McGuire, Costas, Milbury and Flood talk about the Winter Classic

By Louis “King of Roncesvalles” Pisano

One of only two remaining original baseball venues, Fenway Park, with its green monster, has been the site of uncountable historic baseball moments and will now see another unforgettable event with the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

The construction of the rink, which will be located between first and third base towards centre field not overlapping the hallowed ground of the pitcher’s mound, began Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009.

Some season ticket holders took a tour of the stadium as the construction continues, the anticipation in the city of Boston for this event feels like no other. “The buzz for it is like nothing I’ve ever seen” said Bob Costas.

If you tried to get a ticket for a Celtic’s World Championship, the Patriots run to the Superbowl, or even the World Series in 04 or 07 in Boston you may have had to pay big bucks, but for this rarity, “It’s an event, it’s much more than a game,” ventured NBC’s coordinating producer Nick Flood. “It’s the toughest ticket to get that I have seen in all of my years in Boston,” chuckled former NHL player, coach, Boston native and CBC sports-caster Mike Milbury.

More than 4.4 million Americans tuned in last year to watch the Detroit Redwings face the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field, while nursing their hangovers on New Year’s Day.

This Jan. 1 should see as many if not more people tune in as the Boston Bruins host the Philadelphia Flyers, two teams that have been in many a bloody battle over the years.

"This rivalry goes back to the late 1960s, early 1970s and right through that decade in particular. It got its roots there. These were some of the nastiest battles that I've ever been involved with. Both teams, in their own way, have adapted to the new
rules, but they listen to their fans and kept it constant. They want hard-nosed hockey. They want physical hockey. They want people to show up saying we want to prove to you that we're tough players and we've come to play every night," said Mike Milbury of his personal experience, and you can bet that players on both sides want to continue this tradition especially one of this continental magnitude.

“All the history. The idea that someone sat there and watched Babe Ruth pitch, or Ted Williams bat, or Lefty Grove, or Jimmy Fox, plus all the visiting players through the years and the specific games and events. Fisk and Dent and the Impossible Dream and Yaz.”  If you had told those players that a national televised game of hockey would be played there to an audience of over possibly five million-plus people. While adding to the history described by Bob Costas, they would have mostly likely been speechless.

With over 25 camera’s including the camera buckets designed for baseball, there will be no lack of evidence for instant replay officials back in Toronto. Nor should any fan be left wanting, for every hit, goal, spectacular save, bounce, carom, or punch, will be captured.

"When you bring a player like Zdeno Chara into the mix, at 6-9 and a whole lot of nasty, and on the other team guys like Scotty Hartnell, Mike Richards and Danny Carcillo, who like to push back, that leads to a lot of physical altercations." You can almost see the smile on Pierre McGuire’s face as he talked about the action and drama that will unfold out on the ice at Fenway.

Of course not wanting to look past this event but speculation on where the next Winter Classic might be held came up during the conversation and where better than in the Capital of the United States of America, Washington D.C. Which other team will be involved is anybody’s guess.

I know my eyes will be glued to the television from my couch, where will you be?

Bleacher reports own Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter will be at the game covering the event.

In case you didn’t know, Gabe Morency (formally of The Score ) has launched his new website. Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter, my B/R counterpart, and I will be throwing down our Podcast “Get The Puck Out ” every Saturday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

We’ll be giving you our opinion and taking your calls on the hottest topics in the hockey world.

The Live Podcast will be broadcast in studio from down town Toronto featuring some betting analysis, fantasy advice, trivia, team/player updates, and more puck talk than you can imagine.

Be sure to call in and let your opinion be known. Don’t miss it, puckheads!
You can catch Morency and “Get The Puck Out” at www.morencysports.com.