Damn...but she's still a beauty!

The Edmonton Oilers are NOT Stanley Cup Champions...AGAIN!

I just cannot stand it. Tonight's game had me screaming at the televison, covering my eyes and praying to the hockey gods - however, it was just not going to happen for the poor Oilers. Just moments ago the Carolina Hurricanes won The Cup. I have to admit that both teams played their hearts out, and both deserved to win in my opinion, but why couldn't it be the Oilers? Sigh!

Now, I feel duty-bound to mention that I am first and foremost a New Jersey Devils fan. Hell ya! (Er, no pun intended.) Go Devils!! Unfortunately, even though they entered this year's playoffs hot off a great winning streak, they lost in the second round in very miserable fashion to the Hurricanes. They might have been sent packing early this year...but we (as in "The Devils") still have the best damned goalie in the NHL (and the reason I've been a Devils fan since 1994) Martin Brodeur...and yes ladies, he is every bit as yummy in person as he is here in this picture.

But out in the Western Conference, I have been an Edmonton fan for many years. Each season they seem to come close, but the finals remained just out of their reach. I was very sad when their goaltender, Tommy Salo, left the team...but I still rooted them on. I really thought that this was going to be their year. Did you know that they are the only 8th seed team to even make it to the finals? I still say that if their super-amazing goalie Dwayne Roloson had not been injured in Game 1 of the finals, that this year's champions would have been the Oilers and Roloson would have been the MVP.

Speaking of MVP - Hurricane's goalie, Cam Ward, totally deserved to be awarded MVP! He was outstanding...and consider this - he was a rookie! (I believe the last rookie to do this was also a goalie - Ron Hextall and he was on the loosing team!) I was impressed by Ward's oustanding play. He totally got screwed though! Most MVPs get a free car or truck when they win MVP... but ESPN stopped airing the NHL games this season, and I guess that means no big cross-promotions by Dodge.

Regardless of who won...I just want you to look at The Stanley Cup! She is beautiful. I have been fortunate in my life to kiss The Cup (and I have the photo to prove it!). No matter how many seasons go by, I always get all misty-eyed watching the pure joy explode over the player's faces who win it. It never gets old. Like Tinker Bell dashing them with fairy dust, you can see all those beared, brusied men returning to their childhood self - when they spent hours in the cold pretending to lift The Cup in their backyard ice rinks.

Say what you will about last season's lockout and professional sports - but hockey is still the best sport out there. The players are the real deal, and they are (for the most part) well underpaid in regards to other professional athletes, especially when you think about how many games they play in a season. I have only met a handful of unfriendly players in the decades I've followed the game...most are just down to earth guys from very small towns. They are great to fans and geniunely appreciate just playing the game. I spent a big portion of my life involved in this sport, and I still love it.

Until the puck drops again in a few months -- Congrats Carolina! You lucky bastards. ;o)