Detroit — In Joe Louis Arena, fans witnessed the long-desired revival of a great sports franchise, acquainted their wide-eyed children with a cathedral of sports, smuggled octopi, proposed marriage, praised and cursed the hockey gods and, uncountable times, rhythmically bellowed, “Let’s go Red Wings!”
They also endured long lines, occasionally in some discomfort, to relinquish what beer and body create. Sometimes only after tenderly negotiating crooked, uneven stairs in “The Joe.”
For 37 years, events stirred hearts, warmed souls, united generations of families, engraved victory on a celebrated cup and restored faith that glory is resolute amid the caprices of life.