TSN.ca column
January 25, 2007
by Bob McKenzie
It is not yet official and probably won’t be for another week or two, but it looks like Steve Yzerman will be the general manager of Team Canada at the 2007 World Championship in Russia.
The recently-retired superstar, who is now a vice-president with the Detroit Red Wings, has had several conversations about the job with Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson. Hockey Canada wants Yzerman to do it. Yzerman, by all accounts, is extremely keen and when he returns from a ski vacation in Colorado, he and Nicholson are expected to nail down the final details and make it official.
Yzerman is said to be very excited to try his hand at managing in a hands-on role and Hockey Canada likes the idea of bringing another Canadian hockey icon into its fold, just as it did when it named Wayne Gretzky the executive director of the 2002 Olympic team.
Nothing is official yet, but it’s looking like Steve Yzerman will be named GM for Team Canada in the 2007 World Championship tournament in Russia. If that goes well, look for him to take on the 2010 Olympic management role as well.
The recently-retired superstar, who is now a vice-president with the Detroit Red Wings, has had several conversations about the job with Hockey Canada President Bob Nicholson. Hockey Canada wants Yzerman to do it. Yzerman, by all accounts, is extremely keen and when he returns from a ski vacation in Colorado, he and Nicholson are expected to nail down the final details and make it official.
Yzerman is said to be very excited to try his hand at managing in a hands-on role and Hockey Canada likes the idea of bringing another Canadian hockey icon into its fold, just as it did when it named Wayne Gretzky the executive director of the 2002 Olympic team.
Congrats to Stevie Y!
The Michigan Review article
January 23, 2007
by Amanda Nichols
The prodigal son has returned home. I speak, of course, of Chris Webber, the University of Michigan basketball star-turned-sometimes-NBA star and his recent signing with the Detroit Pistons. Webber made it clear that he signed with the Pistons out of his hope to win a championship, an accomplishment that has eluded him since he came to Ann Arbor in 1991. Within this reunion of hometown and hero, however, there is an undeniable aspect of redemption.
Webber needs redemption for the sins committed during his time as a Wolverine. You know, the infamous “time-out” incident of the 1993 NCAA Final Four, or the scandal with U-M booster Ed Martin that brought the banners down from the Crisler rafters and several penalties upon the current basketball program, to name a few. Yes, there certainly is a magic in that hometown vibe, for Webber was almost universally cheered by the Palace crowd as he appeared courtside at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Tuesday.
Webber is here now, but he has not been around since 1993, when he left U-M early to enter the draft. Maybe he’s noticed already, but in that time, we Detroiters have become a bit picky about who we let assume that hometown label. Take former MSU basketball standout and “Flintstone” Mateen Cleaves; he might have been a local boy, but fans made him earn his stripes—and he didn’t. Now, he no longer plays professionally.
But don’t let that fool you. Every so often, there is a sports figure who we in this struggling city grasp onto as our own. After all, why not? There isn’t much else left to take hold of.
Imagine this: it’s the summer of 1986. Right around the time that yours truly is making her debut into the world, the Tigers are battling it out for the AL East, the Pistons have most of their “Bad Boys” lineup in place, and the Lions are coming off a 7-9 season—and are about to go 5-11 (some things never change). And, at Joe Louis Arena, a brand new coach—a French-Canadian with his heart on his sleeve (the worst kind of French Canadian)—names a soft-spoken, peach-fuzzed, twenty one-year old kid captain of one of hockey’s most storied—but, in ’86, squandering—franchises.
Now, twenty-one years later, the number of that boy—yes, I can call Steve Yzerman a boy because, surely, at that time he was one—flutters next to those of some of hockey’s all-time greatest players. Perhaps you’re one of those kids, who, like me, knew no other captain in their lifetime. Perhaps you never saw a single season draw to a close without Stevie Y gracing the ice at least once, if not every night. Perhaps you are a bit older and remember the years before the Angel Yzerman came down from Peterborough, Ontario to save the team. Maybe, like me, you saw one of the countless articles written about Yzerman in recent days that lays claim to his class and dignity, his talent, and his leadership both on and off the ice.
