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| by SJ: June 08, 2004
A BOLT OF BRILLIANCE As Lightning strikes and Tampa Bay wins its first Stanley Cup As 22,000+ came to see game 7 inside the St. Pete Times Forum, nearly 20,000 stood outside and watched the game from the big screen on the side of the arena. And they went dancing in the streets before the game even started. It was a celebration like no other as the Lightning put together a picture-perfect performance, just enough to capture the spirit of a city and sufficient enough to earn them the Stanley Cup. I�ve watched a lot of hockey in years past, but this game 7, was untouchable even with a 10 foot pole. As the Bolts came onto the ice, you could feel the readiness, the rush of blood to the head, and an adrenaline rush unmatched in possibly the last Stanley Cup for sometime. More on that later. This was as good a game, as fun a series, and as thrilling a playoffs as you may ever see. The Lightning just 12 years young rode to the top, but it didn�t come without being the NHL�s doormat in its earlier years. In the 97-98 season Tampa was the worst team in hockey, and the NHL�s laughingstock. They won 17, I repeat a measly 17 games. Landing the first pick in the Draft the Bolts took Vinny Lecalvier and it all changed from there. O yeah, trading for the Bulin Wall, acquiring Martin St. Louis and bringing back to the fans, as well as building the St. Pete Times Forum didn�t hurt either. Well into the morning was the grand celebration, the completion of awful to awesome. Tampa was the champion, on a day Monday, where only their football team, the Bucs usually got the spotlight. But on a 95 degree Monday night in the big FLA, the Lightning landed the Sunshine State another title, another unexpected one too. And now it�s 2 in 3 for the Bay area, as in 2 championships, (Bucs, Bolts) in the past 3 years. Brad Richards scored and Tampa never looked back this season, posting a remarkable 31-0-2 record in games he tallied a goal. Richards won the Conn Smythe as the most outstanding player in this, the second season. Ruslan Fedetenko scored Tampa�s 2 goals, 1 in the first and 1 in the second, as the Lightning took a 2-0 lead into the third period. Calgary was punch-less and powerless until midway through the third, when Calgary was handed a power play on terrible call. And they capitalized, sending Calgary and the Saddledome (20,000+ filled the Flames arena just to watch a game in Florida!) new life. With the game at a ridiculously wild pace, and the season hanging in the balance, the conclusion was far from complete. The Flames who had just 7 shots on goal in the first two periods combined, peppered Khabibulin in the third, refusing to go without a fight. But a penalty with 1:01 left, sealed Calgary�s hopes as they couldn�t get Kippersoff out of the net and the luck to their magical run finally ran dry. Dave Andreychuck finally one his first cup in his 22 year career. And as he skated around with the Stanley Cup, I could only think of one response as to what he�d do next. �I�m going to Disney World!� The Lightning were champions and all was happy in Tampa Bay. SJ can be reached at [email protected] |
| THE DEATH OF THE PUCK?
The NHL and its fans witnessed a phenomenal Cup Finals, but the ratings..well they were anything but In 1994, the New York Rangers won the Stanley Cup and everyone was watching. In the 1990's the NHL added teams in Florida, Anaheim, Minnesota, Colorado, Arizona, Nashville, Atlanta, and Columbus. The NHL signed a lucrative 600 million dollar deal with ABC and ESPN. The National Hockey League was finally gaining much deserved popularity in the states. Or was it? A few years after the expansion boom, the NHL is in deep trouble. The commissioner Gary Bettman wants a salary cap, while its players refuge to budge. And the fact the NHL is drawing lower tv audiences then bowling, and it makes for a sad sack of a situation, And now as a lockout looms, September 16, 2004 becomes the big date. Unlike other major leagues the NHL has no real fallback plan. NHL players can opt to go elsewhere, outside of the U.S. of A. And that steams to be a problem. The tv deal that the NHL will likely land, the contract signed with ESPN and ABC expires this summer, figures to be less then � of what it once was, this of course if it can even get a deal. Money of course, is extremely key. Teams are losing their shirts as well as millions and owners want a set salary cap put in place. Another question will be how to get the fans back in the game. Good teams draw good crowds, but tv ratings are putrid. 22,000+ watched game 1 inside the St, Pete Times Forum. 1.1 million was the tv rating the game got and it was amongst the lowest ever for a prime time event. The NHL needs to rebuild a fan base, and convince the average joe that hockey is one hell of a game or as the slogan used to say: �The coolest game on Earth!� |