The markets are tanking, foreclosures left and right, global warming, inflation, crime....Screw all that, the Stanley Cup Champs start back today

Ah, yes, September brings Red Wings training camp and that means today the Wings begin up in Traverse City. Glory hallelujah, it's almost hockey season. Did we mention they are the Stanley Cup Champion Wings? Sorry Cindy Crosby, this cup is ours, go get another one....

Here's a clever little Photoshop job Johnny did you can feel free to steal. Click it and pick it...

The "We are still WAY too excited from last night to worry about blog posts for now" open thread

It's on you Washtenaw County to say something interesting, silly, ridonculous or incendiary for now. Talk Wings if you wanna, certainly no harm in that!

One big old Red Wings post running all the day (and night) long

If the Wings aren't your cup of tea, and we DO have doctor referral slips if they're not, you might wanna come back later tomorrow. Johnny's rules today. We're gonna try to go with one big updated free flowing post of all the fun and moment to moment emotions and superstitions of today. Feel free to post away in comments. We're running with this thread all day unless Ypsilanti or Ann Arbor suddenly blow up or Mt. Ypsilanti erupts.

The Wings, when presented with a chance to eliminate the opponent in the Finals the last three times are 3-0. Hopefully 4-0 tonight.

Could be a banner night

Thought #1-This is the day Gary Bettman dreads most in his miserable life

Thought #2-Hey, it's a Joe Louis standard when the Wings take the ice


Thought #3-Did you know when they watch the game in Birmingham England tonight, they'll be watching Channel 5?

Thought #4-5:40 pm Johnny begins pricing Zetterberg sweaters WITH the Stanley Cup patch in earnest. Could it be that some of his government stimulus check will stimulate the Canadian economy?

Thought #5-Does anybody think this excessive coverage of all things Wings on the local news is bothersome? Normally we'd think that would be the case but after all this area has been through lately, let's be narcissists for an evening and be proud of ourselves.

Thought #6-Must breathe

Pre-game--Goal light, check, squeaky octopus, check. Let's get it on

High Def feed goes out, Johnny gets angry

OK, that sucked. A little rain must fall apparently. Datsyuk will win it.

WHEW, into the humid night it goes. What netminding by this Penguin kid

Looks like the parade will have to wait a few days

Can you smell that? That awful smell that blew in this afternoon

West to east, it just blew in and....wait, YCD knows what that accrid smell is. Oh boy oh boy, that smell means the Colorado Avalanche are in town. Smells like dead raccoons on a hot summer day. Somebody close Metro Airport before their fans start showing up. Unwashed masses indeed.

Bob Cole and Harry Neale with the call on Hockey Night in Canada