A Banner Evening...

From The Detroit Free Press…

The old guard delivered the banner to the new guard, the grizzled champions meeting the fresh ones on the ice.

The full richness of the Red Wings’ fabled hockey empire bloomed in red and white Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena, as the 2007-2008 Stanley Cup champions were crowned again, this time with a banner that made a long, slow, spot-lit journey from the ice to the rafters to celebrate the franchise’s 11th Stanley Cup.

The banner was brought out by Production Line alums Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay and fellow former Wings Alex Delvecchio, Johnny Wilson, Dennis Hextall and Doug Brown. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom grabbed hold; his alternates – Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper and Henrik Zetterberg – joining him.

“That was special to see the old players, the former players come out for the celebration and handing over the banner to the current players,” Lidstrom said. “It was enjoyable and fun to be a part of.”

The ceremony lasted barely 20 minutes; a blink, really, compared to what it took to earn it.

Yep… a short ceremony to cap off a quest that began in September of 2007 and culminated in the Wings winning the hardest fought, most cherished trophy in sports… nearly ten months later (June 4, 2008). I watched the entire ceremony, from beginning to end, and Versus did a very good job of televising the event. Good on ‘em.

If you want to see an amazing photographic image of the banner-raising (and Joe Louis Arena — in high-definition), you should go to this Detroit News web page: “Panoramic image: A 360-degree view of the Stanley Cup championship banner raising.” The image is truly spectacular in full-screen mode. Almost…but not quite… like being there.

Oh, yeah. There was a game, too. And that lil event was much less impressive than the banner-raising ceremony. From The Detroit News:

DETROIT -- One loss doesn't qualify as a Stanley Cup hangover, but the Red Wings could use a couple aspirin.

The supposedly inept Toronto Maple Leafs negated the Wings' puck possession with their young legs and determination, stunning the defending champions, 3-2, Thursday night at Joe Louis Arena.

The night started with the Wings raising their 11th Stanley Cup banner and it ended with a disappointing upset.

"We were set up to have a real nice night here," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "We didn't do our part."

The Red Wings, who never had the lead, turned the puck over a whopping 19 times to five giveaways by the Maple Leafs.

Well, now. This isn’t the way to begin a new season, especially a season where you’re the defending Stanley Cup Champions. But… there are 81 games left to play, and the Wings ARE the Wings. A loss in the opener hurts, but it ain’t fatal, by any means.

And the Wings weren’t the only home team to lose last night. Versus did a double-header last evening, and the B’s beat the Avs in the nightcap by a 5-4 score… which, all things considered, was the better game of the evening. Both teams played hard, the lead changed hands more times than I can remember, and the game was close… right up to the very end. Most entertaining, that was.

And then there’s this…

NEW YORK – President George W. Bush will honor the 2008 Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings during a ceremony in the East Room of The White House on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 2:30 p.m., ET.

Members of the 2008 Red Wings, led by team captain Nicklas Lidstrom, will gather at The White House for the ceremony. National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman, Red Wings Owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, General Manager Ken Holland and Detroit Head Coach Mike Babcock also are scheduled to attend.

Cool, eh?