Dangerous Hockey

It’s not often you can have a team winning when they are in fact tied.  But if you’re more than a 2-1 underdog in Vegas going into the series and now it’s tied 2-2, I’d say you’re ahead of everyone, including your own, expectations.  I honestly think the Flyers are going to pull off the Miracle on Ice of the 2000’s……….

This team shouldn’t even be close to being in the finals, now they are 2 wins from vomiting in the cup.  And I think they’re going to do it.   While it’s been a HOME team series, the fact is, that the Flyers have played MUCH better in Chicago in both games.  In fact, they could have easily won either game.  Chicago had no chance in Philly.  I wasted 2 tickets to game 3 and honestly want to kick myself for not going.  OT win that changed the series and probably destiny for a 7 seed that’s on route to winning one of the most exciting series of recent memory.

Chris Pronger is the man.  He will continue to get in these kids heads and shut them down.  I take Philly tonight as Chicago is back on their heels.  4-1.  If you live in Vegas, please don’t listen to me, because I’ve been horrible lately.

On a local front, I met with an investment banker yesterday and  had my initial talk about how a broke guy can get an NHL team to Cleveland.  And it’s possible.  I need to pre sell season tickets, so if you’re interested please contact me directly at Rocque@dadadamedia.com.  We already have 26 seats out of 15,000 sold!  NHL in Cleveland.

Finally, on the heels of Michael Symon and all the others offering LeBron lavish gifts to stay in Cleveland.  I will  offer him my mother Gloria (sorry mom).

For his buddy West, if it will help him maintain his focus.  Focus like KOBE.
Thanks, your little narrator..Rocque

Disclaimer*  Not actual photo of my mother Gloria.

It’s a far cry from the finals just a few years ago when droves migrated downtown with their LeBron Jerseys, and Boobie (daniel gibson) beads.  As the city gets ready for what the entire world has been waiting for:  King James vs. Kobe.  Warriors so dominate that they’ve been handed the keys to the world.  Free to rape (allegedly) and pillage all for the greater good of the NBA.   As Cleveland scrambles to ready themselves for this heavyweight fight, there’s one problem.  The King has been assassinated.  Like King Gustav III of Sweden, who was killed at a Masquerade ball in 1792.  Eerily, one can see the similarities between this massacre and the one the Doc Rivers did on The King and his Kingdom.  Every fan saw it, a masquerade ball (basketball) of Cleveland impostors that left us asking only “Who were these guys?”  The only logical answer is they were impostors in Hollywood quality costumes, minus the talent playing vs. Boston.

So instead of media scrambling for access, ticket brokers buying and selling the same tickets day and night, Budweiser directed viewing parties to various bars (including PJ MCINTYRES and Quaker Steak and Lubes).  Thousands of phone calls, discussions, speculation, anticipation, wagers, parties etc, Cleveland is left once again with, as big Fat Clemenza said in The Godfather, with our hands filled with something other than the shot at Citywide glory.  Glory that would only make us feel worthy.  Worthy of what, I’m not certain.  But at least worthy of doing a bunch of partying and the things I mentioned above.

CUT TO:

NHL, Stanley Cup day II.  Once again, I was exactly right in the Hawks would win by 1. However, I was clearly wrong in the total.  11 goals in a Stanley Cup Final, Game 1?  “Are you kiddin me?”  Apologies to Nissan of North Olmsted for stealing their tag line.

June 4th, 2009, Max and Rocque are at the actual game.  Max literally would not leave his seat for a moment as he was having no part of cotton candy or dad’s beer, he was there to watch hockey.  And watch hockey he did.  Finally after period #1 ended, we convinced Max that watching Iceberg wasn’t worth missing the fun upstairs (as we had full bladders).  For those of you who don’t know the Igloo, they have the old urinals which means essentially ONE GIANT urinal!  Max found this particularly hysterical.  While he whizzed away, I had a bit of stage fright in front of the boisterous Penguins fans.  After attempting to wash our hands (they literally don’t have flowing water or SOAP!) we made our way back to our seats.

"I don't care dad, I don't care, I'm not afraid. I'll fight those guys!"

