Ah, my yearly lament (2006 excepted) of how my sports teams suck. The 2007-08 academic year has featured a glorious confluence of athletic ineptitude from the teams I follow. This is just the latest bit of struggle from a Raleigh-based team after State's woes this year. Hey, at least this blog beats one with me complaining about work, right?
The genesis of this post is the end-of-season fade of the Carolina Hurricanes. To be fair, Washington did win their last 7 games and beat the 'Canes twice in the last week of the season, so they deserve all due credit. However, the 'Canes also dropped a game at Tampa that they should have won. Then, there was the last game of the season, a home tilt against the also-ran Florida Panthers. I had a pretty nasty cold. That did not stop me from screaming myself hoarse. I tried everything I superstitiously could to get the 'Canes going before the game.
Most 'Canes fans (myself included) thought that it would be a game where the refs would tilt the ice in favor of the Panthers (in order to get Washington and league media darling Alexander Ovechkin into the playoffs). Well, the 'Canes had 9 power plays to none for the Panthers. The 'Canes just played tight all night. They pressed and pressed and pressed. They gave up a breakaway late in the first period to give Florida a 2-1 lead. After the 'Canes got back within 1 goal late in the 2nd, Florida got another breakaway, this time while shorthanded, and went up 4-2. The 'Canes scored in the early part of the 3rd to make it 4-3, but could never tie the game.
Needless to say, the Panthers laid down for the Caps tonight. From what Rich said, the defense played by Florida was appropriate for no-checking rec league hockey. Such is life, I guess. The Summer of 2006 seems so long ago. This is the capper to this glorious sports season. Baseball is ok, but unless the Cubs do anything (yeah, right) or Dawn's Braves make a run (unlikely), it'll be pretty forgettable.
Still, despite it all, I've had a lot of fun going to the games. I got to attend 30 or so games this year, including one road trip. I got to spend one awesome evening with Dawn sitting in some great seats watching a thrilling OT win over Buffalo. I got to hang out a lot with Ron and Phillip at and after the games. I got to meet a lot of nice people who sit in our section. I'll be back next year to fight the good fight with the 'Canes again.... City by city.... team by team.... game by game.... rung by damn rung!
Believe It!
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Yes, it was very dishearting to find out that the Canes had their future in their hands, and could not do it. But then again, we have been here before, and they have managed to win the Cup, so I will be watching from 2500 miles away again, and rooting for our Canes.
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