From Huron to Charlevoix up to Marquette and back down to Niles via Bronner’s in Frankenmuth where it’s Christmas 364 days per year bitches? Happiness and Cup celebrations.

In Pennsylvania? They’re still learning how to deal with this kind of success. They’re still learning that a championship doesn’t have to equate to crime or insidious behavior.

For the love of god…no.
PennLive

Car smeared with ‘moist and fresh’ birthday cake in Derry Township
by MONICA VON DOBENECK, Of The Patriot-News
Wednesday August 12, 2009, 1:03 PM

A resident of the 300 block of West Caracas Avenue, Derry Township, told police someone smeared birthday cake over his son’s car on July 30.

The police report noted that the cake on the Mitsubishi Eclipse was chocolate and vanilla with sugar icing in a blue and orange color scheme. It was “very moist and fresh to the touch,” the report noted.

The car’s owner told police it was the fourth time the car had been attacked with food. It was twice pelted with Twinkies, he said, and once splattered with a platter of Chinese food.

Investigations, I’m certain, are in their infancy stages but ongoing.

You know what else is just beginning? The absolute sobs from the MSM and some of our “rival” bloggers. About what? Oh, you know. How can they resist? How could they possibly stay away from this story…hockey’s ultimate villain joining the Best Team In The League. Oh, the angst. Where to start…where to start? Well, how about Denver?

Hey Terri Frei? Have you ever considered being anything other than a whiny little, I don’t know, bitch?

Denver Post

You know the details of what happened. What Bertuzzi did was disgraceful. His NHL 17-month suspension, which ran through the lockout season, was insufficient. The sentence he drew from a British Columbia court, probation and community service, was light. To me, though, what’s most galling at this point is the cavalier acceptance of Bertuzzi within the sport as just some guy who temporarily snapped, went a bit far, but served his five minutes in the penalty box, and is back on the ice.

Oh yeah. I know. He starts the article out on his high hockey-loving horse. Telling the Wings, objectively of course, why signing Bertuzzi is a “bad hockey move.” But we all know the traction here. We know what’s driving these sobs…Bertuzzi’s attack of Steve Moore, the innocent. Steve Moore, who if you ask a Dive fan, was on the very cusp of stardom. Steve Moore, the wallflower who didn’t incite a single thing.

Forget the hockey references Terri and stick with your community outrage, your social disgust. Cry for Steve Moore Terri. But don’t try to wrap your tissues around a hockey argument. You just look weaker than you usually do, if that’s possible.

And, yep, there’s more. Lots more.

Seen this yet? Steve MacFarlane in Calgary.

The first thought on many Flames fans’ minds? Good riddance.

News of Bertuzzi’s second stint with the Wings had barely been posted to the web before e-mails began to arrive suggesting the 2008 Stanley Cup champion’s downward spiral has begun.

Some, although not as eager to make their feelings public, feel the Flames are missing out.

I love that. “The emails began to arrive…” Really? Let’s see ‘em. Pull a couple quotes out Steve. You want the real story behind MacFarlane’s dislike of Bertuzzi? It’s not even the same as Terri’s. It’s the Steve Carlton or Jim Rice syndrome. Ready? I know you are.

Infamous for the Steve Moore incident and an often surly personality when dealing with the media ever since…

Aww. A Canadian(en) writer doesn’t get his exclusive he feels he deserves? A player doesn’t kiss his ass the way MacFarlane feels he should? What is he? Why, he’s “surly with the media”, of course. Suck it.

Here’s a shocker. The Hockey News has found a way to rip the Wings. Crazy, eh? Hard to believe considering they picked Chicago and Vancouver to finish ahead of the Wings in the West. They didn’t stop there. Oh now. Several paragraphs from Ryan Kennedy, in a little, itty bitty font no less, about how the signing of Bertuzzi is a death knell for the Wings.

Detroit just eighty-sixed its chances at getting back to the Stanley Cup final this season.

It’s only August, you say? No matter. The Red Wings just signed left winger Todd Bertuzzi to a one-year contract, which means for the 2009-10 season, the Wings will, in fact, be cursed.

Yes. He claims the president-trophy winning Wings signed their own exit visa when they brough Bert into the fold in ‘07. Dude…STFU. The Wings lost to Anaheim for the same reason they lost to Pittsburgh in June: poor officiating and injuries. A mediocre team won the Cup in ‘07 and again in ‘09.

And Kennedy? It’s all hockey, eh Ryan?

Though I wish Big Bert no specific ill will…

Rigghhhtttt.