As we approached our seats, there was a GIANT standing in our seats talking to the people in front of us.  As I did often over the day, I told Max to go beat him up.  Keep in mind he’s 5 but at least as tough as a 7 year old  (really 12 or 13 year old he’s tough as they come)  So Max makes his move towards the mountain of a man fists swinging.  The man turns just in time to catch a right in the leg from Max.  He laughs as it’s obvious that Max is having fun with him.  He picks up Max.  Puts him up over his head and fakes like he’s going to throw him on the ice several times (we were in row 4).  He then proceeded to have some fun beating Max up while Max did his best to win.  Not defend, but WIN.

Needless to say, EVERYONE watching this was clearly entertained.  Especially by the fact that Max wouldn’t be intimidated.  Then some lady whispered to me “Do you know who that is?” Of course I had no clue.  “He’s the center for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”  I forgot his name sorry but he was a giant mother.  After Max came back to me, I told him who he was fighting, which his response was “I don’t care Dad, I don’t care, I’ll fight that football guy.  He’s not a hockey player.  I play hockey.  I don’t care dad!”

More to come on the greatest night of sports in my personal life, not to mention one of the greatest NHL finals in recent memory.  I have no doubt in my mind Philly doesn’t stand a chance tonight.  It’s over.  They blew it Saturday.  But there should be some good action.

Thanks for reading.

your narrator……….R.A.T.

I’ve been fortunate to be to many, many, many championship sporting events, in fact, all “majors”  NBA finals (worst ever, Cavs swept in 4) , Super Bowl (worst one ever dallas 55-10 buffalo), World Series (great ones, Indians) and Stanley Cup Finals (many).  But the greatest of all, the absolute best sporting night I ever had.

So the story goes.  I took my son Max to Game 3 last year Pens vs Detroit at the Igloo.  He was 5 at the time.  This kid has known more about hockey by watching it on TV since he was 3, than most adult fans.  So I took a big risk using a great seat for a 5 year old kid to go to a game way past his bedtime.  It was the right move.  Actually one of the best moves I’ve ever made in a lifetime full of many mistakes.

Why was it great?  Well there were so many stories that I will break them down blog by blog as I cover the current finals.  Which by the way, start tonight and while they may prove to be exciting, I fear unless Pronger and Leighton could pull off a Miracle, which they’ve proven to so far, it should be Chicago in 5.  Maybe 4.

Story 1:  Max kicks Matthew Barnaby in the Face:

We were leaving our hotel after getting a bite to eat (which will be another story) and we ran in to Matthew all suited up and getting ready to go over and pontificate on how the special teams match up or whatever when we approached him for a photo.  He said “yes but hurry i gatta go eh”  I told my son, Max, that he was a pro hockey player but Max didn’t believe me because he was in a suit not a jersey.  All he knows is NHL players wear Jerseys.  He can name every team at 3 by the logo.  I don’t think I can do that and I write a blog for ESPNCleveland.

So in the interest of being polite to Barnaby, just picked Max up and handed my camera to someone, then got next to Matthew.  Little did I know how much Max didn’t believe it, he DID NOT want to get his photo taken with this “dude.”  “He’s not a player Dad, he’s not!” Max shouted.  Then he kicked Mr. Barnaby right in the face.  HARD!

Oh boy……I immediately apologized.  He did not look happy and said he had to go.  I felt horrible.  So we left for the game.

We walk a block and who do we run into, Mr. Matthew again.  Again I apologized and Max did too still not having any interest in this guy because he didn’t have a jersey on. Somehow I would imagine some big fat beer drinking dude with a jersey on would have been more of an athlete to him.

Anyway, after I apologized again, he said he didn’t care at all.  “I’ve been hit much harder.”  He was just in a hurry.  We walked to the game with him.  Matthew Barnaby, father of I believe 3 sons?   Told us about his kids playing and how they’re doing and I believe he still lives in Buffalo.  He was cool as heck especially after taking a kick to the face from Max (who by the way, is a VERY, VERY tough 5, now 6 year old).

Story 1 of at least 7 I can think of.  Coming next, Max fights a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Tonight:  Chicago 2, Philly 1

OT

PS:  The breaking news of a filmmaker trying to purchase the Thrashers is not me.  This is another group. We are still looking at several options for a new team NHL team in Cleveland.  There’s one missing out there that needs to be found.  I’ll find it!