The Dark Ranger: Welcome Back, Brian!

Bio of TDR

TDR is a working professional in entertainment and is obsessed with the game of hockey. More fourteen years ago, this site emerged as a means (or an outlet) to tell some truth'isms about the game post-lockout, rather than the crud fed to us through knuckleheads like Jimmy Dolan and his lemmings universe. Today, there are a hundred Rangers sites and is thankful and grateful to all those that have come after him, but honorable thanks go to his fellow Dark-writers, Graying Mantis and J_Undisputed. And "Let's Go Rangers!"

Bio of General Ganz

General Ganz is a cynical yet well-informed student of the human spirit. He's a professional of sorts, with a post-graduate education, some experience working in real companies, and some limited athletic ability. The total small package. He got picked on a fair bit as a kid, and he experienced his first human-non-relation kiss in his teens. He also grew up on the other side of the tracks, thereby helping to cultivate a healthy contempt for dreamers and optimists whose rosy upbringing gave them something to smile about, even when "life produced lemons." Like it or not, his only mission is to point out the potholes you're lucky enough to miss on your drive to work. To find the blemish on your daughter's carefully-stitched (and not-yet-paid-for) wedding dress. To take that little smidgen of hope that your favorite hockey teams fill you with, and pour orange paint on it. Oh, and he is a Blueshirts fan, and takes most of his fashion direction from Ron Duguay (whose name he dropped as a way to close the deal on that first kiss).

Friday, September 7, 2007

Welcome Back, Brian!

The fans finally demanded his return. Slats pretended to be happy. And best of all, the New York Rangers management buys every single ticket on Stubhub and Ticketmaster Auction available before announcing the date. Schucks!

Brian Leetch's jersey No.2 will be retired on January 24, 2008, now to be forever hanging below the historical rafters of Madison Square Garden prior to the Rangers/Atlanta game. He will join Rod Gilbert (7), Eddie Giacomin (1), Mike Richter (35) and Mark Messier (11) as the only Rangers players to have their jersey numbers retired in the history of the franchise.

Brian Leetch holds the franchise record with 741 career assists and ranks second in career points (981) and games played (1,129). Leetch also holds the Rangers record for goals by a defenseman, with 240.

"I appreciate that the New York Rangers have extended the honor of raising my jersey to the Madison Square Garden rafters alongside team icons Rod, Eddie, Mike, and Mark," Leetch said. "New York City, the Garden and Rangers fans hold a special place in my heart and have supplied me with a lifetime of extraordinary memories. This night will be a very special one for me and my family and I look forward to returning to Madison Square Garden and being able to call it home."

And of course, look for that eight hundred dollar ticket in the 300 level! We're happy for you Leetchie. We still don't understand why you were shipped away in the first place. Welcome back. We, the fans, love and honor you.

tdr

2 comments:

AnonymousSaturday, September 08, 2007 12:57:00 AM
I love that MSG announces the game and states " no single tickets for this game". pretty convenient, but i must admit i am more interested in the atlanta rematch than the family speeches. there are 2 atlanta games in that same week.
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The Dark RangerSaturday, September 08, 2007 2:08:00 PM
Most hockey fanatics are in it for the history & nostalgia - the "I was there!" and understand that fans want to celebrate their victor - a great player!

A great player who in the later years was not treated like one of our own, so in some ways this one means more than the Messier tribute last season.

tdr
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