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Blood Feud: Detroit Red Wings v. Colorado Avalanche: The Inside Story of Pro Sports' Nastiest and Best Rivalry of Its Era
In Blood Feud , Colorado Avalanche beat writer Adrian Dater not only submits that the Red Wings-Avalanche rivalry was the most feverish match-up in recent years, but also that there was none better played. No fewer than twenty players have or will eventually make it to the Hall of Fame; the best scorers were matched up against the best goalies; brilliant coaches could be found on both benches; and two of the league's smartest general managers ruthlessly tried to one-up each other at every NHL trade deadline. Blood Feud is a rollicking story of a fierce, and often violent, rivalry.
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
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November 17, 2007Whether your an Avs or Redwings fan (I am the former) this book is a disgrace to writing. While I appreciate the subject matter, which kept me from tossing this book into the flames before I was finished, Adrian Dater's inability to write with any depth or clarity is evident. Perhaps there is a bit more background on the relevant events, but the bios focusing on Bowman, Lemieux, Roy and McCarty are pure filler. Half the book is in quotes so I hope Woody Paige and Mark Kiszla are getting royalties from this. There are also sections about Dater himself and self realizations he has. I don't care! I didn't pick up this book to learn about Dater drinking high protein shakes and mentally pounding his HS tormentors. The editor over at Taylor Trade should submit his/her resignation. This should be a pamphlet, but with misc. facts that stray from the subject combined with 12 point font make it two hundred plus pages of dribble. This "book" is a failure on all levels and it's a shame Amazon forces one to give any stars.
September 6, 2020
One of the best hockey books I've ever read, if not the best. Really took me back to the games I watched in the mid to late 90's into the early part of the 2000's between the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche. These two teams won five Stanley Cup titles between 1995 and 2002 and each team also lost a Stanley Cup Final during that time, so in a period of eight years, these two teams were the league's representative in seven of those years (Dallas in 99 was the other time). Writer and Avalanche beat writer Adrian Dater does a really good job of capturing key moments in key games, such as the revenge game in 1997 in which the Wings' Darren McCarty and Colorado's Lemieux fought over a previous hit by Lemieux on Kris Draper the year before. All the playoff games between the two are discussed as well, although the Stanley Cup Finals the teams would play in aren't discussed much, but to be fair, Dater makes it clear in title of book that the focus is between Detroit and Colorado. As a reader you get to know about a lot of the key players such as Stevie Y, Shannahan, Mike Vernon, Peter Forsberg, Patrick Roy, Claude Lemieux, Draper, McCarty, Sakic, Ray Bourque, as well as coaches Scotty Bowman and Crawford. Dater also does an excellent job of discussing the battles between writers that covered the games such as Woody Paige (ruthless at times), Mitch Albom, as well as many others including Dater himself. If you're a hockey fan you need to read this book. Very good stuff.
July 3, 2023
Maybe a little friendlier to the Avs than they deserve, but with the author having spent every day writing about them for so long, and during a time when they were so exciting to write about, it stands to reason that he has a bit more to say about them than the Wings. I wouldn't go so far as to call Dater a "homer," but he's on thin ice (pun intended).
As a Wings fan, myself, the Denver perspective was interesting at times, infuriating at others. I found myself wondering how this book would be different if it had been written by a reporter from Detroit -- or, better yet, a neutral third party. Someone who cares about sports history, but but has no direct connection to either team. Perhaps this would have meant fewer, or shorter, or less interesting quotes from coaches, players, and members of the media, who were probably more willing to talk to Dater than they may have been to talk to some random historian -- but it also would have meant fewer pages spent on the trials and tribulations of Dater's personal life. All in all, I would have considered that a fair trade.
(Oh, and he could have cooled it on the Woody Paige quotes -- according to Dater, the worst thing a sports journalist can be is a "homer," but from a layman's perspective, I don't really care about that. What I do care about is the constant attacks on not just Detroit's pro hockey players, but it's everyday citizens. Paige's quotes are often vile and mean, and Dater's constant use of them comes off annoying.)
As a Wings fan, myself, the Denver perspective was interesting at times, infuriating at others. I found myself wondering how this book would be different if it had been written by a reporter from Detroit -- or, better yet, a neutral third party. Someone who cares about sports history, but but has no direct connection to either team. Perhaps this would have meant fewer, or shorter, or less interesting quotes from coaches, players, and members of the media, who were probably more willing to talk to Dater than they may have been to talk to some random historian -- but it also would have meant fewer pages spent on the trials and tribulations of Dater's personal life. All in all, I would have considered that a fair trade.
