Pre-game musings.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Between the moment I woke up this morning and right now, with still six hours before the pre-game show on OLN, I've found myself all but in a frenzy of excitement at the fact that the Stanley Cup Finals are finally starting. Finally, after two years that seemed like forever, we're going to see the Stanley Cup be award to a team, be it the 'Canes or the Oilers.
Despite having lived through two Devils championships back when I lived in New Jersey (and a third when I was in Missouri but not yet firmly planted in Columbus), I can't put in to words just how much more exciting this finals is compared to ones where a team I was behind from the start was in it. Honestly, after the lock-out last season, I could care less if it turned out to be the two teams from each conference that I dislike the most; I'd still be about as revved and up and as excited as I am now.
This is what happens when you end up having all that pent up playoff energy finally break through that never got to be used in the last season. Even though I want to see Carolina win, my biggest desire is just to see the Cup finally get awarded again. One year without the Cup is just one year much, much too long.
I'm not going to make any predictions. The last time I made a prediction for the Stanley Cup Finals was in high school, when I goaded my Colorado Avalanche fan of an English teacher when the New Jersey Devils were ahead 3 games to 2 in the 2001 Finals. I'm no believer in karma or bad mojo, but I'm definitely not going to push my luck this time and make any proclamations. All I know is that who I want to win is Carolina, but regardless of how things turn out, I want this series to turn out to be one of the best to watch.
Despite having lived through two Devils championships back when I lived in New Jersey (and a third when I was in Missouri but not yet firmly planted in Columbus), I can't put in to words just how much more exciting this finals is compared to ones where a team I was behind from the start was in it. Honestly, after the lock-out last season, I could care less if it turned out to be the two teams from each conference that I dislike the most; I'd still be about as revved and up and as excited as I am now.
This is what happens when you end up having all that pent up playoff energy finally break through that never got to be used in the last season. Even though I want to see Carolina win, my biggest desire is just to see the Cup finally get awarded again. One year without the Cup is just one year much, much too long.
I'm not going to make any predictions. The last time I made a prediction for the Stanley Cup Finals was in high school, when I goaded my Colorado Avalanche fan of an English teacher when the New Jersey Devils were ahead 3 games to 2 in the 2001 Finals. I'm no believer in karma or bad mojo, but I'm definitely not going to push my luck this time and make any proclamations. All I know is that who I want to win is Carolina, but regardless of how things turn out, I want this series to turn out to be one of the best to watch.
