WoodyWoodriffe's Blog

Hey Gang--

    The Red Wings have now won the 11th Stanley Cup in team history, and the team's return flight home was a great thing to be a part of..... so let me give you fans the chance to experience what I did after the squad landed at the hangar-- (and for those with allergies... this could be a bit flowery......) First off the plane?? Henrik Zetterberg carrying the Conn Smythe with pride--- the assembled crowd of lucky ones cheered thunderously...... only to be suddenly interrupted by the appearance of The CUP!!!!  35 pounds of teamwork returning to Hockeytown, and Nick Lidstrom was smiling wide as he held it over his head at the top of the jetway starcase. He came down the steps to join Hank and Detroit's version of the Dynamic Duo took the NHL's prized hardware into the spotlight-- and what a stage it was!!  Applause all over the place as we got sound with Mike and Marian Ilitch on the tarmac and then gained entry into the first CUP party of many...... and since I only had 30 minutes, Photog Todd and I had to work fast.  We spotted Lidstrom and immediately started the interview..... Nick was great-- revealing that being the first European born CUP winning captain wasn't really that big of a deal, and that he was happiest for Dallas Drake, who finally gets his name on the CUP. 

    Mike Babcock was next under the lights, and he said that the best thing about not having a schedule anymore was the huge sense of relief he felt, not having to go over anymore game film!! There was lots of picture taking, and sipping from the CUP as well as a very cool chat with Steve Yzerman.  Steve has always liked it low-key, and it was no different here--- mabye it's me, but the temperature always seems to drop a bit around him, like he has a superpower or something---- Yzerman told me how this team hasn't re-invented the Red Wings brand as much as re-defined what the organization is all about, and how the excellence is reflected in the personnel from top to bottom -- right after that I swear he melted into a shadow like Batman!!. Photog Todd got a chance to drink from the CUP...... Dan Cleary held it high and I smiled as my man gulped down whatever was coming out of the top bowl--- Nice job Todd!!!  There were also chats with Darren McCarty and his fat stogie..... hugs with Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby in-between photos by fans....  and a fun time with Chris Osgood who set me straight when I asked him if he got more voicemails or text messages...... Ozzy said, "C'mon Woody--  it's 2008... text messages of course!!!" I felt really happy for Oz, after he played his way back into the starting role, and then hammered out 3 playoff shutouts on the way to the CUP.  Could you imagine the Hall of Fame in his future?? Many Wings fans can!!

     The merry making continued until the sun came up---  literally!!!  My 30 minutes was long over, but I was still there at 5:45am trying to find out where the CUP was going next.........  when I saw Nick Lidstrom taking the CUP out of the hangar!!!!  The 3 people around him felt like 50 as I pleaded Nick for the CUP's friday itinerary....... Nick slowed and said that he was going to sleep with it!!!  Man I love that guy!!  Look for the CUP to be front and center at the parade on friday--- an event that you can definetly be connected to right here on myfoxdetroit.com...... What a fun experience it was, but as I drove off, the thought of sleeping all day was just a bit better.....

---Woody