Thursday, May 15, 2008

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Dusting Off the Notebook
Jennifer Miller	3/21/2006
Okay, so it has been long enough since I last wrote anything that John is probably considering filing a missing persons report. Not to worry. I am alive and well and still in Lansing. And still watching all the hockey I possibly can even though I have been horribly remiss in reporting on it. As those who follow this space know, I had a few health issues. The upshot of all of those is that I have to undergo a few months of chemotherapy. No, I thankfully do not have cancer but my condition is serious nonetheless. I have found in the first couple of treatments that chemo makes you feel yucky and tired. Who knew? Anyway, so I do apologize for not getting more columns around for all of you but, frankly, I'm tired. I will try to do better. So the Olympics were a lot of fun to watch even though the US team did not represent very well. I have to admit a swell of pride in my Swedish heritage watching all of the Tre Kroner members singing their national anthem with the gold medals hanging from their necks. I am sure you all have noted this already but in case anyone missed it, since the involvement of the NHL in Olympic competition, the Red Wings have won the Stanley Cup every Olympic year. I like that trend a lot. And then there was the trade deadline. Not much happened with us but a lot of other movement. We did pick up veteran blueliner Cory Cross. Who then made Ken Holland look like the smartest man in North America when he scored on his very first shift with the team. Way to go, Cory. Nice little present for his new daughter. I want to point out a couple of classy moments that may have been overlooked by some. First was the second game the Wings played after the break. They were in Anaheim and Olympians were being honored pregame. There was a graphic up on their jumbotron specifically congratulating the Swedish five Red Wings on their gold medal. That was nice and not something the Ducks had to do. Also, just last night I flipped on the game on OLN because Rangers vs. Bruins is better than no hockey at all. And hey, Original Six. Before the game there was a very nice tribute to Brian Leetch thanking him for his many years of service to the Rangers organization and the city of New York. To honor an opposing player in that way with such a hearty ovation, is just class pure and simple. This is why I love hockey people. While I am making note of things, congratulations to Steve Yzerman on his 1500th NHL game. That is such a huge accomplishment I don't think many of us could really even fathom truly what that means. And what an honor it has been for all of us to be able to watch his for all of those games. I might also note the extra jump the captain has found since the break. He's skating better and like one much younger. You would think that I would have more to say after not writing for so very long but there really isn't much except to marvel at the way the team is spreading the offense around. And that should be even better with Mikael Samuelsson returning from that sore wrist maybe tonight. Though I should point out that Mark Mowers has played very solidly in his stead. Oh I do want to send out some yippees and way to go's to the MSU Spartan Hockey team. First they win the Mason Cup as CCHA champions and then they get the top seed in their region for the NCAA tournament to begin this weekend. They are doing this largely on the back of diminutive goalie Jeff Lerg. Best of luck to them and to all of the other CCHA teams still alive out there. I also would like to point out that the Lady Spartans basketball team is still competing for the NCAA title. The men may be done but these girls aren't quitting yet. So good luck the rest of the way to Coach P and the women! So now I am done for right now. I will try to write more but as I said, I tire pretty easily and my treatments are inpatient so I am in hospital a lot. All of you, take care and enjoy the Wings beating (I believe they will) the Preds tonight.