There Are Words...
Last night, I got a text from a friend shortly after the Wings OT loss:
“There are no words…”
He was right. At least, at the time I thought he was right. The more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that there are words to describe not only how we, the greatest fan base in the Milky Way felt last night, but how we feel going forward.
Despair: To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat.
It seemed that no matter how well the Wings played, the Sharks would get the bounce they needed. No matter how much sustained pressure we would generate, at some point, the puck would hop over someone’s stick or deflect into the stands. Hell, even Lidstrom’s goal bounced out so fast no one thought it was in.
Despair was felt when Rafalski took a one-timer from the circle and saw the puck skyrocket into the mesh because of a strange bounce. Despair was also felt when the same play happened for San Jose, but the puck slowly but surely trickled past a forest of skates and sticks before tapping the post and resting in the back of the net.
Despair.
That was last night. This morning, it was disbelief: Refusal or reluctance to believe.
How could it be? How could Detroit play poorly for two games on the road and almost come away up 2-0, only to play a great game at home and have the same result? It defies all logic. Well friends, that’s hockey. That’s what separates us from basketball, football and baseball. In those sports, stacked rosters will eventually rise above effort in most situations. In hockey, you can have a talented team, work hard and lose time and again. So it’s time to throw in the towel. Look ahead to the draft. We can’t beat the Sharks. They’re too good, too lucky, too confident…
Defiance: Intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude; readiness to contend or resist.
This is our Meatloaf vs Gary Busey moment. We’re Detroit Red Wings fans. We love this team so much, some of us act like we’re on the roster. Look at the post about our superstitions. For the love of God, we put ourselves through some crazy crap in order to pull out a win for the guys. We’ve been at this for years now. We’ve seen the wings storm back from being down 0-2 and win 4 straight. Why not down 0-3? Tell me. Tell me that lucky bounces are part of San Jose’s game plan. Tell me that Seda-what’s-his-name practices whiffing on the puck for an hour after every practice. Their luck will run out eventually. We (yes, we), have to keep ourselves in a position to capitalize when that happens. We need to stick around long enough to benefit from San Jose’s sudden string of bad luck. Not Vancouver or Bubba. Us.
If the Sharks can win because of bounces, so can we.
If the Wings can come back from 0-2, they can come back from 0-3.
If Steve Yzerman can win the Stanley Cup with one leg, Lidstrom can do it with two.
If Konstantinov can walk to his seat at the Joe, anything is possible.
Defiance. Friday it begins.
That is exactly what I needed to hear. Thanks twig. I wish Babs would blow that post up and hang it in the locker room!!! SJ's as well....
thank you. I'm so sick of seeing people giving up on the wings. This is MY team, I will not give up on them, I will stand by, making a fool of myself with my wing-addiction, rooting beyond on the last minute. The scoreboard does not dictate who I cheer for. Not now, not ever. Bring it on, WE'RE ready.
I like it. I'm fully expecting a Franzen "I shoot, I score" outburst in Game 4 just like last year. Only this time it happens in Games 5, 6 and 7 as well.
I'm not a religious girl, but HALLELUJAH!!! Winston Churchhill would be proud! They may be down, but not out. My aunt married a guy from Chicago,and is a Blackhacks fan. All season long, we'd give each other shit (all in fun). I knew he'd be at it today, and of course, he was. I just calmly told him that they have one more chance and I wasn't giving up hope just yet. The thing I've noticed about Detroit is that they're scrappy, they're resilient. Don't EVER, EVER count them out.
Now, with this being Cinco de Mayo, an important day in the history of my people (don't let the blue eyes and fair skin fool you), the day when the overpowered and outnumbered Mexican troops drove back and defeated the French, it gives me hope for Detroit. Join me in doing a shot or two of tequila, throw up a middle finger for San Jose, and say "Chinga tu madre" (the Mexican equivalent of 'f$%k you' and probably the strongest insult). The Red Wings have been and always will be lo mas chingon.
Those are the words. THOSE are the words! Thank you! The team won't let go, then neither will I.
Be great, Wings! Because that's what we do.
I miss Vladdy ....... if anything symbolizes the strength of the wings it is him. His support has been behind his team even in the aftermath of his accident.
I can say there are seasons I think they don't have a chance, When I say it is done and hope is lost, BUT I do it as a reverse psychology stunt, because the truth is that the wings are always a force to be dealt with and if you sleep on the job you will get owned.
Every game in this series has seemed far closer than they were last year..... not to mention that Howard has been screwed by tips off his own team for over half the goals scored on him. The wings should be up in the series ... even more so than last year... and that should be enough reason to believe that the wings can come back.
I want to see Vladdy on the ice with another cup in his lap taking a lap around the ice!!!!!!!
F:$&in-A right. Its not over til we say it's over! It's not over til Kronwall's done Kronwalling or Homers done getting cross checked or Pavs done dangling or Bertuzzis done killing people or Howards done wiping snow off his face or Saleis done...with whatever it is that he does. We can win 4 in a row against anyone. We have the team to do it. I won't give up. I'll be at JLA Friday losing my voice and sobriety. LGRW! FYSJ! Eat it!
GOD DAMNIT! That's the shit I'm talking about Twig! Thank you, this is what I've been searching the wings Blogosphere for... Positivity, I want to anticipate Friday's game not dread it, LGMFRW!!!
