The Stanley Cup

OK--I won't pretend to know anything about hockey. I've never been a hockey fanatic. But, I've been watching the championship games and now the Cup games. I'm watching for one reason and one reason only, the Pens are in it. Being from SW PA, I'm supporting the Pittsburgh team. Things have been rough for the Pens since the early 1990's. The team has faced bankruptcy and the possibility of leaving Pittsburgh for some other city. At one point in time, they were so bad they couldn't even pull 10,000 people to a game. Now 10,000 people are sitting outside the Mellon Arena watching them play on a big outdoor screen while the Arena is filled to capacity.

The turn around started when the Pens were fortunate enough to draft the very young Syd the Kid; the youngest captain a team ever had. A majority of the Pens are still young pups. So here they are, playing for the major prize against guys they grew up worshipping. Some of these kids were born the year some of their opponents started their careers. That's got to leave them awestruck.

However the series ends, these kids have done well. Hopefully they'll be able to carry it in to the future. Afterall, the city of Pittsburgh is tearing down the arena and building them a new home. My biggest concern about this, though---Pittsburgh imploded Three Rivers Stadium and gave the Pirates a fancy, new house. The Pirates haven't had a winning season since. Not like the magic they had playing at Three Rivers. They're not pulling fans to the park. But then, they don't have Clemente in right field.

On a positive note, the Steelers have done wonderful in their new home at Heinz Field. Win or lose, Pittsburgh is a football town and the fans support them. Except if the player is the quarterback and the 'Stiller's' lost.

I wish the Pens luck. I'll watch them throughout the series as long as they aren't playing opposite a NASCAR race. I hope the winning streak continues because that new house has to be paid for.