The culmination of another superb campaign, last night’s Game 6 victory (watch highlights) in Pittsburgh further solidifies the place of the Detroit Red Wings in hockey’s pantheon. Four Stanley Cup championships in 11 years is a remarkable accomplishment. The Wings’ playoff run was bittersweet for me, as my father — a big hockey fan, who started taking me to games at Olympia Stadium when I was very young — passed away last month. Even so, I know Dad was there in spirit, and I’m glad Nick Lidstrom wasable to hoist Lord Stanley’s vaunted trophy, the first European captain in NHL history to do so. It was a nice touch when he presented veteran Dallas Drake with the peerless trophy next. Congratulations, fellas, and here’s to a repeat next season.
For some time now, I’ve been thinking about competing in a triathlon. I see there are plenty of such events this spring and summer throughout Michigan, and if anyone has advice on this matter, please let me know, because I’m sure it’s a challenge that requires serious preparation. Specifically, I’m looking for ideas on where a rookie like me could/should first test their mettle, i.e which of the triathlons (or duathlons), if any, on the page to which I link here might make for a good starting point. I’d rather not embarrass myself. Thanks for any insight.
Kudos to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for their “No Child Left Inside” campaign to get kids out of the house this spring and summer, and throughout the year, especially in light of studies that indicate children spend less than 30 minutes per week outside, one-ninth the time current adults spent outside when they were of the same age. On that note, I encourage you to check out GoCityKids, filled with a range of activities for you and your brood, and searchable by major city.
Belated kudos to the University of Michigan women’s gymnastics team for a resounding victory last Saturday at the Big Ten Championships, its 16th conference title. I took my 4-year-old daughter to the event, and she loved it, as did so many other kids and (mostly) young women. We sat in a section filled with Iowa fans — two of whom (men) were in black & gold face and body paint! — and the enthusiasm for all seven competing teams was terrific to experience first-hand. I’m a huge sports fan, but I’m used to hearing terms like “screen pass” and “icing.” Here it was “fly-aways” and “back walk-overs.” Good stuff, and I hope to take in this event again. Check out these photos.
As I said yesterday before the game, had a strong feeling the Giants would upset New England. (I was wrong aboout the 28-27 guess, but didn’t everyone think there would be more points scored?) For those of us who’ve seen them all, was this the best Super Bowl yet? Top 3, at worst. Glad to see Charlie Brown finally come out on top, in a Coke ad clearly the best of this year’s high-priced commercials.