(Oh, and he could have cooled it on the Woody Paige quotes -- according to Dater, the worst thing a sports journalist can be is a "homer," but from a layman's perspective, I don't really care about that. What I do care about is the constant attacks on not just Detroit's pro hockey players, but it's everyday citizens. Paige's quotes are often vile and mean, and Dater's constant use of them comes off annoying.)
April 26, 2020
For a guy who was a hockey crazed kid during the events described in this book, this was comfort food. I remember being amazed as an 11 year old by the fact that grown men, elite athletes could behave this way.
This was a well written biography of a time and place in hockey history but it did remind me of two things: sometimes, athletes are not all that introspective about the nuances of the experiences they are living (which I acknowledge may be presumptuous of me but that's often the extent of what they let on) and two, sports writers can be such chores with trying to dress up what they are writing about. The word play, puns and baiting of the opposing side. Good lord. Adrian Dater steers clear of doing this at book length but the journalists he quotes throughout do not.
This was a well written biography of a time and place in hockey history but it did remind me of two things: sometimes, athletes are not all that introspective about the nuances of the experiences they are living (which I acknowledge may be presumptuous of me but that's often the extent of what they let on) and two, sports writers can be such chores with trying to dress up what they are writing about. The word play, puns and baiting of the opposing side. Good lord. Adrian Dater steers clear of doing this at book length but the journalists he quotes throughout do not.
November 11, 2016
Between 1996 and 2002, the best rivalry in professional sports was that between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. They were the best two teams in hockey at that time, winning four Stanley Cups between them and facing off in some memorable games in both the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs.
This rivalry is captured in this book by Denver sports writer Adam Dater. There are short biographies of key personnel from both sides, such as Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy and Detroit coach Scotty Bowman. Memorable fights are relived such as the hit on Red Wing Kris Draper by Claude Lemieux, which was believed by many to be the opening salvo in this bitter feud.
Dater covers these seasons fully, especially the Stanley Cup playoffs, mainly through stories about the teams in the major newspapers of the two cities. While a book on any good sports rivalry can be riveting, this book falls a bit short of that because of the frequent use of newspaper articles for the information. Most of the original material is not new insight into the rivalry but instead on short biographies on players and coaches for both teams. The two previously mentioned, Roy and Bowman, make for good information to readers who may not be familiar with their stories, but hardcore fans may be left disappointed with the lack of depth.
Dater also injects personal notes into the book, including a passage on how he became a sports writer. Again, this is a mixed bag. Sometimes his personal interactions with players and coaches adds a nice touch, such as the story about Bowman, but other times this comes off as too much self-promotion.
Because of the quality of the teams and the rivalry between them, I did finish this book and enjoyed reliving that era of hockey. This book is for readers who are just looking for that type of experience, or if they are fans of either team. Since Dater is a Denver resident, there is a slant toward the Avalanche, but overall the writing is fair to both teams and also fair in overall quality.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
This rivalry is captured in this book by Denver sports writer Adam Dater. There are short biographies of key personnel from both sides, such as Colorado goaltender Patrick Roy and Detroit coach Scotty Bowman. Memorable fights are relived such as the hit on Red Wing Kris Draper by Claude Lemieux, which was believed by many to be the opening salvo in this bitter feud.
Dater covers these seasons fully, especially the Stanley Cup playoffs, mainly through stories about the teams in the major newspapers of the two cities. While a book on any good sports rivalry can be riveting, this book falls a bit short of that because of the frequent use of newspaper articles for the information. Most of the original material is not new insight into the rivalry but instead on short biographies on players and coaches for both teams. The two previously mentioned, Roy and Bowman, make for good information to readers who may not be familiar with their stories, but hardcore fans may be left disappointed with the lack of depth.
Dater also injects personal notes into the book, including a passage on how he became a sports writer. Again, this is a mixed bag. Sometimes his personal interactions with players and coaches adds a nice touch, such as the story about Bowman, but other times this comes off as too much self-promotion.
