OT: It was 20 years ago today...
...when Darren McCarty beat the tar out of a turtle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXHKHT8N6eA
I'll never forget sitting in front of the TV watching the PASS broadcast. Where were you that night?
EDIT: Going to need someone else to embed--my computer simply will not do it right now.
Thank you, Dr. Kimble.
Bando, you can call him Richard.
Basketball announcer during a fight: "We are sorry to broadcast this to our viewing audience. This is an unfortunate display of sportsmanship that we hope our younger viewers do not emulate...."
Hockey announcer during a fight: "Would you look at that left hook! Now he goes with the right jab! These two know when to throw off the gloves. And the blood's coming down now. Listen to that crowd!"
I was at Comet Burger in downtown Royal Oak. They put a TV over the grill. Ate way too many burgers. Couldn't leave.
I remember watching that game live. It was so much fun to watch, seeing the Wings beat down the Avalance like that. Great to see Lemieux bloodied, but also so fun to see the goalies square off!
March 27th, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
I grew up with Michigan football being by far my favorite team, not sure who was in second place.
But it was easy to develop an appreciation for hockey when I was at UM from 1992-96 and with the Red Wings' ascendance that happened at the same time.
I was furious about the Lemieux-Draper incident and relished the 3/26/1997 beatdown. Even watching the video I get wound up, almost at the same level as watching the Phil Brabbs UW game video.
Actually that was 50 years ago this June 1st.
I apologize for this, but I couldn't help myself.
It was twenty years ago today
That Lemieux finally had to pay
For his cowardly and thuggish style
(Rearranging Mr. Draper's smile)
It introduced the world to
The rivalry that made those years
Among the best to be a hockey fan!
Okay, good, it's not just me.
I was at my parents' house watching this on PASS with a few people - I distinctly remember everyone standing up and cheering with each fight too.
That flying body check that Shanahan laid on Roi - which Roi deserved because Roi - was a thing of beauty.
Roy, but, this.
The next year, when it was all but published in the press ahead of time that there was going to be a rematch fight, was almost better. When little Chris Osgood decimated Roy... so, so, so great.
I'm a Red Wings fan and I hate the Avalanche --- but that's a bit of revisionist history there.
Roy lost to Vernon. The Osgood fight was more of a draw. Roy landed more punches, Osgood had the late takedown.
Uh... That's how hockey fights are won. Osgood took some punches, but put him on his ass in the end.
And never mind that Roy had 4 inches on him.
I was in the upper bowl behind the Detroit net when Ozzie left to net to meet Wah out near center. I'd agree it was a draw.
What I remember most was the expectant attitude in the stands. After Detroit got the second goal in the 3rd, everybody knew what was coming, and was just waiting for the spark. And when Ozzie left the net, otherwise normal people (including me) were screaming for Patrick's blood on the ice.
God help me, but it was still one of the greatest things I've ever seen in person.
March 27th, 2017 at 12:09 AM ^
Then Hasek blew a tire on the way down and ruined the tradition in 02. He really wanted to be a part of that fued.
That Detroit-Colorado rivalry is the only professional rivalry I can think of with the legitimate animosity of college rivalries. It was something special.
The Bad Boys' rivalries with Boston and then Chicago were up there.
I don't think those are anywhere close to that Detroit-Colorado rivalry, and I grew up in the Detroit area during the 80s. Truthfully, I don't have any active dislike for players on those Boston and Chicago teams today, but the same cannot be said of those Avs teams.
March 27th, 2017 at 10:34 AM ^
Leading up to Lemieux's hit on Draper? Sure. But that hit changed things. Looking back, do you actually hold anything against the players on those Celtic and Bulls teams? We hated them because they were the biggest obstacles to winning a championship, which is the basis of most great sports rivalries.
The Wings had that with Colorado, but after the hit there was more. We hated the Avs not just because they beat us, but because of what Lemieux did to Draper Injuring a player on a dirty play is bad enough, but refusing to apologize for it afterwards is unforgivable. It violates not just good sportsmanship, but basic human decency. That's what elevated this rivalry above the others.
When I think back to the Bad Boys era Pistons teams I remember their rivalries as great sports rivalries, and sure I might thnk about (for example) what if Bird hadn't stolen Isaiah's inbound pass, but I don't hold anything against Bird for making the play. When I think back to the WIngs-Avs rivalry I still get physicall angry about Claude Lemieux.
If you didn't grow up on Long Island you wouldn't understand the Rangers/Islanders hatred. Many a fights in high school over that one. We hated the Islanders and they hated Rangers. Two clans too close together.
I used to watch the Wings all the time, but it was the only regular-season game I watched that year (engineering is hard). I don't really remember how it just happened to be that game, but my two good friends and I happened to watch it. Best regular-season game I've ever seen.
I moved back to Colorado during the Wings - Avs 1996 series where the Turtle cheap shotted Draper. So I always had a healthy back and forth with my co-workers over the Wings/Avs. One woman I worked with told me no one likes the Wings because of all the Russians on the Wings.
We had 5 but the Avs had 3, Ozolinsch, Kamensky and Gusarov, which surprised her. So I asked, you obviously think 5 Russians is too many, but 3 Russians are alright, so how do you feel about 4? She was not amused
Twenty years ago today Darren McCart(ne)y taught Lemieux how to play.
That '96 series hurt. My dad surprised me with tickets to Game 1, when Paul Coffey scored an own-goal and the Wings ended up losing in OT. Felt like a humongously missed opportunity, culminating in the Draper hit in Game 6. I don't think there was a team I hated more (other than Ohio State) during that period than the Avs. Everything about it was completely visceral.
LOL. Your team has Russians, too.
I was also home watching PASS. It was glorious!
Roy got taken down by both Vernon and Osgood. Hee hee.
I love hockey. Playoff hockey, especially! It's the only rival to CFB... The NBA sucks Schwetty Balls. Baseball is okay in Oct, but if the Tigers aren't in it, I'm not really interested. The NFL is fun, but its not on the level of CFB. Regular season NHL is still good enough to have on in the background. But playoff hockey... Playoff hockey is special. Would rather have a competitive Wings team playing, but I can still watch it. Now, if that were on Olympic ice, well, now you spell SPECIAL!
I do love me some hockey, and that Wings-Avs rivalry is the best I've seen.
Can you tell I am little NFC biased.
GO BIG BLUE!!
Then topped off with the Stanley Cup that season.
Best Wings year ever.
Wings/Avs battles. Those were incredible hockey games. Both teams loaded with talent and the hatred between them was intense. Such great hockey...
Lots of good articles to celebrate the anniversary, but this one is from my favorite hockey writer Sean McIndoe:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/goes-brown-insanity-rankings-97-red-wings-avalanche-brawl/
20 damn years. Time is flying.
March 26th, 2017 at 10:22 PM ^
March 26th, 2017 at 10:25 PM ^
Watching at home in Ada, MI.
Sad how far the Wings have fallen, but this period is necessary to become great again. Next step would be to BRING BACK THE CAPTAIN.