Farewell Detroit.... it's been fun.....

And this is the way a great rivalry ends.  This is the way two classic adversary’s part ways before moving on to different parts of the NHL universe.  Brent Seabrook’s bullet sailed past the glove of Jimmy Howard and the United Center erupted as rubber met twine.  And so ended a rivalry that, for older hockey fans, became a rather familiar and celebrated part of their NHL existence.  Thank you Gary Bettemen, you’re official an idiot.  For the younger members of Hawk nation, this was your defining moment in the series knows as Hawks-Wings.  For me, there are too many moments to count.  The one that comes to mind now is pre Stanley Cup and pre Rocky Wirtz.  It was the days of old man Bill Wirtz, “dollar bill” if you will.  It was the days of the old Chicago Stadium.  I can still hear Pat Foley’s call on WBBM AM as Dirk Graham found the back of the net from the seat of his pants.  And I remember the lean days, when it seemed like the Hawks would never beat Detroit.  Those were the days when being a Hawks fan in your own rink was akin to being General Custer surrounded by a gaggle of Indians.  I should know, I can distinctly recall being shouted down in the United Center by Red Wing nation.  But now it’s all over.  Gary Bettemen, hockey genius, has given us members of Hawk nation more chances to see the likes of Columbus and Nashville.  Who needs to see Detroit and the Hawks go at it when we can watch the Hawks skate circles around a Columbus team that can’t get out of its own way.  Who needs Detroit on the marquee when we can watch the feisty but financially limited Predator and Barry Trotz treat a sell crowd out to a clutching and grabbing fest.  Thank you Gary Bettemen, you’ve just destroyed yet another cherished NHL rivalry.  First it was the Maple Leafs and now it’s the Wings.  Detroit…. I salute you and I respect you and most of all… I thank you for all of the memories.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  See you on the other old side old friend.  It’s been great.