If you don't like optimism, avert your eyes now!

I understand that in this situation it's easy for some people to give in to the negativity; to give up now rather than hold out hope and possibly get their hearts broken. But isn't the risk worth it? Isn't the gut wrenching excitement, fear, terror and exhilaration what the playoffs are all about? Isn’t this why we can’t stop watching a game even when we’re so nervous, scared, excited and nauseous we think we might throw up or pass out? I've had people come up to me and make comments about how the Wings are done, or what I am going to do now that I won't be watching the Wings. This pisses me off... a lot. It makes me feel defiant, it makes me realize that the hope and faith I have is all worth the risk of heartbreak. It makes me appreciate that the optimism of one more game, one more chance, one more step closer to the cup is what makes the whole game worth it. I hope the Wings feel that same defiance I do, I hope they use all the negative Nancy’s around the sporting world to motivate them to give everything they have, and then some more. I want them all to collectively skate onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena tonight surrounded by fans who believe in them and beat the sharks in such a matter of fact way that it send up a huge "F You" to everyone who doesn't believe, to everyone who gives up, to everyone who's already looking past this game and to the long months know as the "off season", to every other team who hopes we don't win, to every disbeliever and naysayer.

 I hope this is a wakeup call to each and every player, that they don't let anything from last year, regular season, last week, even yesterday enter into their minds or affect them in any way. THIS game is the only one that matters, THIS period, THIS shift, THIS play, THIS shot, THIS block, THIS save. I hope the Wings use this strategy to give everything they have; they can't leave anything in the locker room, or on the bench, because you can't take it with you when you're on the golf course. You're not saving it up for anything at this point, because if you save it now, it's gone and we all lose. I may or may not have watched Herb Brook’s speech from “Miracle” this morning, you know the one. We have the skill, the ability, the experience and the balls to overcome this speed bump. If you want to take a negative stance on this game, then that’s your right and I am certainly not going to tell others what to think, but I will not admit defeat, until the last horn sound on the last game played this season, I will believe with everything in me that we can do this, that we will do this. The possibility of victory, of exhilaration, of that feeling euphoria that follows a win in a do or die situation is worth the risk of heartbreak and the crushing feeling that the season ended too soon. I know to some this may sound like sunshine being blown up your skirt, but sometimes we need a little refreshing breeze. J

I hope each player on the Wings tonight feels this same way. I hope they grit their teeth, dig in their fingernails and scratch and claw their way out of this hole; one game, one period, one shift at a time. I know there are others who share this optimism, this hope, this belief that the Wings are the best, and need to show that to everyone. To all us Wings fans who refuse to stop believing, who will believe in our boys until the final horn (whenever that will be) I have one last thing to say…. LET’S GO RED WINGS!!!!