Cup Runneth Over
Wednesday, June 10, 2009 20:28
Random thoughts and observation on the Stanley Cup Finals…
- Save for the game five blowout when the ‘Guins lost their poise and the Wings mauled Fleury, this has been an even, hard fought and beautifully played series.
- Hockey purists who believe fighting is necessary to the game’s quality must be disappointed. A fight would only detract from this series’ pure energy. Fistfights need to be banned in hockey immediately. A warning followed by 10 game suspensions would do the trick.
- No legitimate, professional sport—except those featuring hand-to-hand combat—can ever be taken seriously when play is stopped so pissed off players can punch each other.
- If TV could find an ascetically appropriate way to enhance puck visibility, the game would easily supplant the NBA as the third major sport.
- Anyone who doesn’t know Sidney Crosby is the best player in the world isn’t watching the same hockey I am. In the Pen’s four playoff rounds he has been the most effective two-way player on ice. His only close peer is Henrik Zetterberg. Alex Ovechkin has a laser of a shot, but he’s lazy on the back check and a sniper—albeit a truly great one—in the offensive zone. Crosby does it all, cycle, grind, pass, score and back-check. The best in the world.
- More than most refs in other sports, hockey zebras have the most thankless job. Forget they have to officiate while players whiz by at 30 MPH, watch the puck so it doesn’t decapitate them, and perform those tasks while skating at 10-20 MPH. If hockey refs call the game by the book, the sadists cry, “Let ‘em play.” (Which really means, “Let them board, cross-check, slash, high stick, and, hopefully, fight.”) If the refs do let the non-intentional infractions slide, people question the game’s legitimacy.
- Say what you want about MLB or NFL game officials, if a runner doesn’t touch all the bases after a walk off homer, he’s called out. If a left tackle jumps offside with 12 seconds on the clock, he gets flagged. The NHL should follow suit. Call a Tuesday night game in late October, the same way you call the Cup Finals.
- Forget the media’s contrived schlock about Detroit being a tired, old, team. First they aren’t that old. Second, they’ll have three full days of rest before game seven. No excuses, no hype needed.
- Of course, I’m praying the Flightless Ones pull it out Friday and my rooting bias when it comes to everything Pittsburgh is well known. But does on-ice analyst, Pierre McGuire, have a clear anti-Penguin bias, or am I being paranoid? Best example was the discrepancy in his commentary during Zetterberg’s blatant hand covering the puck when the biscuit wound up on Osgood’s back during game one contrasted with his call during Scuderi’s brilliant defensive play to keep Detroit from tying the contest Tuesday night.
- The Penguin’s should have been given a penalty shot in game one. Zetterberg did not “bat the puck” he clearly covered it with his hand. Remember also the crease goes up infinitely—just like the NFL goal line extends infinitely—so it doesn’t matter if the rule says ON THE ICE. If Osgood is lying on his back on the ice, and the puck is on his back, the puck is deemed to be on the ice.
- McGuire didn’t seem too concerned at all about Zetterberg’s foul but incorrectly accused Scuderi of the same infraction, which replays clearly showed was not the case. To his credit, Pierre did correct the record.
So who wins game seven? Normally, for predictions, I would consult Nostradamus’ famous cousin and my personal soothsayer Murray Dunnosquatis, but he was last seen chugging Jagermeister with three West Hollywood she-males and I’m not about to go looking for him. So, it’s my call…
Detroit is deeper and Datsyuk will be all the way back unless Babcock is fudging on the extent of the MVP candidate’s injury. But the ‘Guins are a fairly deep team themselves, so the Detroit’s edge in this category is slimmer than the punditocracy would have us believe.
Both goalies have had the post clanging in there favor the entire series. Look for that to change in game seven. I’m thinking a Penguin victory in overtime. Bylsma is going to pair Crosby with Malkin and try to take Zetterberg and Datsyuk out of rhythm. (I won’t consider the nightmare of Maid Marion scoring the winner for the ‘Wings.)
History, home ice, and most pundits are against the Pens. They must beat a truly great team in Detroit. I see Crosby coming up big with four points.
6-5—Tuxedoed Fowls in overtime.
PS. After being informed of the most recent NHL marketing blunder which can be found here: http://shop.nhl.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=3634024 I’m predicting the Penguins to win 5-1 and for them to kick Detroit’s ass all over the ice.
I mean, really, who doesn’t love a good hockey fight?
Nate Barlow
says:
June 11th, 2009 at 3:33 am
I am with you on this one — go Pens! Great breakdown!
Gairzo
says:
June 11th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Just so everyone knows what the Post Script was referring to…Today the Pittsburgh Sports Channel accurately reported this itemhttp://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/sports/197155...
When I checked out the site there was all kind of Redwing "Champion" stuff for sale. It has since been removed.
They better be ready to play come Friday.
ernessa
says:
June 11th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I agree with you on all points save one:
Hockey's stunning lack of diversity more than its puck visibility is what will keep it from supplanting the NBA. If they can't attract a good minority (which let's face it, when we're all put together, we're close to a majority) viewership, then hockey will never, ever supplant the NBA as the third major sport.
