lordstanley

Go for it. I bought my non-refundable air ticket last Wednesday (Campbell's gambling approach has inspired me, lol, plus it was only $275) and then Sunday night I bought a 200-level endzone seat for $650 TM-listed + $100 taxes/fees = $750. I think ticket prices have peaked, they've softened a bit since Sunday night and will some more, IMO. Flying in Sunday morning direct 2h20min flight from Vancouver, then back Monday morning. Staying Sunday night in an airport hotel, for approx. $175. Add some incidentals like transport to/from the airport and the stadium and should still be under $1,500. Not cheap, but acceptable. At this stage of my life (56 years old, our only child leaving home in the fall), it's how I prefer to spend money, as opposed say to a weekend in Vegas or days around a pool in Mexico. This is the 3rd time I've done something like this from Vancouver for Detroit sports. First was Game 4 of the ALDS in '06, went with my dad. Second, described above, was Wings Game 5 SCF '08. Still two of the most memorable experiences of my life, certainly of sports-related experiences at least. I go in expecting the Lions to lose. But I was so intrigued earlier in the season seeing Lions fans celebrating post-game together down near the sidelines in Tampa and Los Angeles among others. Imagine Sunday if the Lions pull off the upset, Niners fans go home, the stadium empties out, but say 1,000 Lions fans in blue are at the railing high-fiving Lions players like the Kenny Rogers-led scene in '06. Priceless.

Ha, I was there too! The ticket price wasn't bad, I think I got it for just under $200 five minutes after they went on sale. Flew in from Vancouver. Stayed at my parent's in Sarnia for a night. Went with my brother, my brother's wife who has since passed away, and an uncle who used to take me to Tigers and Wings games when i was kid. Knew the stars would really have to align again to get the chance to see the Cup presented to my team in person, especially with them. As you'll recall, the Wings totally dominated the 3rd period, up to and well past the go ahead goal midway through the 3rd. I think the Penguins went 10+ minutes without a shot. Ozzie looked headed for a Conn Smythe. And then Franzen just couldn't clear it and Ozzie left a bit of space on the ice between his pad and the post. Was a long flight back to Vancouver the next morning. Shows how spoiled I guess we were as Wings fans that a week later I was still really bummed because even though the Wings had won a 4th Cup they hadn't won it with me in the building, lol. Don't regret for a second making the trip though.

I most remember when Roy was coaching in the QMJHL and he threw one of his teenaged players under the bus at a Memorial Cup press conference. EDIT: Found the link. From 2006. I was a bit off, it was an opposing player not a player on his own team. Still ... https://firstdownsportspodcast.com/2020/03/06/the-most-hated-man-in-moncton-wildcats-history-the-return-of-patrick-roy/ https://bleacherreport.com/articles/56655-patrick-roy-aint-no-saint EDIT Part II: Nope, it was also against one of his own players. https://torontosun.com/2014/04/21/patrick-roy-is-one-of-the-worst-people-ive-met-former-goalie “Congratulations to Patrick Roy one more time! What a class act. I’m capable of accepting blame when the hat fits… “But to denigrate and attack me publicly for three years in addition to intimidating and humiliating (me). I’m ending my silence!” “Patrick Roy intimidated me verbally day after day. Never came to help me. By far and away one of the worst people I’ve ever met.” Domingue played for Roy two years ago during their major collapse in the QJMHL playoffs against Avs’ rookie phenom Nathan MacKinnon and the Halifax Mooseheads. Roy’s Remparts were up 3-0 in the series when MacKinnon, in his rookie season with the Mooseheads at the time, helped lead a historic comeback to win the series in seven games. Roy was asked about MacKinnon’s performance in that series the day before his NHL coaching debut on April 16. He didn’t hold anything back when reporters asked if the collapse had to do with the dominant play of MacKinnon or just bad coaching. “Can I say bad goaltending?” Roy joked at the time. It appears Domingue, a Phoenix Coyotes prospect, wasn’t laughing with Patrick. “I have a lot of respect for what he accomplished as a goaltender. But nobody knows what I lived through. Good luck to the Avalanche in the playoffs!” Domingue tweeted later on. Peter Delmas, who also played with Domingue under Roy, supported his former goaltender. “Can definitely back you up here Lou, not an easy task playing for Pat as a goalie,” he tweeted to Domingue.

