Special DElivery: A magical mix of baseball and hockey no more

By Darren Eliot –

I’m writing at the time I’d be heading to the Fox Sports Detroit Call Sam Studio for opening night desk duty. Certainly, the morning skate would have been part of the day’s agenda making sure I had my opening night nuggets on the Red Wings and the Predators all lined up. And it wouldn’t have mattered a bit that I was up late the night before watching the Tigers advance on the strength of another brilliant pitching performance by Justin Verlander.

In fact, this has always been my favorite time of year – when my passion for hockey and love of baseball merge. The anticipation of a new NHL season beginning while the baseball season is at its most compelling, matched only by the exhilaration of the crisp fall air on a clear day. The two sports intersecting was always part of my autumn. It was the best.

For whatever reason, this was the magical mix – hockey beginning and baseball climaxing – a far more potent elixir than the start of the baseball season during the NHL playoffs. Now, the hockey ingredient is missing. Again. Unlike the changing of the colors and falling of the leaves, I can no longer count on my October double-dip – too many NHL lockouts in too short a time span to keep the two as remembered and anticipated.

But my memories are fond ones: From running home from school to catch the end of the Cincinnati Reds vs. my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, before heading out to hockey practice to having the whole team watching the Dodgers’ game – Bernie Nichols sprawled on the floor in full gear, oblivious to the bustle around him – as we got ready to take the ice at the Fabulous Forum for a pre-season game. All are part of my precious hockey/baseball fall combo memory bank.

True, the in-absentia NHL didn’t diminish last night’s Tigers’ win in Oakland. Nor, have I lacked for exciting hockey, having taken in the Plymouth Whalers game last Saturday and watching tremendous Bantam and Midget hockey over the past few weeks. Quality hockey abounds. That isn’t the issue. The point is that the NHL should be part of all that fall has to offer.

There is hope and raw, real emotion on the diamond, no different than the hope and adrenaline that accompanies opening night… which was supposed to be tonight. Instead, the NHL part of the fall equation is as empty as the Joe. Hockeytown is Tiger Town. Our MiHockey campaign of Hockey Never Stops rings true, but would really resonate if it included the NHL. Unfortunately, the slogan the “NHL Shuts Down Whenever” comes to mind. An every October occurrence no more, altering my autumns forever.