It took a week, but my ears have finally stopped ringing from all the noise at Memorial Coliseum last week. There was some kinda big event going on there. Oh, yeah, that's right -- a Game 7 triple-overtime victory by the Komets.
Anyway, so I spent some time today going through all the e-mails I hadn't had time to answer during the playoffs. Amazing the things you get a kick out of in retrospect.
Some readers were amazed throughout the playoffs at all the negativity being espoused by other readers throughout the season, especially in what was looking like it would be "a magical conclusion." I'm not sure the Komets' Turner Cup victory was magical, but it sure was amazing to watch. Are there still people out there knocking facets of this team? Still not enough enough toughness?
One reader was incensed at my so-called bias against Kevin Reiter. I still can't believe that one. I think Reiter is a tremendous goalie. I praised him many times. I think Nick Boucher is great, too. After Boucher won the last three games of the Komets' finals comeback, does anyone think coach Al Sims was wrong to call him "the best goalie in the league" a few weeks back, even after Reiter won the league's Best Goaltender trophy?
Still, so many readers come at me with the "why aren't the Komets in the AHL" questions? I get it. I really do. Believe me, I'd rather be covering the American Hockey League. But it makes no sense for the Frankes to do it. They're a huge draw in a league that has very little overhead. Why move up, add all the expense (travel, salaries), and lose control of their own roster, when the attendance would only go up marginally if at all? It doesn't make financial sense.
I got lots of notes about the deteriorating fan behavior at the Coliseum. I've noticed it, too. You know what they say: Do unto others as you'd have done unto you.
I got even more notes berating the Komets, the Coliseum and the league for the 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 series formats. I doubt anyone hated it more than me. I had to do all the driving back and forth. I still think it was dumb. But the Komets must have been laughing all the way to the bank, what with the pivotal Game 7, after coming back from a 3-1 series deficit. And the Coliseum must have made a fortune, too, after smartly leaving the concession stands open. Still, here's hoping someone realizes the wonderfulness of a 2-3-2 format before next April.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
I love the heart of this team. Reynolds went to Chicago to visit a sick little boy, who is a major Komet's fan, in a children's hospital there. WAY COOL.
Posted by: Wingmnn | May 19, 2008 at 03:55 PM
Bloomington looking for a coach.http://www.intotheboards.net/hockey2/publish/bloomington/PrairieThunder-Not-Renewing-Booth-s-Contract.shtml
Posted by: Wingmnn | May 19, 2008 at 03:55 PM
I didn't attend every game...what kind of fan behavior are you talking about? Did this escalate in the playoffs or did it happen during the regular season too? The games I was at, the fans seemed like they always did as I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
Posted by: TGP | May 19, 2008 at 03:56 PM
I witnessed some very rude behavior for the cup. The throwing of beer bottles on the ice. There is no excuse for that. Also, I witnessed a group of fans giving the refs and the other team the bird, and no I don't mean icy! I was distraught at how these folks were acting. Not with my Komets or at my arena. I feel somewhat responsible and liable for some fans and I certainly don't want it to escalate to what happens in Port Huron. It didn't but let's cut off some of these fair weather fans from the beer tap please.
Posted by: gman | May 19, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Don't forget the nice amount of coin the Coliseum got the night of the season ending party too, with IPFW's ceremonies and a Wizards game. I was going to see if the Mad Ants and Freedom were playing in seperate hallways.
Posted by: deuce | May 19, 2008 at 04:19 PM
Lets not blame people acting like idiots on "the beer" again. Seriously, I've seen more sober people act like morons at Komet games than the drunk ones. I must sit in the wrong part of the arena because Justin has been beating this drum most of the season and I have yet to see anything get out of hand.
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | May 19, 2008 at 06:59 PM
SAY NO to the 2-3-2 format. The team with home ice advantage loses home ice advantage if the series only goes 5 games. 2-2-1-1-1 is the only way to go.
Posted by: Pat | May 19, 2008 at 08:50 PM
I was curious about home ice advantage with Justin's proposed 2-3-2 format. The teams work too hard during the season to forfeit their home ice advantage.
