The Hockey News: Ken Campbell's blog: THN.com Blog: The Def Leppard disaster

THN.com Blog: The Def Leppard disaster

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard hoists the Stanley Cup after Kyle Quincy and Darren McCarty of the Detroit Red Wings passed it off to him during NHL Face-Off Rocks at the Fox Theatre. (Photo By Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ken Campbell
2008-10-10 15:50:00

Ya know, the NHL really tries, but you have to wonder sometimes if these guys get it. They have a colossal screw-up with the Stanley Cup opening night, then on their website, they run a piece gushing about Face-Off Rocks 2008 – whatever the hell that was supposed to be – as though it was the second coming of The Beatles.

“It was an incentive for all 30 NHL teams and their cities,” the story said. “Win the Stanley Cup and you get to rock out next.”

And you also get to watch some dumbass geriatric singer put the Cup down upside down (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmxZyr-juB8) and then say, “Well never mind. We’re soccer boys. What do we know?”

What else would you expect from a bunch of guys who can’t seem to spell the words “deaf” or “leopard” properly? Must be that soccer trophies get placed down with the big covered side sticking up. That makes sense.

And what else do you expect from a league that has a kid wearing a sweater with “Lindstrom” on the back at its own awards ceremonies? What else do you expect from a league that doesn’t seem to have a problem with a player’s kid having a poopie in its signature trophy or other players eating breakfast cereal out of it?

Related Links

I can just imagine the planning meeting for this thing. Yeah, to celebrate the Stanley Cup in Detroit, let’s invite a bunch of aging English rockers who don’t know anything about hockey. Hmmm, Dexy’s Midnight Runners are booked up, so let’s invite Def Leppard to Motown. Yeah, to Motown. And just for fun, let’s not have a dry run with the Stanley Cup beforehand.

If I were the NHL, I’d be trying to wipe this embarrassment from everyone’s memory banks and have YouTube pull it down immediately.

But no, the NHL celebrates it with gushing stories that don’t even mention the incident.

And then they wonder why people laugh at them.

Ken Campbell is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Wednesday and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.

For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.

COMMENTS (74)

Sort: Oldest | Newest Filter: All | Videos

HabsFan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:41)

DO you guys actually think that cp they used was the REAL THING. it wasn't. These people may be stupid, but they aren't stupid enough to give the real stanley cup to def lepard. The real stanley cup is never seen. Even the cup at the Hockey hall of fame is fake. Even the cup they hand out at the stanly cup presentation is fake. Do you think that these people would hand out the real thing at these events. They won't take the chance that a memorial object that has been a part of hockey history for the last 100 years could get ruined? what would happen if the captain dropped the cup once they won the playoffs (oh wait that already happened) Just dumb... True it is a disgrace about what happened, most people are too thick headed to realize such things. and thats why ever one over reacts.

Blue & Gold Posted
(2009-04-30 07:11:03)

Hey folks, the real issue lies with Alexei Cherepanov. Not with a crappy band in a crappy city like Detroit. Get it right.

T.Roy Posted
(2009-04-30 07:10:27)

I'm not big on lef deppard, But I remember one Dallas player who now coaches a Canadian team (get it) threw it of a motel balcony trying to hit the pool and totally missed. That's a real dumb ass isn't it Guy.

M.Sanchez Posted
(2009-04-30 07:10:22)

I wonder why they didn't entertain the idea of having someone from the motor city. Maybe Even Kid Rock. At least he owns a DAMN HOCKEY JERSEY and it even happens to be a Redwings Jersey. But on the upside of Def Leppard this time around. They were all dressed normal but they still sound like 80's hair metal... Didn't someone pour Gasoline all over that era and set it a blaze in the early 90's? just asking. Good Job plauceing the cup upside down mates... you will always be remembered by the hockey community as the jack off's who know nothing about the sport. Yet The commish will have another washed up band next year. Maybe "Guns N Roses" will get the Chinese Democrocy out in time to help promote it. Only to have front man "Axl Rose" will show up 3 1/2 hours late for the opening ceremony and the raisning of the banner. Just a Thought Betman. and you wonder why NHL is not taken Seriously. Go back to the NBA man leave this to someone who KNOWS, LOVES & RESPECTS THE GAME.

Paddy Posted
(2009-04-30 07:09:55)

Nickelback, The Hip, The Trews, or Danko Jones would have been great! There's always next year!?

Jonny Posted
(2009-04-30 07:09:40)

At least after Draper's kid there won't be too many more players eating out of it...

Logan Posted
(2009-04-30 07:09:36)

They should have had a relevant band today that knows something about hockey. Metallica would have been beautiful.

Jeff Mueller Posted
(2009-04-30 07:09:29)

I think that everybody should have figured this would be a bad idea the moment the NHL announced that def leppard (they don't deserve to be capitalized) would play the show. Of all the bands on this planet, why a bunch of washed-up morons? The mullet went out of style in hockey at least ten years ago. I agree with John Beatty, invite a Detroit-based band. Hell, just a band who's had a hit in the last five years, instead of twenty five! The upside-down-cup thing was just icing on a cake nobody wanted to eat.

Chris Posted
(2009-04-30 07:09:25)

I personally think that no one should be touching the Cup unless they've won it. Why should celebrities or anyone else get to hold and get their picture taken with a trophy that they didn't do anything to earn? It just isn't quite as special when everyone and their brother is allowed to parade around with it.

Winghater Posted
(2009-04-30 07:09:25)

James, you sound like a Wings fan who thinks it's ok that Drapers kid dropped a deuce in the Stanly Cup. How stupid do you have to be to put a baby in the cup with no diaper on? Is that not a disaster just waiting to happen? I bet everyone can't wait to get a sip of champagne out of something that's had a turd in it. Also, I'm sure that you do think Darren Bicardi McCarty should have beat the crap out of Joe Elliot because that's all he's good for. He sure can't play hockey. That would also be justifiable punishment for placing it upside down wouldn't it?

1 2 3 ...6 7 8 Next »