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How sweet it is

If someone would have told me back in February, when I was relishing the Steelers second Super Bowl victory in three years (and sixth overall), that the Pens would be hoisting the Cup in June, I would have said that person is overly, unrealistically optimistic. And I would have been wrong.

Wow. This victory feels better than the Steelers Super Bowl win just over four months ago. Partly because the Steelers had won a Super Bowl just three years before that and it has been 17 years since the Pens hoisted the Cup. Partly because all the statistics pointed to a Detroit win. And partly because I was just not sure the Pens could win in Detroit.

But, as I stated recently, I expect life to be fair. And I also believe in karma a little and that sometimes you get what you deserve. So I reasoned that the Pens, who had to suffer through the Red Wings hoisting the Cup on their ice, just might get to do the same in Detroit. I also am big on numbers. Twenty-five years ago this week, Mario was drafted by the Pens. That meant something. Twenty years ago, the Pirates won the World Series. The last time a team won the Stanley Cup on the road in a Game 7 was 1971, another year the Pirates won a World Series (and the year I was born). In either case, don't ask me to explain what the Pirates have to do with the Pens, other than they are both Pittsburgh teams. And the Steelers lost a Super Bowl after their nice run in the '70s. So I figured the Pens were now owed a victory. Every time I watched that commerical of various hockey players hoisting the Cup over the years, I kept thinking that Sidney just might be ready for his chance.

I was also thinking that it would be some type of poetic justice if Marian Hossa, one of the most reviled ex-Penguins, had picked the wrong team. I felt great once the Pens won, but now I actually feel sorry for Hossa. Just a little.

When the first period ended last night and Jordan and I were saying our prayers, I quickly asked God to let the Pens play their best game. Jordan said, "Mom, I already asked God about that."

"About what?" I asked.

"I asked that the Red Wings would get one," Jordan replied.

Thinking one Red Wing goal could actually do for the home team, I said, with a look of utter panic, "Well, what about the Pens?"

Jordan, noticing my concern, quickly said, "And let the Pens get seven."

Well, God did answer her prayer about the Red Wings getting one, and that was it.

Thanks, God!

And thanks Mark Recchi jersey paired with the Steelers Super Bowl XLIII t-shirt. Thanks also to Max Talbot, Fleury, the post that stopped that would-be goal, Mario, Dan, the Qdoba burrito, Jordan Stahl for his short-handed goal, Sykora for that big stop, Malkin, Malkin's parents for not going to the game, Hossa for leaving. And on and on. It really was a team effort.

Thanks, Pens, for a great season and a perfect ending.

Comments

robta said…
Think about how the Pens had problems a few years back, and almost left the city. Thanks to Mario and his persistence to keep the team here. (It goes back to Mario first being drafted by the Pens to get to the Cup here again.) And a few months ago, it didn't look good for the Pens to make the post-season this year. But things have a way of working out. Great to have the Cup here again!
Facie said…
That is why I love Mario. Wish I could have been invited to that party of his. Looked like fun.

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