Getting Caught Up: Fans Are in a Class Of Their Own

The playoffs are grueling and long.  It wears a player down, but the prize at the end of the race is worth it.  For the casual fan like me, it is also a grueling time.  I often find myself doing things that I normally wouldn't do, like read articles about my teams rival from their local newspaper. 

In doing this I catch myself arguing ridiculous points with fans just as faithful to their team as I to mine.  Every once in a while I find a true gem that is worth my time and effort.  Today was such a find.

So here is what is bugging the heck out of me right now.  I was on-line at the Denver Post's website reading what Avs fans had to say about the Detroit-Colorado series and this is what somebody posted as a reply to somebody's comment. Here is the original comment:

You Who Live In Colorado Also Live In The Past! If You Even Think For A Minute That A Healthy Line Up Of These Players Could Even Carry The Wings Skates ! Go Wing !!! Better Luck Next Year Avs .

 The Reply :

 D M - your Amateur status is clearly showing. If you think typing nonsense followed by 'go wings' shows some kind of deep insight or hockey knowledge, then you are clearly ignorant of the facts.

The facts are that an Avs team without the equivalent of more than a full top line in the lineup was within a whisker of turning the tide and taking Game 1, and Game 3 - without the bad calls. If you believe that the full Avs lineup wouldn't give the wings more than they wanted - you are sorely mistaken. The wings will win this series (likely) - but if you think they look good doing so, you are again mistaken.

If you do not recognize this, then you surely are a hockey neophyte - and one who also thinks that "trademarking" the term "HockeyTown" and painting that on your ice is something other than totally laughable.

Don't forget the 70's, 80's and early 90's when tumbleweeds were rolling through Olympia and the joe - and there was no 'hockey' in 'hockeytown'. The wings were a joke. Don't forget the 41 year drought the wings had between Cups. You should be more humble...there are other clubs and fans with far more history than has your team.

Heck - you probably don't even know what Alex Delvecchio or Mickey Redmond were most famous for.

If you don't recognize the names, some of us can clue you in...as long as you promise to behave and refrain from showing further stupidity.

Posted by Bill (aka bill23)

 Seeing that this, I thought that "Bill" need a down-to-earth moment so I harshly wrote MY reply to him. If anybody thinks I'm wrong, PLEASE comment to me.  Remember that I wrote this in a stunned state.

  Ok Bill, I'll go rounds with you. You MUST think that you are the "know all" of hockey trivia. I'm going on record right now saying that I am not, but I am positive that I know a lot more about even the Avs without having to look up fun facts.

So you think that there are other teams and fans that are more dedicated and have a richer history then the Wings? Yes, I agree with you. I think the Habs and Leafs do. Other than those two teams, I think the Wings have a great fan base and a tremendously RICH history. They are an Original Six organization. Let's review Denver's history.

Colorado hockey franchises have 3 championships to their name. Yes, I did look up one of the championships, but only because I never followed the WHA.. and that was with the Nordiques! The Avs won 2, the Nordiques won 1 WHA championship. The Rockies were worse than the Wings (as were the Nordiques) and I can't say that Scouts were any better. If you have no idea who I'm talking about, look up your teams history.

And where do you get asking about Delvecchio and Redmond? Mickey is the Wings color analyst... I'm pretty sure we know why he's famous around here and as for Alex, his #10 is hanging in the rafters of JLA and in the HHOF.. we know what he did.

As for the Avs, if you want to make excuses and say that poor officiating and injuries cost you team the next round just look at your starting goalies GAA. It is terrible. THAT is why the Avs are losing. Sakic was a great player. Foppa was a great player. Hejduk hasn't done anything at all this series. You have a good bunch of up and coming guys, but who else do you have? The Avs simply can't produce like the Wings lines can. We were there. I know what I'm talking about. From 2003 to 2005, we BARELY made is out of round 1, if at all! Since the cap, though, I think it is safe to say that we never needed to "buy" a Cup. Our young talent is seemingly endless right now.

As for the JLA and "Hockeytown", if you only knew how bad the economy is here you would **** a brick. People just can't go to the games anymore. We can't afford it. Our governor ***** and she is running all of the companies out of the state. Luckily out sports (sans Lions) are actually doing good. Hockeytown was a great way for Ilitch to make money.

I agree that the Avs fans are class-less, and yes I know I am going to get a TON of hate replies on this. The rivalry is over, yet you still would rather attempt an insult against the Wings with your "Red Wings Suck" cheers and bumper stickers then to cheer on your team. Detroit may be a hole, but it is a lot classier than Denver in my book.

Special Note- earlier posts had sayings that Detroit was not classy and a was the "trashiest dump in America."  I had to take a shot at this comment too.