Streets run together and turn into each other LetsGoRedWings is running scared past houses of bloggers that are in the neighborhood, in the community of sports fanatics, writers, and want to be general managers, in the windows of the houses with the lights off windows are blue with the tint of computer screens, haunted the ghosts of  sports legends lure him into the portal of Original Six hockey, the era of baseball of Christy Matthewson and Hank Greenberg, Football when the Detroit Lions were winning with the arm of Bobby Lane, and basketball when the Knicks were winning with Bill Bradley.

    LetsGoRedWings turns on to West Blog Street and there around him are the insomniac writers JGrace, MeanDoVine, AdamBest, Ultra Mega, Socal with his computer on frustrated about his fantasy baseball league.  Screams are louder than Janis Joplin singing with soul.  There in front of LGRW himself a pale ghost waiting for any news from Spector about the Red Wings.  Leafnation wonders about when the Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup.  Gcoach is waiting for Minnesota Wild to win the Cup so Gaborik will not be traded and Fatmaw is reveling in the fact that Hurricanes won much to the chagrin of LGRW.  Gordie Howe is there with Steve Yzerman and Maurice Richard, playing street hockey. 

    Waking from the nightmare LetsGoRedWings reads the liner notes on HiPlainsDrifters blog, and wonders when Toronto Sports will write a new post. JrCuss is shooting words in the midnight light and LGRW is not awake he sleeps through the nightmare rambling of this post.  And Rec SoftballHero is there with the Schwartz writing about why the blogs are places of serenity.

    Finally awake LGRW looks at the list of blogs on his favorites links and knows if he has left out others from this nightmare, could that mean a sequel..... AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

    To be Continued------>     

  Ryan Miller-- NHL and former Michigan State University Spartans goalie.

    In the summer months when the National Hockey League is on hiatus the only headlines are player and franchise transactions, this news celebrates time with family.  Today, Ryan Miller turns 26.  A birthday greeting to an NHL goalie.  Articles have been and will be printed about the goalie from East Lansing, Michigan.  This one is about the birthday for the Buffalo Sabres goalie who did great things in the playoffs and now he sets his sights on the gift that would mean the most to him, the Stanley Cup in 2007.  So enjoy your birthday Ryan, we know what the wish will be for the 27th next year the Stanley Cup coming to East Lansing, Michigan; a parade from campus, down Michigan Avenue to the Capital.

    Have fun the rest of the summer and NHL 2006-07.

    I have gone on record stating that I like Guiness, Labatt Blue, and the Microbreweries in Michigan.  I have written that I do not like Molson.  A hockey beer I know but it never really appealed to my senses of smell and taste.  Until today when I bought Molson Golden; a great beer that is a combination of Ale and Lager brewing styles.  I have to give Canadians their props, I am not only Labatt drinker now I am a Molson drinker as well.  I like smooth drinking pale ale to dark stout.  I have found that I like hoppy beer to.  

   What is your favorite sports beer?  And moment?  Leave your comments here and they might find there way to the bar bathroom walls. 

   Dr. J in flight-- opposition are onlookers. 

1)  Julius Erving born in New York.  High school star at Roosevelt High School and NCAA standout at the University of Massachusetts, 1968-71.  Then drafted by the Virginia Squires, of the American Basketball Association, in 1971.  I was born in 1971, and so I remember Dr. J in 1976 when I was five, and immediately I wanted him for my doctor.  I was and am still a patient of Dr. J.  My NBA insurance policy says and indicates I am from the age of 5.  Why? I will take to you to his office today and show you his accredidations.  His receptionist tells us to look around; so the placques, the awards, and records we see that he still holds are on his office wall and part of the history of the ABA and NBA.  He is one of six NCAA players ever to average 20 rebounds and 20 points.  He led the New York Nets of the ABA into the elite arena of the NBA; the New York Nets are now the New Jersey Nets.  Then with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Spectrum.  I idolize "Dr. J" for one reason his supremacy on the courts of the NBA whether at home or on the road was consistent and pure skill.  And remember the dunk from the free throw line was done first by Dr. J.  So the reasons for my idolizing Dr. J are clear and evident he is the pioneer for Jordan and others.  He is the man that could play on the defensive side as well as the offensive.  His office is still recieving new patients would you like me to refer you?

2) The National Hockey League is the sport I would live with  if I was stranded on a desert island. It has perennial superstars like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, and new legends of ice like Steve Yzerman, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux.  The reason I could live with the NHL on a island, it would take me to the refreshing, cold climates of the great lakes of Michigan and Canada. 

3)  The athlete that has most impacted his sport is Hank Aaron.  He set the parameter for the competition that would ensue after his Hall of Fame career, by eclipsing Babe Ruth and mastering the art of the home run swing.  Hank Aaron's technique at home plate anticipated every pitch that was hittable in his range.  Hank Aaron is the rare baseball player, that knows his every limitation and he did everything within his power hitting capabilites to get above his idol, Babe Ruth.  His attitiude was of grace, respect, and every home run he hit was done from the heart and not of cheating.  Baseball's homerun mark is Hank Aaron's for posterity.  For that he has most impacted sports than any other athlete in his respective sport realm.

Sports writing is not a past time it is a part of my life that I do not take for granted.  I will be ready for the NGS 2 and have fun with friends after the posts and voting is over I will still listen to Van Halen and Rush. I will still read the Lansing State Journal and blog away on the FoxSports.com site.  I like its bloggers and the diversiity in the community.  I will certainly still read Hemingway and Fitzgerald, and Ken Kesey.

My favorite beer is Guiness Extra Stout and I enjoy one now and then.  Coffee I drink is Maxwell House or Beaners.  Nachos is the staple of this writer I put salsa on top of the cheese.  I will never relent in my crusade for the NHL and its history, its present status as a very strong league after the lockout and the future after the Captain has retired.  I will always stand with the NHL shield and the Red Wings logo and use that for source of inspiration. 

I look forward to writing about the NHL after the retirement of the Captain Steve Yzerman. The emergence of the Red Wings over taking the Montreal Canadiens for most Cup banners hanging from the rafters.

So I will write and say that I have never written fiction, poetry, short stories and sports articles with beer, coffee and nachos all on my desk.   In the morning is coffee.  Then in the afternoon it is beer  and nachos.

Have fun and be ready to blog and write anytime someone asks you.

-LGRW