Ownership of a business or professional sports team is a bit overrated.  You get credit and blame for everything, and most often you had very little directly to do with either. What you can count on in sports is dealing with the consequences of not winning. People call you names and some don’t even know how to spell your name correctly, like the guy the other day that wrote “Russ Klein is a dumb s h _t.”  Correct on the latter but its Russ CLINE. (Please notice I did not call him what he called me even though he made a mistake.) I’m sure he meant well. What’s my point? I agonize as you do when the Wings play as horribly as they did Friday night and feel the same emotional frustration to strike out; lose faith and doubt the plan. I have felt the same way with members of my family when they messed up but that’s not what you do if you truly care. Bottom line, your “self image” is tied to the success of your emotional investments even when they are not in your direct control. My self image is very low right now.

Contrary to what many of you believe and have believed throughout the years Mike, Chris and I do not pick the players, decide which players stay and go or design the game plan. So when things go bad, after all the planning and hard work we are all in the same difficult situation. It is obvious for whatever reason that the team has either not bought into the coaches’ game plan, we lack the talent to execute the plan or they don’t care. Knowing them as I do… I know they care. It’s always easier to be a commentator on “the play called” than “call the play on the field.” I am not going to spend time on the last game because it made me sick the first time and I am sure it will again.  NO EXCUSES, NO EXPLANATIONS! When we lose we are as disappointed as you are and feel the same frustration. While we can make tweaks to our team we are past the point of major options. I can only assure you that as owners we care, feel it financially, emotionally and we are doing everything we can to support the turn around for you and our team.

I will be there with you this weekend to cheer, moan and hopefully celebrate. John D.Rockefeller expressed it best when he said “I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance.” We must persevere because the only other option is to quit and that’s not going to happen. Here’s hoping I see you this weekend and that we get the win.

Go Wings!

Russ