Behind the Blog: Abel to Yzerman
Today’s Behind the Blog features Bill Houlihan who runs Abel to Yzerman (A2Y). A2Y is a pretty new blog, but already one of my favorite daily reads. He posts a “Fan Post of the Day” including Wings game summaries and thoughts on the latest NHL news. It’s always an entertaining and informative read.Q.1 - What made you decide to create a Red Wings blog and why did you name it A2Y?
As a fan, I’ve always wished I could go to one place on the internet and find everything packed in one site: all the day’s articles, articles from our opponents’ paper, fans viewpoints, stats, history…all of it in one place. So, I figured rather than keep whining about it I would go ahead and try it myself. Also, I love to write and the Red Wings are certainly something I feel passionate about so it was kind of natural for me.
As for the name…I had considered “Hockeytown South.†But, thankfully, it was pointed out I might run into copyright problems so I scrapped that. “Abel to Yzerman†came out of nowhere, really. I was thinking alphabetically, obviously. One of Kukla’s readers wondered why it’s not Abel to Zombo. Not sure that would attract the readers Yzerman would.
Q.2 - Abel to Yzerman just started in December 2005, yet you have over 11,000 hits in that period. What do you credit your popularity to?
I have no idea, really. I think it’s great, but it may be an indication of the frustration so many Wing fans have with the Michigan media, which is terrible where the Wings are concerned. I try to give Wings fans what I was looking for when I started…a central place for Wings news and maybe a little humor thrown in.
Q.3 - Since A2Y is so new, where would you like to see it a year from now?
I’d like it to be a little more visual, with some multi-media aspects to it that you don’t see now. But, believe me when I tell you I’m about as novice as you can get where site design and code are concerned. So, it’s going to be a slow process.
Q.4 - How long have you been a Detroit Red Wings fan and where do you see the organization in five year?
Well, I grew up in Michigan. I’ve been a Wing fan all my life. I think the future of the Wings is incredibly positive. There is so much young talent. Not just in Detroit where Zetterberg, Kronwall and Datsyuk lead a great core of youngsters. But there are players in Grand Rapids like Valteri Flippula, Jimmy Howard and Jiri Hudler. Igor Grigorenko is back to 85 percent of what he was before his ’03 car accident and he’s going to be great. I’d say that the Wings will be just as good in 5 years as they are today.
Q.5 – Which Wings’ Stanley Cup win did you enjoy the most? Why?
Wow…good question. The ’96-97 team was obviously special to all Wing fans because it ended the 42 year drought and the Wings had to go through Colorado to do it. And McCarty’s goal in Game 4 was unbelievable. The two Cups following that one were great for their own reasons. But to see Steve Yzerman get that monkey off his back…that was the best.
Q.6 – If you could change one thing about the Wings either as a team or organization (front office/owners), what would it be and why?
As a team, I’d like to see a little more grit. I think getting Niklas Kronwall back helps in that respect. But, if Ken Holland makes one deal on or around March 9th I hope it’s for a tough winger. One player I really disliked during the height of the rivalry with Colorado was Mike Keane. But, I think the Wings could use someone just like him right now. As for management…get the corporate types who buy out the lower sections to donate them to people who wouldn’t typically be able to afford those tickets. Get the vocal fans, the hard core fans, closer to the ice. That’s the definition of a pipe dream, right there.
Q.7 – How hard has it been for you to follow the Red Wings when you haven’t been back to Michigan for 15 years?
It was a lot tougher before the internet and before the Center Ice package. I remember watching the Wings lose to Colorado in ’96 from an aircraft carrier in the South China Sea. And I watched them win the Cup in ’02 from another ship in the Persian Gulf with the satellite cutting out with 7 minutes left in the clinching game. It’s been hard, but worthwhile.
Q.8 – When did you attend your first hockey game and who was playing?
Well, I can tell you that my first pro hockey experience was watching the Saginaw Gears in the late 70’s. I remember Dennis DeRosiers and Marcel Comeau. My first Wing game at the Joe wasn’t until 1990 against the Rangers.
Q.9 – How many hours a week do you spend working on A2Y? Do you find it hard to balance the blog and everything else going on in your life?
Aha…the big question. I usually get up at 5 and try to do a game recap and post whatever Wing-related articles I can find before I go to work. Then, I’ll usually try to post something at lunch time. I’ll spend an hour or so at night working on it, too. So, I’d say about three hours per day. It is hard some days, but it’s been fun so far. I can definitely see how some people can get burned out on it, though.
Q.10 – Why did you create and currently run a feature entitled “fan post of the day?†And which post has been your favorite thus far?
I’m glad you asked that. I was a message board guy for a long time, especially the MLive Wings Board. So, I guess I have a soft spot for the fans who post there and at some other boards. Plus, as hockey fans we are so passionate about our sport. I think it’s cool to demonstrate that however I can. My favorite fan post so far has been the one from LGW that included several links to historic Wing radio broadcasts.
Q.11 - Where do you see the Detroit Red Wings finishing this season (ie. what seed in the conference, making it to the Stanley Cup finals, etc.)?
Well, I see them earning the 1 seed in the West. The easy answer to that is that the Wings will go as far in the playoffs as Legace allows them to. I think it’s a bit more than that, though. If the Wings have trouble scoring like they have the last two playoff runs, it won’t matter how Legace plays. If Lang, Zetterberg and Datsyuk can play the way they’re capable, I see the Wings hoisting the Cup again in June. If the scoring drops again, we could lose to anyone.
Q.12 – What did you do to pass the time during the NHL lockout?
It’s kind of a blur, really. By the time it was over I was so tired of numbers and acronyms. I remember listening to The Score on my computer at work when they had those two or three days of extended negotiations last Jan or Feb. It looked like we would have a 30 game regular season. Then it all fell apart. Pretty depressing stuff to look back on. But, in hindsight, I’m glad they didn’t cheapen the Cup by playing an abbreviated season.
Q.13 – Who is your favorite hockey player? Favorite Wings player? Why?
I was a big McCarty fan. I really liked everything he brought to the table as a player and as a member of the Detroit community. It was obvious that he really loved playing for the Wings. Yes, Darren had some personal problems but who doesn’t? He brought a real human side to that team. With him gone…I’d say Chris Chelios is my favorite player. He’s fun to watch every shift. Steve Yzerman’s obviously a favorite too. I think an unspoken motivation among the players is to win one final Cup for the Captain.
Q.14 – How do you think the Tocchet gambling ring scandal will affect the NHL aside from just giving it a black eye?
The issue is Gretzky. As a coach, he allowed Tocchet to keep his job while heavily involved with illegal activity. That, in itself, is bad for hockey because of Gretzky’s stature. But, if that’s the extent of it…just that Wayne knew about it and didn’t stop it, then I think the damage could be minor. If it turns out that Janet Jones was betting on behalf of her husband, then that’s going to be bad.
Q.15 – Is there a hockey blog or website that you look up to for inspiration?
Definitely Kukla’s Korner. I’ve been reading his blog since the day it started and still do. Aside from being a fan of his site, Paul has been great in answering my blog-related questions. I also enjoy Cason’s Blog and The Battle of Alberta. Both make me laugh and offer some great writing. Acid Queen, when I can get past her hatred of my Wings (out of sheer jealousy….easy, AQ….just kidding), is a daily read, as well.
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