Behind the Blog: Kukla’s Korner
Today’s Behind the Blog features Paul Kukla of the ever so popular Kukla’s Korner. After working on Breaking Sports over the lockout, Paul purchased a domain and went to work on it. One can always catch the latest news on his blog whether it’s Red Wings updates or NHL news. Numerous BtJ blog entries have originated from an article found by Paul and posted at Kukla’s Korner. I’d like to thank Paul for taking the time to participate in BtB!Q.1 – Why did you create Kukla’s Korner, specifically the hockey section? And why did you decide on its current format: reading like a Daily newspaper?
Kukla’s Korner was established by the success I had with a previous blog, called Breaking Sports. I was not getting the information I needed about the NHL lockout from my Detroit area newspapers and other media, so I would search and search for any information I could find regarding the lockout. I decided to share that information with other hockey fans and decided just to blog whatever I found.
Q.2 – How many hours a week do you spend working on KK because it seems that there is always a new post about the latest hockey news?
I don’t even want to know!!! Whenever hockey news breaks, I try to get it up as soon as possible. When not near my computer, I travel with a pocket pc which allows me to access the web from wherever I am. So basically I am “on” 24/7, give and take a few hours a night for sleep. I am blogging on a full-time basis, so I look at it as any new owner would, you have to put in a lot of hours for it to succeed.
Q.3 – Where do you see KK in the next couple of years?
Bought by Google for about $2 million or so!!! I have swayed back and forth about opening up a forum section and letting readers interact more. It is a lot of work to maintain and I want it to be top notch, but that is one of my goals. Another is to be on the cutting edge that software technology allows. I know little about the back office of a website, but learning as I go and always on the lookout for anything new an improved. I would hope by the next hockey season, Kukla’s Korner would by a ‘must stop’ for every hockey fan on a daily basis.
Q.4 – How are the Detroit Red Wings doing in comparison to your preseason predictions? Better? Worse? About the same?
I thought when the Wings were in training camp, they would be seeded 4th or 4th in the West. But after their 12-1 start, I upgraded that to a top 2 team in the West. Granted, their division is very weak, but Babcock has kept his team on their toes the whole year, and I am looking forward to a long playoff run.
Q.5 – How long have you been a Detroit Red Wings fan and where do you see the organization in five years? The NHL?
I have been following the Wings before they put the escalator in the old Olympia. I remember watching the Wings in black on white when Channel 50 would join the game in progress in the 2nd period..I see the Wings maintaining their level of play in the foreseeable future and the NHL will be enjoying a re-birth, although two or three teams will re-locate.
Q.6 – You recently interviewed Detroit’s national anthem singer, Karen Newman. What made you think to interview her?
Sometimes I like to throw a change of pace into the daily routine. I had to find a face hockey fans were familiar with and felt Karen was the perfect choice, plus Elisha Cuthbert wouldn’t answer my ten or so emails per day.
Q.7 – Which Wings’ Stanley Cup win did you enjoy the most? Why?
The cup in 1997. I had to be at the Joe and to be truthful with you, I snuck in. Went in the media door when it was busy and just floated in with the mass of people. I also enjoyed the 1998 victory because I was able to attend games 3 and 4 in Washington. It was Joe Louis south, the arena was filled with Wing fans and seeing Vladdy on the ice was something I will never forget.
Q.8 – Who is your favorite hockey player? Favorite Wings player? Why?
My favorite right now is Ovechkin. I think he may have the ability and charisma to help bring the NHL into the spotlight again. Wing player is Zetterberg. His game has improved steadily over the last few years, and is a threat on the ice every shift. His defense goes unnoticed but look for Selke talk in the next few years. All-time favorites in order, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and Jean Beliveau.
Q.9 – The NHL has had its fair share of ups and downs this season. What has been your most and least favorite event or moment to report on?
Least favorite has to be the Gretzky reports. I hated posting information about him, but readers were flocking to Kukla’s Korner to get as much information as they could. I tried to keep it fair and balanced, but reporting anything negative about him tore me apart.
The ups were the Malik shootout goal, AO’s goal on his back, and the report that Jiri Fischer had survived his heart problems and was out of danger.
Q.10 – What changes do you believe the Wings need to make in order to have a successful playoff run?
In my opinion, the Wings have lost faith in Chris Osgood and need to find a goaltender who can come through in case of an injury to Legace or take if Manny runs into a bad streak in the playoffs. A stay at home defenseman would be great too, but just about every playoff team is also in need of one too.
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.)?
Wings will finish 1st or 2nd in the conference, and will face some stiff competition if they have to play Calgary in the West. If they can avoid them, I see the Joe filled in mid-June.
Q.12 – What did you do to pass the time during the NHL lockout?
See Breaking Sports. My first attempt at blogging, that kept me very busy.
Q.13 – When did you attend your first hockey game and who was playing?
My first game was 1962, but I have no idea who the Wings were playing. All I know is Gordie Howe was.
Q.14 – How do you think defenseman Niklas Kronwall’s return will affect the team and its performance?
It is funny, the rest of the league has yet to see or feel the affects of Kronwall. Many people don’t realize it, but he was the best defenseman in the World Championships last year and is under the radar. Kronwall’s game is one that will flourish in the coming months and he will be able to take some pressure off of Lidstrom. He is a future Norris candidate and will be the anchor of the Wings defense for many years. At this stage of his career, he is better than Lidstrom and that is saying alot. Staying healthy is something he must prove.
Q.15 – Is there a hockey blog or website that you look up to for inspiration?
Sharkspage, Hockey Rants and On the Wings gave me the inspiration to start KK. I visit numerous hockey blogs on a daily basis, and the majority of them are excellent. Each blogger has their own style and are very informative. The ones that draw my attention are updated on a regular basis, and contain information I want and a bit of the ‘off the wall’ stuff helps too.
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