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DDDDave · 05-28-2004, 07:28 AM

The refereeing is not consistent from game to game because there are two different sets of refs. Games 1,3,5 and games 2,4,6. Game 7 refs are chosen by the 'best' refs from prior games. WTF?

Yeah, Stillman took his beating, he's one of our smaller players but it's hard to blame him the way he got cross-checked (flattened) in the slot. But Roy punished his guy too. I know fighting is a part of hockey, but I still don't get it. If anything it may have created some bad blood which will make for some even better games.

Along those lines I am attaching a cute article from the local fish wrap....

They're not like Philly fans

TAMPA -- Welcome to the Stanley Cup Finals, one of the fiercest competitions in all of sports. By the way, would you care for some sugar on your pancakes?

The Tampa Bay Lightning played the Calgary Flames in Game 2 Thursday night before a sellout crowd at the St. Pete Times Forum, and while the atmosphere was ridiculously electric, one thing was noticeably missing: Hatred.

How can anyone hate Calgary? The hockey being played is wildly entertaining, but this series is simply too cute and cuddly. It's turned into a handshake instead of a hip check. It's the Boys of Winter playing in the Summer of Love.

On Wednesday, as a gesture of friendship and goodwill, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce even hosted a pancake breakfast for representatives of the Tampa Bay area, including Tampa's mayor.

Perfect: a championship series covered in syrup and melted butter.

This bake sale is so different from the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Tampa Bay has an intense rivalry growing with Philadelphia, and fans in both cities have fed off the venom.

Unlike with Calgary, there's a history with Philadelphia. The Bucs beat the Eagles two years ago to reach the Super Bowl, and the Lightning knocked off the Flyers this year to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

Philadelphia fans are passionate, but easy to hate. They are the fans who once booed Santa Claus at a game and cheered when football player Michael Irvin was carried off the field with a broken neck.

But no one's quite sure what to think of Calgary fans. They seem unfailingly polite, and because astute hockey knowledge is their birthright, you could never win an argument about the sport with them.

No one seems to know whether to heckle them or offer them directions to Busch Gardens.

And even if a Calgary fan insulted the Tampa Bay area, what could a Tampa Bay fan possibly come back with? "Well, at least our city didn't host the 1988 Winter Olympics."

This series has turned into such a pillow fight that you can't even call Calgary a "Cowtown." They actually take that as a compliment. That's because Calgary is the home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, a parade and rodeo that attracts over 1 million people each year.

Perhaps no one hates Calgary because, honestly, when was the last time anyone in Florida gave Calgary a thought? Who could even pick it out on a map?

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, with a population of 850,000. It is situated near the Canadian Rockies, and is the home of much of Canada's gas and oil industry.

But the city's passion, of course, is the Flames, the same way Tampa's sport scene swirls around the Bucs.

Actually, Canada's passion for hockey is so deep it almost makes you feel sorry for Calgary's players. The whole country is behind the Flames, and its pride seems to hinge on whether they win this series.

The players are well aware of the pressure, too. A team from Canada has not won the Stanley Cup since 1993, and Calgary has not won it since 1989.

Even Wayne Gretzky, who is like royalty in Canada, was at Thursday night's game. Think he was rooting for the Lightning?

The players and coaches don't even take shots at each other. In the Philadelphia series, Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella told Philadelphia coach Ken Hitchcock to shut his "yap." In this series, Tortorella said he has nothing but respect for Calgary coach Darryl Sutter and refused to turn the series into a battle between the United States and Canada.

And get this: Here's what Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis had to say about Calgary superstar Jarome Iginla.

"He takes time away from the game and he's just a good all-around person," St. Louis said. "As much success as he has, he always goes out of his way to say hi to people."

And so it's on to Calgary for Game 3.

See you at the pancake breakfast.

05-28-2004, 07:28 AM	#67 (permalink)
DDDDave Addict Location: Sarasota	The refereeing is not consistent from game to game because there are two different sets of refs. Games 1,3,5 and games 2,4,6. Game 7 refs are chosen by the 'best' refs from prior games. WTF? Yeah, Stillman took his beating, he's one of our smaller players but it's hard to blame him the way he got cross-checked (flattened) in the slot. But Roy punished his guy too. I know fighting is a part of hockey, but I still don't get it. If anything it may have created some bad blood which will make for some even better games. Along those lines I am attaching a cute article from the local fish wrap.... They're not like Philly fans TAMPA -- Welcome to the Stanley Cup Finals, one of the fiercest competitions in all of sports. By the way, would you care for some sugar on your pancakes? The Tampa Bay Lightning played the Calgary Flames in Game 2 Thursday night before a sellout crowd at the St. Pete Times Forum, and while the atmosphere was ridiculously electric, one thing was noticeably missing: Hatred. How can anyone hate Calgary? The hockey being played is wildly entertaining, but this series is simply too cute and cuddly. It's turned into a handshake instead of a hip check. It's the Boys of Winter playing in the Summer of Love. On Wednesday, as a gesture of friendship and goodwill, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce even hosted a pancake breakfast for representatives of the Tampa Bay area, including Tampa's mayor. Perfect: a championship series covered in syrup and melted butter. This bake sale is so different from the Eastern Conference Finals against the Philadelphia Flyers. Tampa Bay has an intense rivalry growing with Philadelphia, and fans in both cities have fed off the venom. Unlike with Calgary, there's a history with Philadelphia. The Bucs beat the Eagles two years ago to reach the Super Bowl, and the Lightning knocked off the Flyers this year to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Philadelphia fans are passionate, but easy to hate. They are the fans who once booed Santa Claus at a game and cheered when football player Michael Irvin was carried off the field with a broken neck. But no one's quite sure what to think of Calgary fans. They seem unfailingly polite, and because astute hockey knowledge is their birthright, you could never win an argument about the sport with them. No one seems to know whether to heckle them or offer them directions to Busch Gardens. And even if a Calgary fan insulted the Tampa Bay area, what could a Tampa Bay fan possibly come back with? "Well, at least our city didn't host the 1988 Winter Olympics." This series has turned into such a pillow fight that you can't even call Calgary a "Cowtown." They actually take that as a compliment. That's because Calgary is the home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, a parade and rodeo that attracts over 1 million people each year. Perhaps no one hates Calgary because, honestly, when was the last time anyone in Florida gave Calgary a thought? Who could even pick it out on a map? Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, with a population of 850,000. It is situated near the Canadian Rockies, and is the home of much of Canada's gas and oil industry. But the city's passion, of course, is the Flames, the same way Tampa's sport scene swirls around the Bucs. Actually, Canada's passion for hockey is so deep it almost makes you feel sorry for Calgary's players. The whole country is behind the Flames, and its pride seems to hinge on whether they win this series. The players are well aware of the pressure, too. A team from Canada has not won the Stanley Cup since 1993, and Calgary has not won it since 1989. Even Wayne Gretzky, who is like royalty in Canada, was at Thursday night's game. Think he was rooting for the Lightning? The players and coaches don't even take shots at each other. In the Philadelphia series, Tampa Bay coach John Tortorella told Philadelphia coach Ken Hitchcock to shut his "yap." In this series, Tortorella said he has nothing but respect for Calgary coach Darryl Sutter and refused to turn the series into a battle between the United States and Canada. And get this: Here's what Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis had to say about Calgary superstar Jarome Iginla. "He takes time away from the game and he's just a good all-around person," St. Louis said. "As much success as he has, he always goes out of his way to say hi to people." And so it's on to Calgary for Game 3. See you at the pancake breakfast. __________________ I am just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Thoreau "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm" - Emerson