Because of the quality of the teams and the rivalry between them, I did finish this book and enjoyed reliving that era of hockey. This book is for readers who are just looking for that type of experience, or if they are fans of either team. Since Dater is a Denver resident, there is a slant toward the Avalanche, but overall the writing is fair to both teams and also fair in overall quality.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
July 18, 2013
I probably would have rated this lower if I didn't have such strong feelings about the subject matter. Going in, I assumed it would be tilted toward Denver because of the writer, which I was prepared for. Or at least I thought I was. But calling the Avs in 01 one of the greatest teams ever and then not retuning the favor for the 02 Wings seems like a stretch
All book long, he talked about how bad it is to be a homer, and took shots at the television media, but I think they all fall in the same circle.
Also, Woody Paige is a goddamned clown. His writing is gibberish. Why would he be your main source for articles?
All book long, he talked about how bad it is to be a homer, and took shots at the television media, but I think they all fall in the same circle.
Also, Woody Paige is a goddamned clown. His writing is gibberish. Why would he be your main source for articles?
August 19, 2018
I did not appreciate Dater's attempts to show the players involved as human, since everyone knows that the Avalanche were mindless brutes and the Red Wings were perfect hockey angels.
More seriously, his biases did make the book a little odd. I thought it was strange how he tried to brush off Patrick Roy ripping doors out of hinges and smashing televisions with his goalie stick by saying that he's just insecure, guys. Sheesh. Even if you're not a Wings fan, you've got to find that at least slightly disturbing.
Still an interesting book, though, and a decent recap of a rivalry that I remember well from my childhood.
More seriously, his biases did make the book a little odd. I thought it was strange how he tried to brush off Patrick Roy ripping doors out of hinges and smashing televisions with his goalie stick by saying that he's just insecure, guys. Sheesh. Even if you're not a Wings fan, you've got to find that at least slightly disturbing.
Still an interesting book, though, and a decent recap of a rivalry that I remember well from my childhood.
May 11, 2010
This is a wonderful look at what was, at the time, the greatest rivalry in sports. Some may say it is slanted towards the Avalanche over the Red Wings and while it is true that the author is a Denver sports writer, I thought he did a good job writing a balanced perspective. This brought me behind the scenes and told stories that really brought new life to events that brought me into hockey in the first place. The narrative does skip around a lot and is sometimes a little too conversational, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book.
April 20, 2014
I remember the Avalanche-Wings rivalry as a fan, cheering for the proud home team in the burgundy and blue, and hating on the villains in their red and white. Dater provides some fascinating insight into the major players and coaches that began, fed, and survived this rivalry on both sides. Whether reading about Scotty Bowman or Marc Crawford, Darren McCarty or Claude Lemieux, it's an entertaining yarn that transcends simple fannish slogans. If you're at all a fan of the game, or especially a fan of either the Avalanche or the Wings, I recommend this book.
Want to read
June 7, 2019I've come to a complete stop on this book because I was reading it at night before sleeping and I reached the chapter where the author is going to try to tell me that Claude Lemieux is a good guy and I know that's going to piss me off massively and then I won't be able to sleep. Now that it's summer in Michigan, I'll try to read it when I sit outside in the afternoon. That'll help me get through that chapter, I think.
April 22, 2024
Love the nostalgia - I came into the tail end of this rivalry and it's nice to see how it began. However...the author - who claims he's an unbiased journalist - seems a little too willing to forgive the Avs for their transgressions (Lemieux was a thug and Roy was arrogant af). Also...one paragraph for the 97-98 Wings team winning it for Vladdy? Are you serious? Ray Bourque gets pages though.
At least he remembered the Statue of Liberty goal. Classic 😂
At least he remembered the Statue of Liberty goal. Classic 😂
October 21, 2024
This was just… ok. I was expecting more, and given my Red Wings fandom, was hoping for more perspective, not just rehashing of old stories. Not much contained herein that I hadn’t read before. This was a missed opportunity to give this the Jeff Pearlman approach - lots of research and interviews to tell the whole story.
April 4, 2010
It seemed to me the writer failed to convey the intensity of this rivalry. Coming from someone who covered these games as a reporter there is surprisingly little information about what actually happened on the ice.
May 6, 2010
Great subject, the most recent REAL hockey rivalry, lots of hate on both sides. I just didn't care for the writing itself.
January 19, 2021
Poorly written, and incredibly biased. Such an incredible rivalry deserved better than this.
January 3, 2020
I was 15 when the Avalanche moved to Colorado so the macho violence of the Avalanche/Red Wings rivalry was perfect for me. It's a good story. I read this book in about 2 days because of the nostalgia it offered. I remember fuming at the Red Wings in the late 90's and I remember watching the last big Avalanche/Red Wings playoff games from the Pepsi Center while they played in Detroit where the Avalanche lost 7-0.
