Well, let's see. Tom Cruise spent $20 million on a gift for his sweetie, a Kardashian is back in the news, Prince Harry might have had a date, the ever-lovable Dick Cheney, new heart and all, is blasting Obama, the Taliban are up to their usual highjinx in Afghanistan, those pesky Iranians and North Koreans might hook up any second now to pose a "clear and present danger" to the USA, and Republicans and Democrats still hate each other. One congressman even seems to think the Girl Scouts are some sort of subversive terrorist organization. Just another day. Yawn.
And then there's the Philadelphia Flyers squaring off against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Stanley Cup playoffs. That's an attention grabber. While those two teams might not have the historic rivalry of say, the Yankees and Red Sox, make no mistake about it. They currently hate each other. Also, unlike many other historic rivalries, when two teams of highly conditioned, seriously Type A personality athletes are rotating players on and off the ice, and the very nature of the game requires frequent, and many times severe bodily contact -- as in hard checks -- then add sticks, two heaping tablespoons of playoff intensity, and a dash of Sidney Crosby. Stir in a cup of vintage Broad Street Bullies, smother in mayhem, bring to a boil, and you have the Philly/Pitt series.
Sports Illustrated predicted the Penguins to win the Stanley Cup, but we all know how well their predictions have worked out over the years -- in every sport. Now the Penguins find themselves in an 0-3 hole against the Flyers, with the next game to be played in Philadelphia. Chances are better than average the Pens won't survive the first round, let alone win the Cup.
I dare say most knowledgeable hockey fans would agree Pittsburgh possesses superior talent than what the Flyers have, but Sid and his boys have been caught up in the trap of trying to out-bully a bully, or out-con a master mind gamer. That strategy rarely works. The Pens seem to have lost their way, appear thoroughly confused, and may very well exit stage right, or wrong, from the playoffs in a couple days.
But a Game 3 that featured a slew of goals, fights and mayhem galore? How Brendan Shanahan, the current NHL disciplinarian, sorts it all out with fines and suspensions is anybody's guess.
Regardless, call me old-school, but I wouldn't miss Game 4 on a bet. I hope the Penguins win it. Not because I'm necessarily a Pittsburgh fan, but if there was ever a series I wanted to see prolonged -- it's this one. Just for the pure intensity of it.
Then again, I suppose if Tom had bought Dick that $20 million love gift, Harry's date was revealed to be Barack, the Kardashian joined the Taliban, and the Girl Scouts took over both houses of Congress in the next election -- I might have to rethink my priorities.
But for now, I'm liking Philly/Pitt.
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