Now. Is that to say that every “neutral” observer of hockey is completely against the Bertuzzi signing? Nope. James Mirtle, while admittedly not a Bertuzzi fan and generally pessimistic about his effectiveness, at least sticks to hockey. He also correctly points out that the Williams, Eaves and Bertuzzi deals were adequate on the short-term but necessary when you consider the amount of money potentially opening up next season.

From the Rink

Bertuzzi’s no 18 minute a night power forward anymore, but can he log 13 and stand in front of the net on the power play? Why not?

Listening to Holland describe his recent signings on Tuesday, it’s clear that these are really just filler pieces designed to supplement his cast and help the Wings hold over until next season when they’ll have roughly $16-million come off the cap and yet still have those same Top 5 forwards under contract. Maybe he looks like a genius if one or more of his new spare parts emerges as a suitable scoring option, but even if that doesn’t happen, he’s created some competition for third and fourth line spots and taken the heat off of a player like Bertuzzi who’s clearly seen better days.

Obviously, he’s right. Bertuzzi is on the downslope. But so was Dallas Drake. So was Larry Murphy. So was Bob Rouse and even Brent Gilchrist. Every team needs a guy or two who have internal motivations, something inside that’s driving them that only they understand.

Oh, and while Mirtle’s talking money to the tune of 16 mil? Well, now we’re getting into this kind of question. How much is our Captain going to be making when he’s up for some re-signing and using Homer’s favorite ink with a pile of paper?

Six or even less, I’d say. Million, that is. For the good of the team, you know. It’s what Captains do. They sacrifice, especially when Gary has decided that the teams who have carried an entire league for more than a decade need to be knocked down a peg. It’s. What. Captains. Do.

They don’t ask for 8.7 million per year. And their sidekicks don’t demand equal pay just to prove the other guy isn’t “the man.”

That was an awesome point I just made and I’d usually end on it, but you deserve more from me so more you shall receive in the form of reaction from the Detroit media. Oh…good.

Jamie Samuelsson

If Holland can make this work financially while still making sure the young players get suitable NHL ice time, I’m fine with it. But if Bertuzzi impedes the progress of others just for a veteran, physical presence, I think it’s a mistake.

Even if you’re making a decent point? You, Jamie, need to STFU and not just because you spell your first name like that or share the name of William Tell. It’s because you’re a Detroit writer and no one caves to the organ-I-zation like a Detroit writer does.

But…it’s a legitimate point. I like the Bertuzzi signing. Not shy about admitting it either. But not if it takes a minute of ice time away from Darren Helm. Not one frigging minute. I want that kid wreaking havoc and blasting people every night for at least fifteen minutes/night. Deal? Good. Abdelkader’s the kid who’s going down and it’s not a huge sacrifice for him or for the Wings. He needs some seasoning and we have the luxury of letting that happen.

Leino? I’m still not sold. When Uncle Mike lets me know it’s ok, I’ll be a fan. Until then, until I know our Uncle Mike isn’t hedging his bets? I’m in wait and see mode.

Finally, I’d heard about this well before I read it. Greg Eno’s a Detroit staple in terms of writing and blogging.

His piece on Bertuzzi is a great example why. Go back to what I said earlier about a hidden motivation with this guy. Eno gets it.

You want to know why Tick Tock signed Public Enemy Number 1…again? Because he gets it too.

Bertuzzi will probably never again be the player NHL fans remember in his prime. It usually doesn’t work that way the further the calendar advances. But he’s on board for a relative pittance of a salary, and the Red Wings believe in the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. They always have.

They play hockey a certain way in Detroit, and the team’s aura has enabled players to buy into the system and eschew any bad habits learned elsewhere.

Bertuzzi didn’t get the prize—that has so far eluded him—in his first go-round in the Motor City. Already, most “experts” are counting his new/old team out of the running for the 2010 Cup.

Just like they counted the Red Wings out after they fell into an 0-2 hole against Bertuzzi’s Canucks in the first round of the ‘02 playoffs. I think you know how that post-season ended for the Red Wings.

So Todd Bertuzzi knows a little bit about what the Red Wings can do when they’ve been written off.

Bertuzzi is the Great Divider. He’s split the 19, but not fractured permanently. Some of you hate him, the idea of him donning the pristing red and white. Well, guess what? Bob Probert wore it. So did Darren McCarty. Chris Chelios did and so did Sergei Fedorov, while practicing some relationship norms acceptable only in Russia and Tennessee.

Red Wings don’t have to be saints, bitches. They just have to contribute, hustle, take pride in Detroit and take less money for the privelege of being a Red Wing.

I’m on board with Bert and I say bring on the MSM. You thought last Spring was the season of STFU? Not even close compared to what lies ahead.