Summer vacation is over and I am once again attending classes at
Michigan, which means I am also eagerly reading Hockey-L e-mail once
again!
 
Much to my despair, though, I have been greeted by what seems to be
constant Detroit-bashing.  As a native of suburban Detroit, I
couldn't sit back and watch this without putting some input in.  So
here it is:
 
1) Someone from NMU mentioned that the Joe Louis Arena prevented
areas such as Minn and Marquette from covering the regionals by
charging high TV coverage costs.  THIS IS NOT TRUE.  Please don't
blame the JOE for this one.  Blame the NC$$ and ESPN.  They did
this, not the Joe.
 
2) I am a firm believer that the reason the Joe was not highly
populated is two-fold.  First, in the Detroit area--esp. with the
Fab Five--NC$$ Hockey CANNOT compete with NC$$ Basketball.  That's
the plain truth.  Second, visitors must travel too far to see there
teams play in the regionals.  I understand the complaints from
Minnesota--if the regionals were in St. Paul, I wouldn't be able to
attend the games, and I would be as upset as ya'll.  What needs to
happen is that the NC$$ needs to come up with a system that helps us
out with this.  What that is, is in my opinion, is to go BACK to the
old 2 out of 3 playoff format.  The NC$$ claims that the
single-elimination is more exciting--BALONEY.  The UofM-Cornell
series in 1991 was one of the most exciting series I have ever seen!
 
3) Lastly, and to not go on forever, please don't put down Detroit
fans so fast.  Let me put it this way, Detroit fans are perhaps the
BEST and most loyal hockey fans in the country.  (The Joe was FULL
even when the Wings were 0-80 (or thereabouts) for years!)  I have
to agree though, that Detroit fans are not COLLEGE hockey fans--yet.
Please keep in mind that the Joe is FULL for the annual UM-MSU game,
plus the GLI!
 
There, I have said what I wanted to say.
 
BTW-Michigan student season tickets go on sale tomorrow at 8 a.m.
Sleep tonight I will not-the line at the Michigan Union calls!
 
It will be a good season, and I am anxiously awaiting it (LESS THAN
ONE MONTH!)
 
--------------------
Roger L. Spurgeon
Michigan Engineering `94
 
MICHIGAN WOLVERINE HOCKEY -- 1991/2 CCHA CHAMPIONS -- LET'S GO BLUE!