The Day Dawns

By the time I go to sleep again, I will experience a once in a generation event and be either ecstatic and drunk with joy or incredibly disappointed and wondering if I'll ever experience joy again.



I was 9 the last time a day like this happened. Almost 30 years later it has come around again.

Championships have been won. Game 7's have been played. Do or die's have been contested. But nothing compares to a Game 7 in the Finals.

Courtesy of the Pirates, if you can believe that, Pittsburgh had a run of 3 from 1960 through 1979, that being the last one and the last time a road team has won a Game 7 in a Final round of the NHL, NBA or MLB. Not since then have we seen something like this.

The Steelers have played 4 Super Bowls since the last Burgh Finals Game 7. Won 3 of them. But that is a one game matchup. Sometimes, like in February, it takes a bit for the game to heat up, for emotions to come to a boil.

Not in a Game 7, the last of a long series that forces emotions to the fore and hatred for the rival.

The Pirates have all but faded, but their last gasp provided perhaps the most painful Game 7 collapse in history. But it wasn't the final round. Even if Espy catches the ball, Lind fields it like the gold glover he was, Berryhill gets called out on strikes like he was, and yes, Bonds earns a series ending assist, there was still more work to do.

Tonight, or early tomorrow morning, no matter what there will be nothing more to do. Both teams go home. But one gets the prettiest present in all of sports to share with their fans and family all summer long. After a season pushed as far as it can go, that is the reward. Both have come as far as they can, but the teams and their fans will depart will remarkably different feelings and memories from today.

I am somewhat removed from the glow that is burning in both Pittsburgh and Detroit, unable to join the thousands in the Burgh on this collective roller coaster. This time, unlike in 1991 when I drove all day from Tennessee to the Igloo (getting lost and winding up in Kentucky along the way) for Game 2 vs the North Stars and got to witness 66 splitting Chambers and Wilkinson and enjoyed the Pens return with the Cup with thousands of others at old Pittsburgh International, this time I'll be watching from afar.

But even that didn't take 7 games to win. And even Game 7 heroes like Kasparaitis and villains like Volek and Fitzgerald will take a back seat to a Finals Game 7 hero.

Because this day is unlike any other. It's Game 7. Stanley Cup Finals. In the schoolyard for all the marbles.

And sometime Friday morning, I'll fall asleep with memories and emotions that I know won't likely come around again for a long long time, if ever.

Let's Go Pens!

2 More Years

For all the excitement that comes with a new arena, and groundbreaking is a sure sign that it's on its way, I for one will be sad to see the old Igloo go. Just as seeing Three Rivers brought down was a passing of an era, not seeing the big steel dome in any shots of downtown, particularly aerial shots, will be jarring.

I've spent many nights in the Igloo, enjoyable and heartbreaking, but that's a list for a future time.

For now, let's focus on the one thing that the Igloo hasn't had but needs before it's gone to make it a truly legendary arena: the passing of the Cup from one Penguin to another.

The two Cup wins were on the road and this spring we saw the chalice skated around the Igloo in the hands of the Red Wings. So while the Igloo will always be able to claim at least one Cup celebration, to truly be an unforgettable barn, the home team needs to be the team celebrating.

There are two seasons left to make it happen and given the state and prospects of the Pens currently, it is very possible that it could happen. And maybe not once, but twice. There is nothing else I'd rather see in the next 2 years.

Let's Go Pens!!

From the Pens website:
Government Officials, Penguins Break Ground on New Multi-Purpose Arena

The ceremonial groundbreaking took place on the future site of “center ice” in t he new state-of-the-art facility, which is being built across the street from Mellon Arena between Centre and Fifth avenues.

“This facility will not only be home to the Pittsburgh Penguins for years to come, but it will also serve as an entertainment centerpiece and economic generator for our entire region,” said Onorato. “We expect the multi-purpose arena to attract world-class concerts, family shows and other events to Southwestern Pennsylvania year round.”

Elvis Is Going Back to the Burgh!!

vs.

Sykora Nets the Winner while Bugsy puts his nose in the way again

Classic Game 5. Has to rank as one of if not the best games in Pens history.

Hop in the Cordoba, Get in the Fast Lane, or Get Down to Archie's on Carson St for Game 6!!

Notes & Links:

• Who else but Mike Lange for the calls. His call of Talbot's tying goal is perfect.
• Some losers don't think Sykora should have been able to score the winning goal. Why do they insist on this stupidity??
• Mario Trasher Burnside tries to get back Burghers good side.
• Seems like lots of people, including Muir at si.com, are amazed at the Pens fighting spirit. And lots were saying they had to compete harder. Baloney. They were competing hard just couldn't do what they wanted because of Detroit. That's why last night wasn't a total surprise.
  
• What if it was Mario, or Gretzky, or NYC media darling Messier who called his shot instead of Petr Sykora? Movie producers would be fighting to make it. Instead, it's a nice mention.
• Little Mitchy Albom chimes in with a decent but typical story about the despair in Detroit.
• How many writers need to chime in on how difficult it will be for the Pens to keep the team together after this season? We've all heard it, there is nothing new to write. Just sit back and enjoy it while you can.
• The Flower's amazing save just before Sarge hits the boards:

• Talbot's goal with 34.3 seconds left was the latest goal scored in regulation in a Stanley Cup Final game by a team facing elimination.
• The Cup has been won on a goal that went further into OT: Brett Hull's skate in the crease goal that won the Cup for Dallas in 1999.
• Things That Made Me Smile This Morning:
  
• From the Grand Rapids Press: "Get Ready for a Championship Parade Detroit!"
• From the PG:
  "With a little less than six minutes left in the third period, workers rushed down a large corridor of Joe Louis Arena pushing carts of champagne on ice.

  Elsewhere in the bowels of the building, the Stanley Cup was receiving a final white-glove polish."

• Paul Kukla wonders if that was the worst loss in Detroit history.
  
• Game 6 is on.
  

You Can Spit Shine Your Shoes, the Pens Are Going Dancing With Lord Stanley!

The Pens absolutely demolished the Filly Flyers this afternoon, 6-0, to clinch a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals vs Detroit or Dallas. The game was reminiscent of game 6 vs the North Stars in the 91 Cup Final and was never in doubt after about 30 minutes of action.