Game #52-Detroit Pistons

Detroit Pistons vs Toronto Raptors
The Palace at Auburn Hills
March 10, 2012

At the tail end of my time in the Detroit area I hit up the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills. This area is really nice, much different from downtown or Dearborn which is where I am staying. It is a very upscale neighborhood and for some reason it reminds me of the Charlotte NC area. The Palace is a complete contrast to Joe Louis. This arena is brand new, high tech, and unfortunately, has little character. I guess it is no different than any other new arenas like the Amway Arena in Orlando or Staples Center in LA, but after just being in Hockey Town it is a bit of a let down. Maybe it is also because the electricity in Joe Louis where the Wings are one of the best in the league to the Pistons who are one of the worst in the NBA. In the least I thought there would be some cool fan experience areas or highlights of the championships during the “Bad Boys” days…but I only found a single trophy case with little memorabilia. Oh well, maybe the game will be exciting…nope.

Maybe it’s because I don’t know anyone on either team except for Tayshaun Prince, but it seemed like there were a lot of no name players on the floor. I guess if you are a Pistons fan it was a good game because they shot the lights out in the first quarter going up 37-14 and never looking back going on to a route of 105-86. Rodney Stuckey had an impressive game with 20 points and Brandon night with 7-13 for 19 points. As for the Raptors, James Johnson put in 4 points…I only mention him because it seemed like all the Toronto fans that drove down from Canada had his jersey. Really, cheering for a player that only scores 4 points?

I wish I could say the most exciting part of the game took place with one of the NBA teams on the floor, maybe an exciting dunk or ally oop, but actually it was just a group of trampoline artists who dunk balls from 20 feet in the air. It’s exciting but since I have been to so many NBA games I think this is the third time I have seen the show so I was not terribly overwhelmed. Well, the good news is that I got one more team checked off the list.

Game #51-Detroit Redwings

Detroit Redwings vs Los Angeles Kings
Joe Louis Arena
March 9 2012

I think I really lucked out. Not often can you visit the Detroit MI area and not have a ton of snow to deal with in early March but it has been unseasonably warm. Thank goodness, because I had ACL/meniscus surgery about 3 weeks ago and I am on crutches. I can’t imagine having to deal with ice and snow when I have only one good leg. Especially when I plan on exploring downtown, the Henry Ford Museum, Lake Erie and the Pistons game, a very full weekend.

As you head into the Hockey Town arena the first thing you notice is the immense history of the team. Banners outside look like the Yankees overhead crosswalks…countless championships obtained over the past 100 years. When you enter the building there are player posters everywhere, 3D statues of some of the NHLs greatest players, and trophy cases that are unmatched by any other team (well besides Montreal…maybe). As I was crutching around I saw a bunch of people taking pictures of someone and that piqued my interest. Usually that means a retired player or possibly cheerleaders are taking pictures with fans, but instead Mr., Hockey Gordie Howe himself was there selling and signing his book “9”. Sometimes I find it absolutely unreal the luck I have going to some of these games, I mean how often do you get to see one of the greatest players ever to play the game?

Now because of my surgery I quickly realized I would not be able to sit in my assigned seat. Not only was I in the lower bowl, I was in the middle section and I couldn’t bend my leg to sit down. But once again lady luck was on my side and I was able to get one of the handicap section seats. It was nice because I could stretch my leg out, it was in a better section, and I was able to chat up a local couple which always makes the experience that much better. The only unfortunate part of the night was the score. The Kings owned 50 of the 60 minutes on the ice, but those other ten minutes really hurt. Jeff Carter got a power play goal just seven minutes into the game but was quickly matched by Henrik Zetterburg to tie the game. Once again the good guys went up 2-1 with Justin Williams goal to end the first period but Zetterburg got his second of the night in the middle of the second period to once again tie it up. When we got into the third the Kings really showed their muscle the first 15 minutes capping their highlights with Dwight King putting in a wrister for the 3-2 lead, but then everything fell apart. Detroit came down with some pretty passing and capping the highlight reel with an amazing pass from (who else) Zetterburg to Valtteri Filppula for a tap in goal to knot it up again at 3-3. Then with only a minute left in the game Darren Helm put in the final goal of the night for a Detroit win. The place went nuts and I sank lower in my seat. The Kings tried their best after pulling goalie Jonathan Quick nearly tying the game up with a mad scramble in front of the net but it wasn’t to be. It was a great game, the Kings really needed the points as they are 2 points out of the final playoff spot, but it wasn’t to be.