Posted by: Shutterbug | May 19, 2008 at 09:29 PM
Right on Justin, if the Komets join the AHL and don't win Fort Wayne won't support them like they are right now
Posted by: Andrew | May 19, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Jungle Monkey, are you sure you even read this blog? You have my remarks so out of whack. Most of the season? You mean, like, the last three weeks? I didn't start bringing up the fan behavior until late in the first round, really, early in the finals when I witnessed some bad incidents and were told about some even worse. As I said before, maybe it's because I have a kid now, but I can't believe some of the stuff that goes on. I'd be afraid to sit in some sections for fear my 1 year old might clap at the mascot and some would take it the wrong way.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | May 19, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Cohn I'm right there with you (sorta) I recently became an older brother and sitting next to him I often feel the need to cover his ears when before i was yelling right there with everyone else. The worst thing is when he yelled at the refs.
Posted by: Ryne Gurney | May 19, 2008 at 11:54 PM
It's not the BEER=it is the people that can't handle the beer.I'm more apt to punch you in the choppers when I'm not on the beer=I'm happy when I'm on the beer=so please don't blame the beer/ Pittsburgh vs. Detroit = I know who RaVeN is rooting for.
Posted by: mightbite | May 20, 2008 at 04:45 AM
Whew. I finally got a Flickr slideshow put together for the photos I took at Game 7 last Monday night. There are 69 images in all, with roughly half of them taken post game. As usual, I think a few of them are especially nice. You can check them out here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23197874@N03/sets/72157605152676148/
I can't say that I've witnessed any truly bad fan behavior either, though I'm sure it does happen here just like it happens elsewhere. Personally, the worse thing I experienced was listening to a little old lady scream "Ref, you're an idiot!" all night right behind my seat. :P Honestly, I'm not sure how things could have gotten out of hand with the red coat mafia and the police presence jumping on anyone who so much as dared to (gasp) touch the glass during the game. And yes, I DID see them hassle a man who was doing absolutely nothing disorderly about that very thing.
Regarding the AHL, I, for one, really like the IHL's independent status. We may not be the NHL, but we bow down to no one. Who wants to be part of some lame feeder league anyway? :D
And as for the playoff format, I'd prefer the 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 format to 2-3-2, not that I'm any big fan of it. If a change is to be made it should be for 2-2-1-1-1 or nothing.
Posted by: Wendy | May 20, 2008 at 04:53 AM
Justin, my apologies.... I meant to type most of the playoffs.. not season. I guess thats what I get for replying when I should be working.
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | May 20, 2008 at 08:03 AM
So Justin. My Pens, your Wings. How you Got? (as if I didn't know)
Posted by: Greg | May 20, 2008 at 09:53 AM
Justin,
I guess if possible I would like some examples. When you say you witness bad incidents, what does that mean exactly? Fights, threats, bad language?
And your line about your one year old clapping at the mascot and that being taken the wrong way, what does THAT mean?
Great blog and thanks in advance.
Posted by: TGP | May 20, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Greg,
How you got?
Who you got?
You watch PTI.
Posted by: Killer | May 20, 2008 at 01:58 PM
Yeah, I mispelled it. Big deal.
Posted by: Greg | May 20, 2008 at 02:07 PM
I have Red Wings in six. ... As for the child comment, I recently made the remark that I now have a daughter and wonder what would happen if I took her to a game. She claps at things she likes. If she clapped at Port Huron goal, would be be yelled at? At age 1? ... This stemmed from some female fans telling me they were threatened at a finals game because one, who had little hockey knowledge, clapped when a Port Huron player made a nice play at the Coliseum. ... As for things I've witnessed, throwing of beer and other items, threats to opposing fans, and general disbehavior. ... What I've heard about? Much, much more and much, much worse.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | May 20, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Pens in 6.
Posted by: Greg | May 20, 2008 at 05:10 PM
*SIGHS* Was hoping the Stars would come back, but to no avail. Im not picking a team to win the Stanley Cup. 1st year ever Ive done this. The Ducks arent in it and they are my team(cant be a bandwaggoner)been a diehard Ducks fan since 1993. The other teams I *follow* didnt make it either. Was hoping for a Cinderella underdog team to make it in since that is usually who I will root for IF my team doesnt make it. OH well there is always next year.
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 20, 2008 at 05:11 PM
No big deal Greg, relax.
Posted by: Killer | May 20, 2008 at 05:24 PM
Good Night Canada!!!
Posted by: Hoss | May 20, 2008 at 05:47 PM
red wings in 5 if franzen plays
red wings in 7 if he doesnt
Posted by: JW | May 20, 2008 at 06:30 PM
I said before the playoffs started that if the Wings don't win it I would like to see Crosby win it. Guess I won't be dissappointed.