Office of the Governor (Jennifer Granholm)
January 13, 2007
Whereas, The Detroit Red Wing organization with the support of the National Hockey League and Olympia Entertainment, LLC have designated January 2, 2007, as a day to honor Steve Yzerman; and,
Whereas, Yzerman, who recently retired from the Detroit Red Wing Hockey Club, will be only the 6th Detroit Red Wing to have his number retired, after serving twenty years as Captain and playing his entire 23-year career in the city of Detroit; and,
Whereas, Yzerman’s retired jersey number will join Red Wing greats Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Ted Lindsay, Terry Sawchuk, and Sid Abel high above in the Joe Louis arena rafters; and,
Whereas, Yzerman has been an important representative of the city of Detroit and the State of Michigan throughout his career, and is known as a model professional athlete, father, and husband; and,
Whereas, Yzerman has brought honor and acclaim to the city of Detroit and his fellow Michigan citizens throughout his illustrious career; including three separate visits to The White House to be honored by sitting Presidents after the Red Wings won the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998, and 2002; and,
Whereas, Throughout his career Yzerman played 1,514 games, scored an impressive 692 goals, tallied 1,063 assists, and is the Red Wings’ all-time leader in assists, and ranks second all-time in goals and points; and
Now therefore be it resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim January 13, 2007, as Steve Yzerman Day in Michigan. Congratulations to Steve on an exemplary career with the Detroit Red Wings. You have made Detroit and the State of Michigan proud.
Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm honored Steve Yzerman by calling today “Steve Yzerman Day.”
The state did not honour Yzerman on Jan. 2 because it was the national day of mourning for former President Gerald Ford, who was raised in Michigan.
Granholm honoured Yzerman ”on behalf of young people everywhere who could never come to Joe Louis Arena and to those watching on TV for being an unbelievable role model,” during a brief presentation before Detroit played the Chicago Blackhawks.
…
On Jan. 2, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick dubbed the day ”Steve Yzerman Day” and presented Yzerman with a key to the city. Kilpatrick also said the intersection of Third and Atwater Streets, which meet at Joe Louis Arena, will be changed to ”Yzerman Drive.”
The South End article
January 11, 2007
by Bruce Mason
One by one, they entered Joe Louis Arena with eager anticipation. The same fans. The same ushers. The same vendors. All there again on this night.
But this time it was different. This time Steve Yzerman would not be fully equipped and walking out of the tunnel. This time he would not be skating. This time he would not be providing heroics. This time he would be saying goodbye, as his No. 19 would be raised to the rafters forever.
Images from his glory days were displayed on the Jumbotron screen hovering above the center ice stage. Pictures from draft day in 1983. The knee injury that nearly ended his career in 1988. The 500th goal versus Colorado. The 600th goal versus Edmonton. The Cup moments. So many exciting, and classic, moments.
When the ceremony began, former coaches and teammates were fittingly introduced by Yzerman’s life-long friend, Darren Pang. They reflected on a magnificent career, the array of milestones, Cups, awards, and all of the great memories provided by The Captain for the past 20 years.
Denver Post article
January 9, 2007
by Terry Frei
Link to article
They both wore No. 19 and the captain’s “C.” They both were more noted for their leadership by example than oratory.
And despite some frequently acrimonious encounters involving their teams, they could converge, talk to the referees about the imminent barrage of penalties, then appear as if the next words out of their mouths were going to be: Hey, how’re the kids?
Much about the Red Wings- Avalanche rivalry has been toned down over the past few years, but tonight’s first meeting of the season between the teams at the Pepsi Center will be unprecedented for something other than the degree of enmity - or lack thereof.
In a recent post, I linked to a great article on ESPN by Eric Adelson, who wrote about a friendship between Steve Yzerman and a boy named Braxton.
