Those who don't know (and if you don't, then shame on you) the caption above is a quote from Rocky IV. The reason why I point that out is that JUST like Balboa vs. Drago, I believe this fight is going to be a slobber-knocker! I'd love to sit here and say that we're going to sweep the Blackhawks just like we swept the Penguins, but the Blackhawks have something the Pens never had...Leadership and Heart. It's those two factors that supersede all the skill in the world once the NHL's 2nd season begins. Look at Sid "The Kid" Crosby...I heard him referenced a million times as being "The Best Player In The World" to the point where I'm surprised he doesn't wear a t-shirt that states as much, but where was he when faced with a team loaded with leaders, with hearts of a champion? He was nowhere, as his stats and play showed. What's the point of be the best in the world at something if the end result is meaningless? Honestly, it's like being the fastest kid in the Special Olympics.
I actually read this in a fortune cookie
The Chicago Blackhawks on the other hand have the heart to fight through adversity, have the leadership that brings a team together and has the skill to make ANY goalie look like Goldberg from The Mighty Ducks.
Worst...Goalie...Ever!
Aside from the fact that these are two of the Original-6, the individual match ups are amazingly exciting. The Captains squaring off in Big-Z's defense vs. Toews unwavering offensive skill...The Studs with Seguin and Kane flying up and down the ice with more moves than Electric Boogaloo...The Pain-in-the-Ass Pests of Marchand and Andrew Shaw who you love to hate OR hate to love...The Goalie's who's stats and abilities are SO similar, if there's any advantage one way or the other, it's measured by a pubic hair...AND the match up I can't wait to see, Milan Lucic vs. Bryan Bickell who are the unstoppable force vs. immovable object (take your pick who is who).
What this series feels like
As it is Hump Day, normally I would have a soccer match to play (which I do), but I wouldn't be able to concentrate if I played. I've pleaded with My Love, who is also My Teammate, to also call-in-sick to soccer so that we can watch together. I can say that the way to a man's heart could be through how to you watch/enjoy sporting events, whether it's live or on TV. It's just more fun watching shit with her and just like my playoff-5:00-shadow, I don't think we've lost while watching together...and I don't like messing with the sporting gods.
No matter what the outcome of the series, I can't wait to watch some good old-fashion hockey. Two teams who will leave all they have on the ice for every game this series. A couple months ago, My Love and I spent some quality time in a Chicago hookah bar waiting for our connecting flight back to Boston. We spent a good amount of that time talking with a native Chi-Town resident and expressed how much we'd love to see a Boston/Chicago Stanley Cup and had some great friendly debate regarding our teams, our cities, ourselves. Towards the end of the night we parted way, shook hands and wished each other well...and when the bill came for our dinner and drinks, we found that our new friend had paid our tab prior to leaving. New friends aside, it's almost game time...Chicago acquaintances are put on hold, time to get nasty; blood, sweat and tears...and if you didn't need any more motivation, I'll leave you with these immortal words...
No comments:
Post a Comment