able, but not a nation.

Even if you still want to choose America's team I think road attendance should be be a determining factor.

The Wings were twelfth last season.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?s...t&year=2007

As far as Robert Green and his first comment ... it's just one's man opinion. Show me his research. What's his credentials anyway? Here's another man's opinion ...

Regardless of popularity hockey is the best sport in the world. It's the best game I can name.

Popularity doesn't necessarily make something great.

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Are you saying that they're not? When it comes to the general public? There was a certain little Detroit-based hubbub about Tiger tickets this year... and all it took was the scent of success to waft into fans noses.

Main point's just this: Winners attract attention, that's the way it is.

It's not really a dumb concept, although I don't put a lot of stock into it. It's a natural concept though. Especially in the media.

That is EXACTLY what I am saying.

Detroit is not America's team in hockey...no NHL team is. Like someone just mentioned, Team USA is truly America's team. No team that represents a singular city or state should be discussed as America's Team. It's arrogant and stupid.

Winners attract attention...no doubt. But that doesn't qualify them to be "Amerca's Team". Why? Because they don't represent America. It qualifies them to be a playoff team with probably a lot of johnny come lately fairweather fans jumping on the bandwagon...that's all.

What's sad though, are the fans that wear the jersey of one of the best teams in the NHL, when they live half a country away from that city, weren't born there, and have never been there.

It's sad that some people have some pathetic apparent necessity to be associated with a winning team.

If you live in Detroit, near Detroit, have family in Detroit, vacation often in Detroit (why on earth...I dunno), or something like that...that's cool with me...root loud and cheer your team on, because you are linked with that team somehow...but latching on to a team just because they are good...I dunno...that screams lame and pathetic to me.

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Guest DetroitIan

2) And why in the hell does it make "perfect sense" that one of the more successful teams over the past 10 years, is "America's team"? Are you saying Americans are nothing more than bandwagon fans?

First off, try 18 years. Not 10. And Im not saying all American's are bandwagoners. And OF COURSE not every single American loves the Wings. But its a FACT that out of all the teams out there, the Red Wings are most liked. Look at the beginning of the topic smart guy. There has been SEVERAL national polls throughout the YEARS about this exact subject. And what team is always getting the most % of fans around the country? The Detroit Red Wings. Its a fact buddy. We're not just talking out of our asses(unlike certain blues fans). Most Americans are not even die-hard hockey fans. So of course alot of them are gonna cheer for a great traditional and winning club. I can understand you being bitter. Considering the blues are a f*cking joke. But you really cant deny reality pal. Well, I guess you can. But its called being delusional. :lol:

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Guest DetroitIan

If you live in Detroit, near Detroit, have family in Detroit, vacation often in Detroit (why on earth...I dunno), or something like that...that's cool with me...root loud and cheer your team on, because you are linked with that team somehow...but latching on to a team just because they are good...I dunno...that screams lame and pathetic to me.

Funny thing Is I agree with you 100% on that. I hate bandwagoners. I could never live with myself if I ever put on another team's jersey. I was born and raised here. And I have been a fan for 20 years and running. But the difference with me is, I can UNDERSTAND fans around the country who are not die-hard into their hometown teams, being interested in a historical consistant winning club like the Red Wings. It's the SAME reason why the Yankess are so beloved. Yes they are hated too. But the fact remains, that they are America's team. As are the Red Wings for hockey(obviously the fan bases are different, but still). So as I said, it makes perfect sense that we're considered America's team. Especially considering the utter dominance the Red Wings have displayed over the past 18 seasons of hockey.

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I like how you take a flip comment by a blogger (NOT a journalist) and turn it into how the American media wants to destroy the NHL.

Anyway, back to the original point of the thread: I say, SWEET. Anyone notice that the Wings topped the Yankees, Cowboys, and Lakers in approval rating? Also, the Pistons and Michigan football also garnered a mention in their respective sports.

Fact is, the Red Wings are not just America's hockey team, but the world's. Apologies to Peter Forsberg and Jaromir Jagr, but we have the world's pre-eminent Swedish player and the world's pre-eminent Czech player suiting up for our team. And once upon a time, the world's pre-eminent Russian player, too. On this site alone we've got fans from Sweden, England, Scotland, Finland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Italy, Russia, and Australia and that's just what I can think of off the top of my head. Maybe Poland? Switzerland?

