Economy kept [Detroit Red] Wings' seats empty

The (Montreal) Gazette ^ | May 13, 2008 | Pat Hickey

[prisoner6]

But most likely they're gonna hafta go up against the RED HOT Pens in the final. They might just get kicked back a level.

prisoner6

[Darren McCarty]

1. We all like Don Cherry up here. Many of us here in Eastern Michigan get CBC out of our neighbor to the South, Windsor. (Windsor is South of Detroit). While our first choice is the local broadcasters Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond, when we have a choice between a Wings game on VS/ESPN/NBC or CBC, most of us will watch CBC. They cover the game better. The ratings for CBC when the wings play is higher than it is for the national American announcers for a good reason. VS coverage sucks.

2. The economy though is a problem. I don't have $80 extra to spend on a playoff Wings ticket in the upper bowl.

[Darren McCarty]

Edit that - Make that $160 for tickets (2 tickets).

[1rudeboy]

I couldn’t stomach Dave Strader and Mickey Redmond. Redmond, especially. My friends that were hard-core fans said I was being irrational, and I probably was. But I used to watch the games on the TV with the sound off and listen to the radio broadcast.

[Richard Kimball]

Many, many moons ago, I paid $25 to see the Ali-Spinks title rematch. I simply do not derive enough pleasure from a major league sporting event to spend hundreds to over a thousand dollars for it. I'll watch my Cowboys on television, and I photograph NCAA and high school events for pay. It's a lot of fun and I have the best seat in the house.

Major league sports are too expensive for me, but it's not the economy. I just feel like it's poor stewardship to spend that much money on a sporting event. A friend of mine spent $200 per seat to see last season's Cowboys-Packers game. That's his business, but I won't do it.

By the way, my Spurs won last night.

[Richard Kimball]

But I used to watch the games on the TV with the sound off and listen to the radio broadcast.

I still do that with Monday Night Football.

[Darren McCarty]

Mickey's still around here. Ken Daniels of CBC replaced Strader about 10 years ago when he went to ESPN as that's closer to home for him. Those are two of my favorites. I can see where a casual fan wouldn't care for them.

I can't stand Barry Melrose whereever he is now. He's is still bitter about not getting the Wings job which went to Scotty Bowman. I have the sound off when Dook, I mean Dick Vitale or John Madden are on the TV screen. I'll stomach VS if I can't get the game on CBC, but they aren't my favorite.

[1rudeboy]

I hear ya’ about Melrose. I don’t see him that often, but he’s always struck me as sort of a prick.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Grapes is a solid conservative who supports the military.

Besides, as a proud Minnesotan it’s great to laugh at “Hockeytown”.

[1rudeboy]

Are you kidding me? The Wild is the gayest name for a team out there, even gayer than the Ducks. Gosh, did your state suffer when you sent the North Stars south.