Friends, Family, Fans…

Like you, I stand here with a heavy heart and a mournful soul.  Like you, I am here to say goodbye to a cherished and beloved friend.  One that gave us many great memories, 4 Stanley Cups plus one more Stanley Cup appearance, 5 Conference Championships along with 9 Division Championships and an additional Conference Final appearance, and 4 Presidents’ Trophies in the past 13 years.

This year the Detriot Red Wings had an amazing run, even though it was cut rather short.  Through adversity and injury to begin the season when playoff hopes were a distant dream, we were honored to watch them rise to the occasion.  We marveled at the grace and magic of Datsyuk.  We admired the toughness of Holmstrom, and the wisened play of Lidstrom.  We saw a young goalie mature before our eyes; a hint at a possible future of this team.   These are our keepsakes of the heart.

At times we would watch them with dejection, but more often we cheered with excitement, breathless anticipation, and jaw-dropping, hands-in-the-air, jump-from-our-seat ecstasy.  For those of us whose other teams had even more difficult seasons, the 2009-10 Red Wings saved us as fans.  I could no longer separate them from my life than I could my arm.  We are one body, one mind and one soul.  We are inseparable.

Which is why it’s so hard to say goodbye.  It’s as if a part of me died, just as the Wings’ season died yester…

Wait….what?

You’re saying they’re not out yet?

There’s still at least one game left?

We still get more Wings playoff hockey, and get to watch for the mere joy of the game and the team we love?

Well, aren’t I just a bitter fey spineless little fuck full of forced emo prose for sending them to the grave so soon. 

One could even say that someone who mourns the passing of the Wings before their season is done should be repeatedly slapped upside the head with a bag of diseased cocks for being such a faux fan.