That all said, I especially agree about the fighting. The Derby Dolls faced down this decision while I was still in their ranks. I got out-voted on fighting issue — one of my teammates was reprimanded and suspended for striking up a play-fight w/ one of the refs. And though I didn't agree w/ the decision back then, I must admit, The Derby Dolls seem a lot more professional these days after putting this rule in place. It's hard to take a game seriously if people are fighting just for the sake of fighting. Still, I feel that there would be lots of lazy movie and TV writers who would be sad to see this rule put on the books, since they keep going to the well of this cliche over and over again.
Nate Barlow
says:
June 11th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
The lack of diversity is a chicken and the egg issue. More diversity in the players , wider audience; wider audience, more diversity in the players. A majority of the players ares still from northern, cold weather areas, whether that be Canada or Europe, where the minority populations are not what they are in a large part of the US. When the NHL had a better national TV contract, I do believe I saw studies showing the spread of the game into wider demographics. Of course, with that contract gone, visibility is less, and the demographics have shrunk to the league's traditional strongholds. I do believe you are right in saying that is a key concern with the growth of the sport–but how do we address it?
Gairzo
says:
June 11th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Great points guys.
Economics is also a factor. All you need to play basketball is a bank board, a hoop and a ball. Baseball and football can be played in any open field.
My cousin played hockey. The equipment was a few hundred, add more for sticks, and still more for ice rental. Minority families are too often on the lower end of the economic scale. That is starting to change, and with it we'll see more diversity on the ice.
Also, I used to coach baseball and soccer. Me and my boys would leave the house at 5:00 practice, play a game and be home by 8:00 If you have a hockey game at 6:00, you have to be at the rink by 4:00 to dress, tape your stick, and warm-up. Then you have to undo all that after the game. You might be home by 9:30 on a fast night. You have a lot of moms and dads of all backgrounds who can't afford the financial investment or that of time.
Interesting, in '97 when Tiger burst onto the scene, we saw a huge spike in minority participation in golf. That's starting to tail off now that moms and dads realize that Tiger had lessons from age 3 and they cost a lot of money. Forget about new clubs for every growth spurt, and don't mention green fees and cart fees.
Even beyond that, Dad has to be there coaching you for a 4-5 hour round.
Lots of parents work more than one job. They can't put in the time some sports demand.
ernessa
says:
June 13th, 2009 at 3:50 am
I think you are so right about the economics factor. The fact is that anybody can get in on a b-ball game, but my sister-in-law had to take one of her sons out of hockey, b/c of the expense. He'll probably be playing basketball or soccer in the future.
However, roller derby attracts a diverse range of people, and we have the same factors. $300 (at least) skates. Padding. Tons of practice time. The secret is getting stuff donated, and eventually even the poorest among us got sick of skating on shitty skates and "found a way" to get decent skates.
Hockey leagues in Canada might want to make more of an effort to recruit kids from immigrant and poorer communities by getting skates and hockey sticks donated and starting them off.
Also, I agree that hockey seriously needs a Tiger Woods or a Yao Ming to get a new audience. The thing is it only takes one minority superstar to garner a whole new audience. Myself, I never watched a game of tennis until Venus and Serena came on the scene.
Gairzo
says:
June 13th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Interesting post, Ernessa. My idols…. When I was a pup my hero was Bill Mazeroski. I played second and my dad met him once. But then Roberto Clemente broke out as I grew up and I remember having fistfights on who got to be "the Great One" during a pick-up game. Clemente and Willie Stargell were our neighborhood favorites. Until Chuck Noll picked a mean sum-bitch out of North Texas State named Joe Green.
Few years later, I beat my gym teacher in ping-pong and he lost a bet and paid by taking me to the Immaculate Reception game. I was four rows from the top at Three River when the Snake Stabler scrambled for the 30 yard touchdown.
Cried like a baby. I was young and had plenty of company. There were grown men openly sobbing. I was watching an empty pint liquor bottle sall across the bleachers and remember wondering how much it would hurt if it landed on someone's noggin.
Then the whole stadium erupted into a deafening roar.
I missed the whole friggin' Imaculate Reception and only saw Franco cross the goal line.
I bolted to get down to the field. The players weren't celebrating because the refs were conferencing. Which meant the zebras were calculating their chances for survival if they ruled the play illegal.
It was chaos on the field. Somehow I pushed my way near the Steelers' bench and saw Mean Joe Green. When he looked at me I felt like Moses in front of the talking bush.
I guess it's an unwritten rule to never make eye contact with your idol–I had a sudden urge to urinate.
Just then they ruled the play legit and the Steelers won their first play-off game in 40 years.
Point being, Pittsburgh is often labeled a racist town and, sadly, the charge is accurate, but most of my and my friends' sports heroes were black.
Guess we figured that's what "black and gold" was supposed to be.