Maybe if for some reason this year is a "one and done" event for the Lions and they go back to sucking (I don't think they will but let's just say for the sake of argument), 25 years from now the next generation will look back at the Lions' 2023 season/2024 post-season and suspect it was a hoax. AI-generated? Paid actors on the field with 60,000 extras in the stands? In some ways the Lions making the Super Bowl sounds as remarkable as man landing on the moon.

By a Vancouver Island tv station:

That probably works, but if he gets "sacked" with even only 1 second to go Tampa would have the ball on the Lions' side of the 50 with time for one play.

Yeah, should have gone like this: - Lions take over with 1:33 to go at Tampa 28 - 1st knee on 1st down to Tampa 29, Tampa time out #3 with 1:31 to go - Lions take 2nd knee on 2nd down to Tampa 30 and then let the play clock run out, take the delay of game (rather than calling a timeout with 1 second on play clock) - Lions take 3rd knee from Tampa 36 with around 48 seconds to go and then let the play clock run out, take the delay of game (rather than calling timeout with 1 second on play clock). Sets up 4th down from Tampa 42 with 6 seconds or less to go - Only real risk would be a "trouble with the snap" a la Michigan vs Michigan St. or a blocked punt and 50+ yard runback. - Punt it through the end zone. That will use up at least 4 seconds, leaving 2 seconds from the 20 yard line, no time for Tampa to first pick up some yards with a sideline throw. Have to go right into a one-play Stanford/rugby play.

I've long thought it would be better form to always let the clock run down when taking knees, just in case. The chances of a fumbled snap or offensive holding are very low, but why risk it. You've essentially won the game, just be patient, and snap as late as you can in case disaster happens. It's only delaying your celebration by a minute or less.

Thanks for the insight. That's exactly what my business partner said, although his experience was more with the old stadium. Thought maybe it would be different at Levi's but apparently not. I don't drink alcohol before or at games and I'm pretty reserved on the road (except for Wings @ Canucks games). Will bring a jacket to wear as necessary and play it by ear.

Campbell press conference streaming now.

Here is my seat for Sunday. 9th row of the 200 level, endzone. $650 + $100 taxes and fees = $750 all-in. Not cheap, but acceptable, and works out to about $15 per year amortized over the 50 or so years I’ve been watching crappy Lions football, lol.

Beautiful!

I loved the moment when the Ticketmaster listings page changed on a refresh from “NFC Championship Game: San Francisco 49ers vs TBD” to “NFC Championship Game: San Francisco 49ers vs Detroit Lions”.

It would have been nice if Jerry Green had lived to see the Lions make the Super Bowl. He covered the first 56. https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/super-bowl-streak-comes-to-an-end-for-jerry-green-longtime-detroit-sports-journalist/

I would accept it being similar to the last time the Lions and Niners met in the playoffs. Even with Badgley, I'd like my chances with a 42-yard FG attempt at the end of regulation to go to the Super Bowl.

Oh geez, imagine waking up the morning of November 24, 1963 to such terrible news. Then add to that the fact that the president got shot and killed ...

Bills lose on a The Bills lose on a …wide right.

That looks amazing.

It’s so weird, I’m sitting in a packed bar right now here in Vancouver and all these Chiefs and Bills fans are sweating bullets, while I’m just sitting back drinking my pint and munching on nachos without a care in the world.

Sprong has been a nice contributor this year. Gives the Wings a 2-1 lead midway through the 2nd.

Just getting to the Super Bowl certainly would. There are 11 other teams that have never won a Super Bowl, and many of those like the Vikings haven't been to one in decades. In the NHL, the Leafs haven't been to the Stanley Cup Final since 1967. In the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks haven't been to the Finals in 60 years, the Clippers never. Make it to the Super Bowl and only thing left is there championship drought of 66 years. This Wikipedia page tracks playoff appearance droughts, playoff win droughts, appearance in divisional round (via bye or wild card weekend win) droughts, conference championship game droughts, Super Bowl appearance drought, Super Bowl championship droughts. The Lions have gone from at or the top of the list - in a bad way - in the first four of those to wiping out all but the last two. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NFL_franchise_post-season_droughts

For those of us, like me, not yet paying attention, here is a promising summary by Amsar Khan.

Lightning takes 1-0 lead. Damn, my day is ruined.