I have unsuspected depths. Lurking in one of them is this: I love hockey. Most of all, I love the Detroit Red Wings. In 1998 I was sitting in Little Daddy’s having lemon rice soup and wishing something wonderful would happen when POOF! Darren McCarty pulled up in a red convertible, hauled the Stanley Cup out of the back seat, and brought it into the restaurant. I touched the Stanley Cup. Everybody there touched the Cup. It was ours. If none of that makes any sense to you, it’s not going to get any better. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Rob the Firefighter and the Lady Alicia know about hockey and me, and they arranged that we would go to a Red Wings game on Saturday. A playoff game. OK, it’s only the first round, but it was a playoff game. So there we were, climbing the endless steps to the entrance of Joe Louis Arena with an army of people wearing red and white and carrying purple plush octopi. The Red Wings need a large arena because they have many, many banners to hang from the rafters.
The rafters are full of championship banners
We received complimentary rally towels, which we put to good use, waving them madly whenever we saw something we liked. Goals, saves, beer vendors. Judging by the constant roar and the sea of towels, everyone was having a good time. OK, the fans from Columbus were not having all that much fun, although some of them did engage in creative rudeness which caused them to be politely but firmly ejected from the arena. They probably had fun. I had a picture of that but it’s even more fun to see Alicia waving her rally towel.
Alicia at JLA, waving her rally towel
Sports photography is a whole ‘nother world, and I do not have a passport, but this at least shows you the Wings defense being perfect. Those red specks. Those are the Wings. Perfect.
Red Wings defense - poetry in motion
The last time I saw a Wings game live the scoreboard was less dramatic. These days it shoots off balls of fire whenever the Red Wings score, which is often. I was astonished. I was also glad to be attending with Rob the Firefighter, who did not seem concerned.
Rob the Firefighter at Joe Louis Arena
Great balls of fire! Wings win 4-0.
This was not a suspenseful game. It’s possible Columbus might steal one this round, but this night belonged to the Wings, 4-0. We flowed out of the arena afterward in a very good mood, in search of dinner.
Crowd leaving JLA after the game
It was a beautiful night. The Windsor skyline glittered across the river. The People Mover carried revelers to Greektown. We found a patio table at Andiamo. Then we made up for the lobster ravioli by strolling home along the Riverwalk and up Rivard. Having wonderful time. Wish you were here.
Torch Lake Views 
Scott Thomas Photography
April 21, 2009
Woo Hoo! What a great night you had. Where I live, Syracuse, NY, the AHL team is Columbus’ farm team. Looks like the Red Wings were smart to let San Jose play Anaheim in the first round. 🙂
I’ve been lucky enough to see my team, the Montreal Canadiens, win many Stanley Cups and have even been to the old Forum and the new Bell Center but never a playoff game in person. You lucky, dog!
Gerry
April 21, 2009
How nice that someone appreciates the greatness of the night! The Habs have a legendary history, and I’m pretty sure the site of the old Forum is known to produce healing springs in May. The thing I miss most since moving north from Detroit is Hockey Night in Canada . . . OK, and Coach’s Corner. I know, I know, but I can’t help it. Somewhere back in the Awful Eighties I developed an affection for Don Cherry and I can’t shake it. I swear Ron MacLean is a saint.
(For those of you who cannot imagine what we are talking about . . . don’t worry. I’m on vacation. I’ll be back to what passes for normal before the tourists get here.)
Scott Thomas Photography
April 21, 2009
And, yeah, I understand the feelings behind being able to touch the Stanley Cup. The coolest trophy in all of Sports. Period.
dmarks
April 21, 2009
“Stanley”, our round silver friend, is often a welcome visitor to these parts come late summer. I hope that this year is no exception.
Gerry
April 21, 2009
I think it would be nice for the Cup to visit TC again. Earlier this year I had the pleasure of writing a profile of Doris Brackett for the Antrim Review. Mrs. Brackett is 105, and her devotion to hockey puts mine to shame. Here’s one of my favorite parts of the profile:
. . . . She is a Red Wings fan. Not just an ordinary fan, either. When Howe Arena opened she went right over and asked for a job. She was 85. She worked in the gift shop there and at Centre ICE for years, and was delighted when the Wings began coming to Traverse City for training camp. For her 100th birthday she received her own Red Wings jersey emblazoned ”Brackett – 100.” Last fall she got to ride the Zamboni around the rink, and had her picture taken with Red Wing star Dallas Drake and the Stanley Cup. That picture is one of her prized possessions . . . .
Here’s a link to the picture: Doris Brackett with Dallas Drake and Stanley
Katy
April 22, 2009
Hey Gerry, I have a parcel of Red Wing fans in my family…currently the youngest is raising money by growing his beard…https://www.beardathon.com/redwings/pledge-a-dnewms.aspx.
It will be a red beard…fitting, huh?
Have a great time in LA. See you soon. P.S. we are getting a donkey this week!