True hockey fans don't ***** nearly as much as Papa Lou and Oddball have been doing. I'm glad they are so infatuated with Canada that this is a big letdown. What is it now, 12 years with no Cup in Canada? GREAT.

True hockey fans realize that this series was one of the greatest in NHL history. They don't whine because Tampa Bay has the best team in the NHL.

Now, BACK TO THE CELEBRATION AND THE STANLEY CUP- IN TAMPA.

MacLord Wrote:Gotta hand it to you, Knight Time, when the playoffs began and we were talking about the Flyers, Devils, Red Wings, you said the Lightning were THE TEAM. I thought they were soft, but now they have The Cup. It may be the last cup we see for awhile too. Congrats.

I knew if we got back NY we had a good shot at winning, simply because this team is so high energy. Thanks for the kind words.

DevilGrad Wrote:Illinois?

If I were picking the two definitive basketball states, I'd go with Indiana and North Carolina. It sounds hokey, but it really is a treat to visit Indianapolis during the NCAA/state HS tournament season or to spend time down on Tobacco Road during the hoops season. Even the eighty-year-old ladies at the K-Mart can tell you what's going on in the ACC.

The first college basketball game was played in Chicago...

The University of Chicago played its first college basketball game, defeating the Chicago YMCA Training School 19-11, in 1894.

I was exaggerating the point about never expanding. North Carolina's first basketball team didn't play until 1910-11 season. Therefore, if basketball had not expended, North Carolina wouldn't have basketball, let alone all the other teams that have built up a large fan base over the years.

Hockey is still relatively new to the south and especially in Tampa. That doesn't mean that they can't build a loyal fan base over time; especially if they are successful. The Lightning are a young team and may have many years of success ahead of them (assuming that hockey survives the layoff).

Hockey will survive the layoff in shome shape or form. My hope is that it will have about ten teams fold and establish some type of salary cap. I am glad that the Ning ended up winning cuz they have basically done it the right way, by building with youth and letting them grow up together. The trick for them now is to keep it going and staying motivated. I know this has probably happened many times before but will ask anyway, has there been an owner of two professional teams that has won championships in the same year?

Bronco stampede Wrote:Hockey will survive the layoff in shome shape or form. My hope is that it will have about ten teams fold and establish some type of salary cap. I am glad that the Ning ended up winning cuz they have basically done it the right way, by building with youth and letting them grow up together. The trick for them now is to keep it going and staying motivated. I know this has probably happened many times before but will ask anyway, has there been an owner of two professional teams that has won championships in the same year?

These playoffs have been one of the best experiences for me as a sports fan ever. They were simply amazing. I hope there is not a layoff, because I know Tampa is ready for more next year.

Just looking at the young talent we have, it's pretty scary thinking about waht this team could acheive in the coming years also.

Wow...what a series. Both teams played extremely hard and we were fortunate to come out on top. I'm glad that it is finally over. I don't think my liver can take anymore victory celebrations.

How about them Lightning?? Apparently the fine folks at the Tampa Tribune spent too much time partying and not enough time being thorough in their work.

<a href='http://tampatrib.com/News/MGBRN2928VD.html' target='_blank'>Tribune apologizes for incorrect editorial</a>

TJRocket Wrote:How about them Lightning?? Apparently the fine folks at the Tampa Tribune spent too much time partying and not enough time being thorough in their work.

<a href='http://tampatrib.com/News/MGBRN2928VD.html' target='_blank'>Tribune apologizes for incorrect editorial</a>

Sober people were very hard to come by last night :D

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:True hockey fans know that Calgary was mugged by the officials in Game Six.

True hockey fans know that the Cup should reside in an Original Six city or in Canada, because those are the only places that appreciate the sport properly. Everything else is an abomination...

True hockey fans know that the Calgary Flames were actually the Atlanta Flames before they moved in 1980.

moloch_322 Wrote:

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:True hockey fans know that Calgary was mugged by the officials in Game Six.

True hockey fans know that the Cup should reside in an Original Six city or in Canada, because those are the only places that appreciate the sport properly. Everything else is an abomination...

True hockey fans know that the Calgary Flames were actually the Atlanta Flames before they moved in 1980.

:rofl:

moloch_322 Wrote:

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:True hockey fans know that Calgary was mugged by the officials in Game Six.

True hockey fans know that the Cup should reside in an Original Six city or in Canada, because those are the only places that appreciate the sport properly. Everything else is an abomination...

True hockey fans know that the Calgary Flames were actually the Atlanta Flames before they moved in 1980.

Which just underscores my point that southern hockey has no future. :D

But I've had enough needling of you folks for now; it's 90 degrees and June. Hockey season is officially over.

Enjoy your championship celebration Lightning fans. :bluethumb:

Let's all hope we haven't seen the last hockey game of 2004.

Flying Corn Wrote:

moloch_322 Wrote:

Papa Lou BSU Wrote:True hockey fans know that Calgary was mugged by the officials in Game Six.

True hockey fans know that the Cup should reside in an Original Six city or in Canada, because those are the only places that appreciate the sport properly. Everything else is an abomination...

True hockey fans know that the Calgary Flames were actually the Atlanta Flames before they moved in 1980.

Which just underscores my point that southern hockey has no future. :D

But I've had enough needling of you folks for now; it's 90 degrees and June. Hockey season is officially over.

Enjoy your championship celebration Lightning fans. :bluethumb:

Let's all hope we haven't seen the last hockey game of 2004.

Its 2004, not 1980...nearly a quarter century has passed. People and demographics have changed. Hockey can and will survive in Florida.

St. Louis wins both writers and player's votes for MVP!!

John Tortorella wins Coach of the Year!! And, he is the first EVER U.S. born coach to win the award.

moloch_322 Wrote:Hockey can and will survive in Florida.

But will hockey survive with Florida in it? That's the real question.

Oddball Wrote:

moloch_322 Wrote:Hockey can and will survive in Florida.

But will hockey survive with Florida in it? That's the real question.

I don't see how it can't survive with Florida in it. Kind of hard to ignore nearly 17 million people.

moloch_322 Wrote:I don't see how it can't survive with Florida in it.

I know you don't.