Dater did a good job capturing the people and events that made this rivalry as well as the big events that surrounded the rivalry. This book is almost a first-person view but not quite a third-person view of the Avalanche/Red Wings rivalry from 95-2002. If you lived through it, this is a fun read.
Dater did a good job capturing the people and events that made this rivalry as well as the big events that surrounded the rivalry. This book is almost a first-person view but not quite a third-person view of the Avalanche/Red Wings rivalry from 95-2002. If you lived through it, this is a fun read.
April 26, 2020
I knew this could be pretty one sided (the author is a Denver reporter) but I've been having a hard time focusing and reading pretty much anything - I wanted to try to read something a little different than what I'd normally pick up. A sports book definitely fits the bill and I'm into the subject so off we went.
The information is naturally skewed towards Denver, which again is to be expected as that's the side of things Dater would have been immersed in. Overall it wasn't too uneven (the digs at the end about how Detroit tv personalities are omg total homers made me roll my eyes, though, come on man).
The information is naturally skewed towards Denver, which again is to be expected as that's the side of things Dater would have been immersed in. Overall it wasn't too uneven (the digs at the end about how Detroit tv personalities are omg total homers made me roll my eyes, though, come on man).
July 8, 2020
A surprisingly down the middle look at one of the biggest rivalries of that period, considering the author wrote for a Denver newspaper. A quick read that entices the reader by both delving into the cast of characters and reviewing key moments in the rivalry. The origins and key moments are analyzed from the beginning of the rivalry to the end. It is left to the reader to decide which side won the war after the culmination of the battles.
December 23, 2021
This is a must read for any die hard hockey fan who wants to re-live the most hated sports rivalry of its time. Whether you’re an Avs fan or Wings fan, Dater unbiasedly paints a fantastic picture of blood, sweat, and tears. Four stars only because most of the information in the book is well-known due to heavy coverage on this topic. If you’re looking for some new insight or an unheard version of this rivalry, this is not the book.
June 7, 2024
Felt like it favored the Avs more than being right down the middle (given who the author is, not surprising), but it was great reading this and reliving this rivalry that I so passionately watched as a kid in Detroit.
Even learned some surprising things about players that I considered the enemy.
Gonna go watch that ESPN special about this now too. Maybe rewatch those old Red Wings Stanley Cup tapes.
Even learned some surprising things about players that I considered the enemy.
Gonna go watch that ESPN special about this now too. Maybe rewatch those old Red Wings Stanley Cup tapes.
July 26, 2017
Dater nails it!
I lived in Denver during the time of the Rivalry. Adrian Dater capture the feel
of what I think was some of the best hockey played during those years. The Red Wing Avalanche rivalry was also probably one of the best team rivalries in all of sports.
I lived in Denver during the time of the Rivalry. Adrian Dater capture the feel
of what I think was some of the best hockey played during those years. The Red Wing Avalanche rivalry was also probably one of the best team rivalries in all of sports.
September 28, 2019
One of the greatest rivalry in sports has ever seen. This book is a telltale to the battle between Detroit and Colorado. The hype this Book brought was amazing. The before and after aftermath of one of the greatest line brawls of all time.
July 27, 2024
Read this along time ago and its one of the best hockey books ever. This red Wings Avalanche rivalry in the late 90s was very very heated. This author was a beat reporter for the avalanche and seen it all. An unstoppable book. Read this and then watch the documentary on ESPN+. Both are amazing
January 24, 2025
Filled with some great stories. Sometimes it wanders off into bits about the newspaper/media industry and how it was changing and they come off as very petty and don't seem like they should be in the book.
June 6, 2025
What a thrilling book! I thoroughly enjoyed reliving some of my favourite NHL memories from when I was a kid/teenager. As a longtime Detroit fan who clearly remembers this intense rivalry, this book was perfect!
November 16, 2019
I recommend this book if you love Hockey , Or the Wings or even the avs... it gives you some indepth views on certain players and some time line a must read for any hockey fan!
September 1, 2020
Some good stories. Brought back some fun memories. Included parts of columns by Woody Paige. First time reading any of his work and will be the last...what a hack.
November 5, 2020
Wrote a review check goodreads
January 9, 2021
The nostalgia factor alone for this rivalry was enough to help me enjoy this book, but I thought the writing could have been better
December 25, 2022
Really good perspective on both sides of one of the best rivalries in sports history.
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