The Stanley Cup Finals: That's It For Another Year

I was supposed to be indifferent and not care what happened. I wasn't supposed to have any ties to the series whatsoever. I was supposed to just strap myself in for some impartial hockey-watching between two of the best teams in the league.

Then the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin/Pittsburgh Penguins bandwagon rolled over my foot.

People kept telling me that they were the next great dynasty. They would continually be the team that makes offensive records crumble, and great defenses tremble in their wake.

Word on the street was that this was supposed to be the team that will have us think twice when we decide to call the Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders dynasties great.

The more I told them I didn't care, the more I heard about how great the next four or five years are supposed to be for the NHL and how they're supposed to dominate. Then they'd gush about the idea of Crosby and Malkin signing cost-efficient, long term deals to stay with the Pens so that it could last even longer.

Needless to say, the love-fest sickened me—I went from simply disliking Sidney Crosby, to cursing his name.

A franchise that I once felt sorry for, and hoped and prayed that they would stave off bankruptcy, was one that I now wanted to see, not only lose, but eradicated and demolished to the point that the band wagon jumpers would either get off and stay off, or prove their worth and stick it out through a tough time.

And now it's over—so what?

Well, because of the tiresome attitude of the Penguins' "fans," I was forced to hope that the Detroit Red Wings—a team that by all rights, I'm not supposed to tolerate—would come out on top.

Because of the annoyance of going into a bar or restaurant and hearing people go on and on about 'their' team of young superstars, I was forced to take conversations (normally confined to my own table) to a new volume level, in an attempt to let the "fans" know exactly how I felt about those same stars.

Needless to say, it's just what happens when people get excited—they get too excited and leave everything else behind. Any ties they had to a franchise before are gone as they jump onto a new ride until it becomes all too convenient for them to flee to a new interest. From then on, where does it stop?

Maybe I'm wrong, though on some level. Maybe to some people these kinds of actions are justified (See: Maury Pauvich and Jerry Springer), or maybe some of these fans are just byproducts of an unfortunate situation.

Even so, it was still fun to see the mix of shock, embarrassment, and shame in the eyes of the bandwagon jumpers as the Penguins' chances were shot in the dying seconds of the game.

But maybe there are some things that need to be said here...

To the Pittsburgh fan base: I'm sorry. I don't actually dislike your team that much—I just can't stand the fans that come out of the woodwork in May and June and then spoil a good thing you have going on there.

The future does look bright for the Penguins, and you really do have some good years ahead—just don't let anyone else count on those years for you and don't get ahead of yourselves—enjoy every step along the way.

Oh, and don't turn into the Ottawa Senators.

To any fan new to the NHL or under the age of 10: If you became attached to one of these teams during the past two months, that's great. I only have two requests:

1) Stick with whichever team that you chose this season or...

2) Choose a different team (which is fine, i.e., a hometown team) and stick with them. It's a lot easier to follow this great game when you're a one team kind of a fan, and you'll be more respected for it.

To the Toronto Maple Leafs: Save your damn personnel dramas until after the finals are over. Seriously, we just sunk to A-Rod: 'I'm Opting out of my Contract'-level here.

I'm disgusted. I'm not surprised, but I'm still disgusted.

To anyone who calls Evgeni Malkin 'Geno': Stop it. No seriously....stop.

To the Detroit Red Wings: Thank you. I think.

Having an original six team win the cup is almost as good as having a Canadian team win it. Despite the distinct rivalry between all six of those Originals, there's also a deep respect for each other, and an admiration amongst fan bases when one succeeds.

To the Ottawa Senators: Hah! (I mean that in the most sincere and respectful manner imaginable)

To the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers: See if you can beat that! If you can't scrounge up a three-overtime game, then at least four of the games in your series need to be decided by three points or less or go to overtime for 1-2 quarters.

Otherwise the NHL wins this round.

To Marc-Andre Fleury: I may not be sold on you yet, but you played well in game five. Take that and build on it, stand on your head a few more times and I may decide to make fewer "Pass it off your own player into your net" jokes in the future.

Maybe.

To the Bandwagon Jumpers: See you next year. Third week of April sound about right? Although if you want to play it safe, then just come out during the finals again.