I can't bear to watch tonight's game. I tried. I failed.
Either way, raise your sticks one last time guys. You exceeded everyone's expectations.
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stanley Cup. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Fleury, Hallowed be thy Name
If a team ever won a game based on the sheer will of a single player, then the Penguins won last night's triple overtime based on the will of Marc-André Fleury.
There is nothing I can say that has not all ready been expressed by a multitude of sports writers, bloggers and casual fans. I was not planning on watching Game 5. I was going to read quietly and go to bed.
Instead I stayed up until after 1:00 AM, with friends, witnessing a game I only dreamed about seeing and could barely stand to watch. I could not stand to watch a shot by Hall Gill go astray and break Ryan Malone's nose. I could not stand the look in the eyes of the normally stoic Sergei Gonchar, sidelined to the bench by a back injury.
But I watched it. All of it. All 110 minutes of it. And I'll do it again tomorrow night.
There is nothing I can say that has not all ready been expressed by a multitude of sports writers, bloggers and casual fans. I was not planning on watching Game 5. I was going to read quietly and go to bed.
Instead I stayed up until after 1:00 AM, with friends, witnessing a game I only dreamed about seeing and could barely stand to watch. I could not stand to watch a shot by Hall Gill go astray and break Ryan Malone's nose. I could not stand the look in the eyes of the normally stoic Sergei Gonchar, sidelined to the bench by a back injury.
But I watched it. All of it. All 110 minutes of it. And I'll do it again tomorrow night.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
My Finals Experience
Was marred by Mellon Arena's decision to arbitrarily enforce their “no cameras with lens greater than 3 inches” policy. I was not permitted to enter the arena with the camera, so J returned it to the car and sought out an official who clarified that enforcement was up to the discretion of security and that any camera that appeared “too professional” was not permitted in the arena.
This is the same camera I have been bringing into the arena for two years without issue. I am frustrated and disappointed that the lens of my camera, which meets NHL guidelines for amateur photography equipment at events*, was deemed a potential obstruction while fans carrying in full-sized cardboard + aluminum foil or blowup replicas of the Stanley Cup, large poster board signs and giant sized stuffed Penguins are given a pass. I am frustrated that the people who insist on standing, leaving or returning to their seats while the puck is in play are deemed not enough of an obstruction to warrant a confrontation with an usher, but my camera, which actually remains securely zipped in it's carrying case for 90% of the game, is an annoyance.
And to deem my camera as “too professional” would make the actual professional photographer who stood on the landing below us during the entire game, with her super telephoto zoom lens, laugh her ass off.
Then the Penguins had to go and make it worse by allowing the Red Wings to score a weak (it bounced OFF Fleury) go-ahead goal, thus giving the Detroit the motivation it needed to shut down the Penguins offense completely. The Penguins can learn a lot by studying Detroit's defensive plays. I predict that Detroit will wrap up the series at home Monday night and will be hoisting the Stanley Cup.
I'm OK with Detroit winning. They are a better, more experienced team. And Detroit fans are welcome back at Mellon Arena anytime. They did not boo our players, returned good natured taunting with the same and, most surprisingly, left the arena quietly at the end of the game. Although it may have been shock that kept them from openly celebrating.
*I know this because I looked up the guidelines and measured the fully extended lens before the Winter Classic.
This is the same camera I have been bringing into the arena for two years without issue. I am frustrated and disappointed that the lens of my camera, which meets NHL guidelines for amateur photography equipment at events*, was deemed a potential obstruction while fans carrying in full-sized cardboard + aluminum foil or blowup replicas of the Stanley Cup, large poster board signs and giant sized stuffed Penguins are given a pass. I am frustrated that the people who insist on standing, leaving or returning to their seats while the puck is in play are deemed not enough of an obstruction to warrant a confrontation with an usher, but my camera, which actually remains securely zipped in it's carrying case for 90% of the game, is an annoyance.
And to deem my camera as “too professional” would make the actual professional photographer who stood on the landing below us during the entire game, with her super telephoto zoom lens, laugh her ass off.
Then the Penguins had to go and make it worse by allowing the Red Wings to score a weak (it bounced OFF Fleury) go-ahead goal, thus giving the Detroit the motivation it needed to shut down the Penguins offense completely. The Penguins can learn a lot by studying Detroit's defensive plays. I predict that Detroit will wrap up the series at home Monday night and will be hoisting the Stanley Cup.
I'm OK with Detroit winning. They are a better, more experienced team. And Detroit fans are welcome back at Mellon Arena anytime. They did not boo our players, returned good natured taunting with the same and, most surprisingly, left the arena quietly at the end of the game. Although it may have been shock that kept them from openly celebrating.
*I know this because I looked up the guidelines and measured the fully extended lens before the Winter Classic.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Notes From the Finals - Game 1
There is a restaurant at the Waterfront that will never receive my patronage again. Not because their meals are a pale imitation of the southern style barbecue I enjoyed during my brief time in South Carolina. I ended up with a case of food poisoning and am spending the first game of the Stanley Cup finals on my couch, alone, while J enjoys the game with good friends, wings and beer.
If the first period is any indication, the Detroit Red Wings are a very worthy adversary and it would be an honor if the Penguins lost the Finals to such a team*. The Red Wings played a flawless first period and were robbed of a goal due to a terrible goaltender interference call by the referees*.
As fantastic as the Red Wings are, I am a fan of one of the coolest organizations in the NHL. The executives opened Mellon Arena, lowered the JumboTron and charged fans $5.00 a person to watch the game on a very big screen. All proceeds from the entry fee are going to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Thirteen thousand fans have taken the organization up on the offer. Versus was considerate enough to show a couple of shots of the fans in the arena, madly waving white rally towels.
*Real fans acknowledge when the other team is better and also acknowledge terrible calls that fall in their team's favor. Realistically, I have genuine doubts that the Penguins can pull off four wins against the Red Wings and will not be too pained to see Detroit take the Stanley Cup.
If the first period is any indication, the Detroit Red Wings are a very worthy adversary and it would be an honor if the Penguins lost the Finals to such a team*. The Red Wings played a flawless first period and were robbed of a goal due to a terrible goaltender interference call by the referees*.
As fantastic as the Red Wings are, I am a fan of one of the coolest organizations in the NHL. The executives opened Mellon Arena, lowered the JumboTron and charged fans $5.00 a person to watch the game on a very big screen. All proceeds from the entry fee are going to the Mario Lemieux Foundation. Thirteen thousand fans have taken the organization up on the offer. Versus was considerate enough to show a couple of shots of the fans in the arena, madly waving white rally towels.
*Real fans acknowledge when the other team is better and also acknowledge terrible calls that fall in their team's favor. Realistically, I have genuine doubts that the Penguins can pull off four wins against the Red Wings and will not be too pained to see Detroit take the Stanley Cup.
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