Happy Birthday! We're 230!!

On a quick "stevie yzerman retires" search on blogger.com, there are 101 results. Reading the blurbs, everyone says the same thing. I found out early yesterday, ruined at least three people's days with the news, illegally text messaged at my desk, and decided to stick around to see what the Wings will become in the post-Steve era. No, it's not because I'm so much a Wings fan, but primarily because I wanted to see the pomp and circumstance that comes with a number retirement.

I need to frame my picture that Stevie signed in a better frame. I'm not talking about the pic of myself with him, but I got him to sign a pretty cool trading card from that the newspapers used to publish during the playoffs a hundred years ago. I don't know a framing place and then when I find one, I will have a serious time handing over my Stevie and not staying by the framer's side while he works. I wonder if they have to take some ethical oath saying that they will not rip off thy customers, especially those with priceless hockey memorablia.

We'll miss Stevie opening night. We'll miss him when times are hard and we need his slapshot to life spirits at the Joe. He won't be on the ice anymore. But I wonder if his retirement will be put on the back burner because over the past three seasons, we've grown accustomed to him not being on the ice, but always being there. It won't sink in that he's not coming back until his number hangs proudly from the rafters with Howe, Abel, Sawchuck, Lindsay, and Delvecchio. But I'm really happy he was able to go out on his own terms.

Before I become redundant and start to repeat everything I said yesterday, I'll just end it here. I have breakfast to eat, work to get ready for, and newspapers to buy.

Enjoy the Fourth.