I drove by the JLA today well after the presser, but there were still a few tv trucks and fans outside. Too many memories to single one out. I was elated when they finally won the first Cup (of this era), great vindication considering how much flak he took from the "experts" and fans alike during the let downs. And as many Wings fans as there are in Windsor it could be pretty tough at times growing up as a Wings and Yzerman fan.
He's always been my favourite of he Detroit sports stars, I actually wrote about him for a school application essay (excerpts follow):
In this day and age, when social pundits bemoan the deterioration of family values and parents tend to defer their roles to television babysitting and celebrity idolism, I consider myself fortunate to have had an upbringing contrary to popular trends. Within my family I have numerous examples of role models and mentors. In a twist of irony, my family has always drawn on sports for examples of lessons applicable to life in general. Steve Yzerman, captain of the Detroit Red Wings, personified the qualities I held in high regard for a sports leader and he served as a model for me on conducting oneself as a professional, leading by mutual respect, and persevering through difficult challenges.
Steve Yzerman became the youngest team captain in professional hockey and rose into the ranks of its elite players. As his teammates improved, he deferred individual statistics for the good of the team, but even with rising expectations the Red Wings of the 1990s remained disappointments. Critics believed he was too passive to ever lead the team to a championship. I admired Yzerman, however, for avoiding the fire and brimstone routines; on the contrary, he lead by example, through his dedication to training, along with his rehabilitations from potentially career-ending injuries, and his professional conduct which was devoid of public criticisms of teammates. But this did not end the questions about his leadership, which even pervaded his team�s management, who on the verge of trading him away, were stopped only by a rousing arena ovation that illustrated the deep support and respect the fans had developed for not only the player, but Yzerman as a person.
...
Steve Yzerman went on to lead Detroit to three championships, but it was at the 2002 Winter Olympics that the world came to appreciate all these qualities I have long observed and respected. No longer considered a modern superstar, Yzerman was added as a role player to the Canadian team. But despite playing on a badly injured knee he emerged as a team leader and lead Team Canada to the gold medal. Fortunate enough to have witnessed the event in Salt Lake City, those images were permanently ingrained in memory and served as inspiration to face the challenges of pursuing medical studies...Steve Yzerman�s path to success is more than a model of inspiration for my endeavors, it is also a validation of the convictions I hold professionally and personally.