Posted by: Ryne Gurney | May 20, 2008 at 06:48 PM
chris simon is going to play in russia???
is it just me or does something not sound right about that????
he will get lashings in the Red Square if he plays the way he plays in the US.
Posted by: JW | May 20, 2008 at 07:46 PM
Nice pictures Wendy, thanks for sharing! My pictures of the game didn't turn out as well, my hands were pretty shaky by the end.
Go Pens! :)
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | May 20, 2008 at 07:50 PM
JW, the Russian leagues are looking to get tougher and notable enforcers like Reid Simpson and Darcy Verot have played there. Verot I believe racked up 500 PIM's there. Not sure what Simpsons' were. If Simon keeps the "Idiot" switch flipped off, he'll probably be well liked over there.
As for the playoff format for next year, I hate that baseball does a 2-3-2 and would hate it even more in hockey. 2-2-1-1-1 is the only way to go.
Posted by: Neil Skorka | May 20, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Go Pens!! I say them in 6 as well...and Evgeni Malkin will have a hat trick in at least one of the games, what the heck! Gotta love the big Russian!
I saw no really bad behavior (until the bottle throwing in game 7), and I had my 7 year old with me for all home games thru both playoff series...worst was when our komet fans booed the K's...my 7 year old did not understand that at all. he booed the fans back!! a few choice words here and there, but no worse than what i hear anywhere unfortunately...it is hard to be a parent and take your kid out in public anywhere!!
Posted by: Cat Eyes | May 21, 2008 at 03:52 PM
I will admit our fans can get pretty rowdy and raucous at times. Guilty as charged. BUT....the worst fans Ive ever been around are in Kalamazoo. Took my daughter to see a St.Patricks day green ice game 3 years. Their fans had her in tears. Although at the time she was 22 years old, she is handicapped and doesnt understand most things. They threw everything on the ice but the kitchen sink and yelled obsenities. We are like choir boys compared to them.
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 21, 2008 at 05:01 PM
OH yeah I forgot....Rockfords fans are bad too, as are Muskegons.
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 21, 2008 at 05:03 PM
Does anyone know if there is a link somewhere of Chases call of the winning goal??
Posted by: Pat | May 21, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Pat, I have the call on the winning goal. Where do you want the link sent?
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 21, 2008 at 07:24 PM
THIS JUST IN.....Bakersfield Condors have made an affliation agreement with the Anaheim Ducks. Here is the link.
http://bakersfieldcondors.com/iyc/publish/news/Condors_ducks_affiliation.php
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 21, 2008 at 07:34 PM
will you just post the link on here?
Posted by: Pat | May 21, 2008 at 09:39 PM
Thanks, FFM! I'm glad you like them. My hands were okay, though the fans in front of me who kept jumping to their feet anytime the Komets got near the goal did keep me from getting some of the shots I wanted. But the photos from the end of the game were a real joy to take. The outpouring of emotion was absolutely magical. I wanted that to live on forever. Game 7 was our "St. Crispin’s Day". :D
I do expect to have some photos from the end of season party in the near future, so I hope everyone will check back for those!
In regards to the fan behavior once again, I'm not sure that taking babies or toddlers to games is a good idea anyway. It's like a movie or anything else. Personally, I would get a sitter until the child is old enough to at least understand what is going on. My parents took me to games when I was a child, and I do remember hearing people scream obscenities at the referee. But I always found it more amusing than anything else. Perhaps, instead of trying to shield their kids, parents should see it as an opportunity to talk about why they consider such behavior to be inappropriate. Not that I should talk. I don’t have kids. But I will say that I was very impressed by one woman that I saw at a game. Her young daughter asked her why no one cheered when the visiting team scored a goal. The woman patiently explained that this was the Komets' stadium and that everyone there wanted the Komets to win. "Okay," the girl nodded thoughtfully, "I understand now."
Posted by: Wendy | May 21, 2008 at 10:48 PM
For Pat and everybody....here is the link to Chases winning goal.
http://www.themp3host.com/uploads/74c9ec8ad2.mp3
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 22, 2008 at 12:40 AM
Thanks alot.
Posted by: scoops | May 22, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Thanks for the link, but that has to be one of the lamest calls of a goal that wins a championship that have ever heard. I have heard Bob get more exited over a regular season goal.
Posted by: Pat | May 23, 2008 at 01:37 AM
Pat I agree with you. Bob must have been tired....Oh yeah was past his bedtime. LOL
Posted by: Karla Stranger | May 23, 2008 at 08:29 PM