Steve Yzerman will be honored tonight at Joe Louis Arena, for his accomplishments, his work ethic that blended perfectly with the city he calls his home and the city that adopted him; and finally for just being someone who likes getting the job done.  It seemed the first time when Red Wings fans read about Steve Yzerman in 1983 and saw the draft day picture of him shaking hands with Mike Ilitch and Yzerman wearing a red tie that Detroit Red Wings fans knew that Steve Yzerman would restore Red Wings back to Detroit.  And that the jeers and name of "dead wings" would be erased.  Here is list of how flight was restored to the Red Wings.

     In 1983 it was plain to see that Steve Yzerman would be a great player in the NHL and that he would one day have a chance to win with the Red Wings.   The Red Wings were back in the playoffs.  For the first time in over 10 years  the Red Wings were playing with inspiration and the jeers ended.  The relentless pursuit of taking the puck to the opposition and scoring against any goalkeeper kept Steve Yzerman and the team on the road of winning and the team found itself in the NHL elites once again.  Number 19 had restored pride, excitement for the fans and the goals accumulated for Steve Yzerman one of them was to win the Stanley Cup.  There was one goal that he did not count on in Detroit.

     In 1986 at the age of 21 he was named Captain of the team.  He was the youngest player in NHL history to be given the honor and responsibility of wearing the "C".  He wore it for 22 years and along the way made more history, his 22 years as captain is the longest that anyone wore the "C" with one team.  His nickname in Detroit, is 'the Captain", fans respect the player who gave his all every night and played through every injury known to NHL physicians earned him that honor.  He has said that Detroit Red Wings fans have a passion and beyond that a commitment to winning and that he has that as well because the fans and the organization want to win.  Steve Yzerman is a proud citizen of Detroit, Michigan.  And we are proud fans of the Captain. 

     Steve Yzerman battled through the early 90's and when Scotty Bowman was hired lived through the trade rumors and became a two way forward.  He put aside personal success and when the sacrifice was made the Red Wings went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, in 1996-97 and 97-98.  Then in 2002 he would go on to raise the Cup one more time.   Steve Yzerman has proven that he can play the game at the highest level and that being rewarded for loyalty is one of the most glorious things in life and sport. 

      Since the celebration starts officially tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena before the game against the Anaheim Ducks, Steve Yzerman is starting his new career in the front office of the Red Wings, he calls the Detroit Red Wings, "the organization".  Tonight the organization, fans and friends will probably cheer him for over five minutes and salute the Captain for over an hour.  All he has to do is watch and enjoy.  And cheer on the team that has the name Red Wings back since the erasing of a name that took place 24 years ago.  Tonight the number 19 will be sixth in Red Wings history to go to the rafters, after that, next stop the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Other awards for the Captain include, Selke trophy, Conn Smythe trophy, and the Masterson trophy; which is awarded by the NHL to player who perseveres.  Other highlights of Steve Yzerman's amazing NHL career are found at the hockey hall of fame website.

                                               
                           19

    The Detroit Red Wings announced a press confrence earlier today, many speculated that it  would bring the news about Steve Yzerman's decision and that it did. I thought about what I would write; a short piece, a biography that could make Barnes & Noble shelves collapse under the weight?  I finally decided I would write about this, about why "The Captain" Steve Yzerman is important to Detroit, and who was there at Joe Louis Arena in the audience of gathered friends and then who might wear the "C" for the fabled Detroit Red Wings; alot of the franchise legend centers around Steve Yzerman.