Yzerman did not pat him on the head or lift his eyebrows in compassion; everyone in Detroit knows The Captain doesn’t do maudlin. “There are some people who know he’s sick,” Brant said. “They ask how he’s feeling. That makes him feel different. Steve didn’t do that.”
Yzerman told the boy to stick around and watch practice. Braxton did, and his eyes locked on the players as they whizzed by. Brendan Shanahan zipped over and handed Braxton a broken stick. Brant gasped, but Braxton hardly raised an eyebrow. “That’s cool,” he said. “But it’s not Steve’s.” Brant grimaced and looked around, hoping no one heard. But behind him, then-goalie Curtis Joseph roared in laughter. The next night, Yzerman invited Braxton to the Detroit locker room.
I emailed Adelson and asked him how he came across this story when Yzerman hides these stories from the media. Here’s what he had to say…
I was actually in town to see my parents last spring, since I grew up in Ann Arbor. I dropped down to The Joe because I wanted to do a story on Yzerman for the Magazine in case he did retire. I always let the beat writers ask all their questions first before butting in, but Yzerman disappeared after only a couple of questions. I waited him out and annoyed media relations guy John Hahn (who is as much behind the Braxton cause as Steve is, by the way). Eventually, the only people in the locker room were John and I and a little kid and his dad. So I asked John who the kid was and he told me. I introduced myself and Brant told me the whole story. I promised myself that I would write the story when they raised Yzerman’s number.
In another email, I asked Eric what Braxton and his dad, Brant, thought of the article. This was his response:
A reader actually met Braxton and his dad in Metro Airport on the way out of town and showed them the story on his laptop. I’m pretty sure they were happy to see it, though I haven’t heard from Brant. I’m sure they are both exhausted from their trip.
I would like to thank Eric for answering all my questions and helping me out!
Packer487 @ The Blog That Yost Built wrote about a story he has of Steve Yzerman and which he was reminded of during the jersey retirement ceremony.
As for Yzerman’s speech: What can you say? He talked for awhile—I’d say at least 15 minutes, and had nothing written out. No notecards, no cheat sheet, no nothing. It was straight from the heart. I love listening to that man speak. I don’t know where you would have to go to find a better athlete that is more humble than Steve Yzerman. He seems almost embarrassed by his success.
To emphasize what a great guy he is—and in honor of the occasion—it’s time for another story time. …
They all worked their way out to the bus. A few minutes later, Yzerman, Osgood and Cheveldae walked by. As an 11 year old, I was really excited, sprung up from my chair and exclaimed “Mr. Yzerman!!” failing to notice that they were obviously in a hurry. Yzerman didn’t brush me off though. He told the other two to go ahead and came back to sign an autograph for me. As it turns out, he missed the bus. I don’t THINK I caused it, since Osgood and Cheveldae didn’t make it either, but the fact that he was willing to stop and sign an autograph for a young Wings fan, even though he was late for the team bus to the rink has always stuck with me.
Detroit News’ opinion article
January 5, 2007
by Lynne Meredith Schreiber
My first memory of Steve Yzerman is when I was 14 and he was a 19-year-old recruit. I’d been attending Red Wings games since I was 4. We were Red Wings groupies before, during and after the “Dead Wings” years and as a teen, all I could think about was Stevie Y.
Tuesday night, I sat beside my dad at Joe Louis once again, as one after another person sang the praises of my hockey idol. They raised his jersey No. 19, never to be worn again by another Red Wings player.
They lauded Yzerman for his integrity, his sportsmanship, his teamwork — all the things I always loved about him. The way he married his high school love and stayed married. His humility. The way he took little, if any, credit for his great, great talent on the ice, instead sharing his night of honor, his career highlights and his Stanley Cup wins with all those around him, from the front office and locker room alike.
These used to be standard American characteristics quality, integrity, character. That’s changed, big-time. Now, the words most often used to describe our nation are divorced, obese and lawsuit-happy.