Now, it's worth noting that this blogger is based out of Flint. So maybe, some bias. But still. I'd call it just another nugget of proof that Detroit is the epicenter of the sports world in America. Best sports fans, best sports town, period. Not Boston, not Dallas, not New York, not Los Angeles, not Chicago. Detroit.

...I totally agree, too bad Kwame and his croonies don't give two s***s about the city and because of that, Detroit is not the media mecca that it could be. I went to Toledo twice last week and for pete's sake Toledo, yes TOLEDO is a nicer city than Detroit. I looked around and couldn't find one broken out window or barred up doors. Sure there were some buildings that weren't occupied, but they didn't LOOK abandoned, like MOST of the burned out, busted up old Hotels and apartment complexes in Detroit. If Kwame (I don't care if I spell his name wrong) and the city council would actually care about this city, instead of just crying about afirmative action and what the USA isn't doing for them, they could actually make this place desirable. I tell you what, if Dennis Archer was allowed to do what he invisioned (city council voted against most of his ideas) this place would be rocking! The original idea to put all three cansino's on the river was great! Who decided not to? they are so far apart, you cannot safely walk from one to another, so you are pretty much stuck at one place all night. No mass transit system. The new DTW termial in Romulus is one of the biggeset and best in the country and yet, it is not connected to the city what-so-ever. Could you imagine the visitors we'd get if, for one, the city was nice to visit, but also just flying in for a game to see. They could fly in, catch the train to the city, walk to the Ballpark, Stadium, Arena and casino's and drink and party, then take the train back to the Airport, hop on their return flight and have a wonderful time here. They would ALL make money, the City, Northwest Airlines, Red Wings, Lions, Tigers, casinos. But most of all, Detroit could be a desired destination, with or without the big three. It all starts at the top, so Kwame and city council, c'mon, how can you let Toledo be a nicer place than the "D?"

...sorry about the political rant, but even though we are America's team, could you imagine how much more popular we'd be if we had an American Class CIty, instead of slum capital of the world?

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Guest DetroitIan

...sorry about the political rant, but even though we are America's team, could you imagine how much more popular we'd be if we had an American Class CIty, instead of slum capital of the world?

Yeah I hate that. It's like, of course there is the bad area of Detroit. But there is also a very classy, upscale, suburban area as well. And in several area's just outside Detroit. A few months back aol.com released the 10 best city's to live in America list. Bloomfield Hills ranked #3. And West Bloomfield Hills ranked #4. In the NATION. I wish that was a more widely known fact in America.

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BTW, I thought THIS was America's team...

IPB Image

...dude, get over it, that was America's Team for the moment. They never ever returned to their greatness or even came close to competing with the rest of the world on a international arena, until that is, the Olympics were watered down with professional players, now it's like watching a bunch of different all star games. Totally bogus, I give no credit to ANY medal won by a team that is filled with NHL players...

...sure 1980 was a cinderella story, and yeah, it was America's Team. But that was the past, just like everyone on here ******* about others living in the 90's with the Wings, we cannot, as Olympic fans, live in 1980 forever...

...fact of the matter is, behind the Canadiens, the Wings are the second most popular NHL team in the WORLD, so there actually is water to the term "America's Team." I will tell you, we are more of an America's Team than the Atlanta Braves EVER were, allthough that was their marketing term for most of the 90's...

..and it will be a cold day in Hades when the likes of the San Jose Sharks surpass the Wings in popularity (outside of San Jose) in America, let alone the World...

Yeah I hate that. It's like, of course there is the bad area of Detroit. But there is also a very classy, upscale, suburban area as well. And in several area's just outside Detroit. A few months back aol.com released the 10 best city's to live in America list. Bloomfield Hills ranked #3. And West Bloomfield Hills ranked #4. In the NATION. I wish that was a more widely known fact in America.

...right, but that is Bloomfield Hills, not Detroit. When I go to Chicago, I stay and play in Chicago. Same with Toronto. I want people to be able to come here and stay IN the city, have fun IN the City, not the Suburbs...