    Detroit, Michigan 1986 Steve Yzerman is made the youngest captain in Detroit Red Wings history, the team is made of older players who made Steve captain because they noticed what he was going to be, a leader who commands the attention of his peers and that he would lead the team to a Stanley Cup.  The vision of this 1986 team was incredible, after 20 years Steve Yzerman in the NHL is the one man to have worn the "C", the longest.  Steve Yzerman made this team the Red Wings skate better, score more consistently, and all fans know this about Steve Yzerman, his face off percentage proves he loved game, he would always be ready for drop of the puck.  And in his career this can be said; "Steve Yzerman never dropped the puck'", when it came time for a big speech in the locker room to get his team to play better, he scored momentum shifting and game winning goals, and as the Captain he always knew what to say.  Number 19 on the ice, fans young and old at "the Joe", always felt inspired when 19 could be seen.  Now, Detroit, Michigan, July 3, 2006; Steve Yzerman has ended his on ice time with the team.  This will bring a time in Toronto, Ontario, at the Hockey Hall of Fame to be inducted, with his good friends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, but how do you enshrine greatness?  Is it the number hanging from the rafters at Joe Louis Arena? Is it talking about "the Captain" in restaurants, bars and barber shops up and down Michigan?  It is all of the above, it is how Detroit and all the people in the community of Michigan will treat him.  Steve Yzerman is important and call this state the most Canadian without the health care in the USA, because of Steve Yzerman.  Everyone from the upper peninsula to border lines with Ohio and Indiana, will say, "Steve Yzerman is, our Captain."

    After the Captain?  Who is the next player to lead the Red Wings?  two names Kris Draper and Nicklas Lidstrom.  Nick is a favorite among alot of people and the players regard him with the same respect as Steve Yzerman.  Kris Draper is a leader who could very well be an alternate.  If the team decides to look at the future again Henrik Zetterberg could be the next captain. 

    At the press confrence Steve Yzerman's, family were there, his friends, which include Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.  The eras of hockey were present and accounted for.  I choose to conclude with this, Hockey in Detroit will be solid after this confrence today because of players like Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay are at the Joe to encourage, listen and help keep Red Wings hockey strong, passion among the fans is not pressure, Red Wings fans like to cheer and enjoy the game, it is time to be louder, to clap more and be positive about the Red Wings, who ever the captain is. Hockeytown, USA is ready  for NHL 2006-07. 

    Steve Yzerman enjoyed your career and greatness wearing the "Winged Wheel", enjoy your retirement, and you are  the Captian of Detroit Sports.

 Leadership is characterized by someone who does not think great ways of subduing the enemy and commanding troops and loyalty; but acts on those thoughts with the results being loyalty and victory.  Detroit Sports has had many cherished athletes.  Steve Yzerman and Ben Wallace are the current heros that kids, adults, fans, and fellow athletes want to be like.  Ben Wallace is the heart of Detroit Sports now.  Why? Steve Yzerman still holds our deep admiration and our desire to see Detroit be better place to live, work and enjoy life at.  Ben Wallace has elevated himself to that status as well.  He is the player we never want to retire and most of all never traded.  His passion for the game, for results, and hard work has Detroit written all over his career and personality.  As the Pistons look at game two tonight,  the fans make sure tickets are in a place to be found for quick get away to the Palace of Auburn Hills after work or dinner.  Ben will be checking in on my favorite Piston, Richard Hamilton  to make sure that the ankle is game ready and that his team is ready to win against the Milwaukee Bucks.

  Talent is given to people before birth, and it retires, when the person who it is bestowed to no longer wants to work.  That is the definiton of Detroit Sports and its athletes.  Work and workers.  It is a game and it is meant to be played, it is however, not to be taken lightly.  Not to go out and whimsically go to the rim, go to the net, go to the pitchers mound, and take snaps under center.  It is what that passion is thrown into.  Ardor and fervently sweating a winning attitude from the pores.  Then on triumph day the parade down Woodward avenue to the adulating fans.  Ben Wallace captures the essence of and is the heart of Detroit Sports. 

  Everyone expects the Captain Steve Yzerman to announce retirement this summer.  He has told interviewers, "I will make that decision in June.  That is something I will talk with my family about." Steve Yzerman is out and out the Captain of Detroit Sports and so is Ben Wallace.   Ben welcome to this the upper echelon of sports cities; the admiration of every fan from the Upper Peninsula to Detroit wants you to stay forever.  Just like the Captain Steve Yzerman.