Edited by LeftWinger

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Guest DetroitIan

...dude, get over it, that was America's Team for the moment. They never ever returned to their greatness or even came close to competing with the rest of the world on a international arena, until that is, the Olympics were watered down with professional players, now it's like watching a bunch of different all star games. Totally bogus, I give no credit to ANY medal won by a team that is filled with NHL players...

...sure 1980 was a cinderella story, and yeah, it was America's Team. But that was the past, just like everyone on here ******* about others living in the 90's with the Wings, we cannot, as Olympic fans, live in 1980 forever...

...fact of the matter is, behind the Canadiens, the Wings are the second most popular NHL team in the WORLD, so there actually is water to the term "America's Team." I will tell you, we are more of an America's Team than the Atlanta Braves EVER were, allthough that was their marketing term for most of the 90's...

..and it will be a cold day in Hades when the likes of the San Jose Sharks surpass the Wings in popularity (outside of San Jose) in America, let alone the World...

100% agreed. And I totally respect that 1980 USA squad. And I love the story. Hell, "Miracle on Ice" is still one of my favorite movies. But that was over 25 years ago. Any sort of clout they had, has definitely faded considerably over the years. If we're talking about the present. Then we're talking about the Detroit Red Wings as America's team. And its not just our opinions. It's a fact.

...right, but that is Bloomfield Hills, not Detroit. When I go to Chicago, I stay and play in Chicago. Same with Toronto. I want people to be able to come here and stay IN the city, have fun IN the City, not the Suburbs...

Yeah downtown might not be the greatest. But there are nice suburban areas in Detroit as well. Maybe not Bloomfield Hills nice. But very upper-middle class. And Bloomfield Hills is only about 15 min away from the Joe/Comerica Park/Ford Field. Not too shabby.

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Notre Dame, America's team? Nope. Most overrated? Yup.

I have to jump on this because you are so wrong it is laughable. Don't let your hate for Notre Dame blind you from the facts.

First off, for the overrated claim, it is absurd. Who owns the most national championships in college football history? Who is tied for the most Heisman Trophy winners ever? Where is the college football hall-of-fame located? Who is the only team with their own TV station? Do I need to go on?

Notre Dame is easily America's team in college football. Nobody's fan base spans as far around the country like Notre Dame's. The fact that they are easily the most hated team proves they are America's team. Look at the poll results and you will see no one even comes close in terms of popularity to Notre Dame.

I'd like to hear who is more fitting in college football to be America's team if it isn't Notre Dame. Actually, I don't expect a real answer. Go ahead and throw the Charlie Weis fat jokes, or the bowl game losing streak at me. It's always the same rhetoric from people that can't stand Notre Dame.

Edited by GoWings1905

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...sure 1980 was a cinderella story, and yeah, it was America's Team. But that was the past, just like everyone on here ******* about others living in the 90's with the Wings, we cannot, as Olympic fans, live in 1980 forever...

That's a ridiculous thing to say. Just like the 72 summit series to Canadians, the 1980 Olympic team transcends the sport entirely. It's not about the game, it never was. It was about a group of college kids going out and beating the greatest team to ever lace up the skates. Remember this is a team that destroyed an NHL team with a hall of fame roster. It's a metaphor for everything that is right in sports. To dramatic? tough, it's true. I love my team alot, but lets face it. In a hundered years no one will talk about our 1998 cup win, (maybe the 97 one). In 50 years provided there is still ice hockey, this will still be relevant.

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That is EXACTLY what I am saying.

Detroit is not America's team in hockey...no NHL team is. Like someone just mentioned, Team USA is truly America's team. No team that represents a singular city or state should be discussed as America's Team. It's arrogant and stupid.

I actually agree that they aren't, I was just asking "are you saying general fans aren't bandwagoners?" ;) But I didn't put it right, my bad.

I don't find it all that arrogant or stupid, but in the context of "Olympics are huge - Recognize this - National teams are what deserve the title" you're right. No one (that is, broad America and the media) cares about that though, and no one really cares about the Olympics until they roll around every two or four years depending on how you count summer or winter. I think it'd be great if that kind of seriousness were paid to Olympic competition, believe me, and I don't know how it is in other countries (smaller ones I bet there's a lot more pride invested consistently), but here...

Olympic glory is mostly gone. If the NHL and NBA didn't exist, then maybe people'd care again, but right now those are our stars.

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