There are ticking time bombs scattered in the cities harboring many professional sport franchises.

They sit like a singing elephant on a street corner. No one really wants to acknowledge it. And when they do, they often do so in self-deprecating tones.

These bombs — the pent-up frustration of a metropolis’ insufferable championship drought — have been known to flip over a car or two upon detonation.

And yet, they cannot be defused by simply snipping the red wire. Or is it the blue?

The fallout of the 2004 bomb the Red Sox set off in Boston rained fallout of widespread relief, divine thankfulness and a newfound tidal wave of chowdah-accented arrogance.

Bombs such as these lie just beneath the psyche of a city and fester until a guy — a bayou-born-and-bred boy, really — like New Orleans Saints’ cornerback Tracy Porter sneaks up from behind one of these weapons of mass deprivation and uses all 186-pounds of his 5-foot-11-inch frame to smack it with a ball-peen hammer.

And a city explodes.

(more…)

There are ticking time bombs scattered in the cities harboring many professional sport franchises.

They sit like a singing elephant on a street corner. No one really wants to acknowledge it. And when they do, they often do so in self-deprecating tones.

These bombs — the pent-up frustration of a metropolis’ insufferable championship drought — have been known to flip over a car or two upon detonation.

And yet, they cannot be defused by simply snipping the red wire. Or is it the blue?

The fallout of the 2004 bomb the Red Sox set off in Boston rained fallout of widespread relief, divine thankfulness and a newfound tidal wave of chowdah-accented arrogance.

Bombs such as these lie just beneath the psyche of a city and fester until a guy — a bayou-born-and-bred boy, really — like New Orleans Saints’ cornerback Tracy Porter sneaks up from behind one of these weapons of mass deprivation and uses all 186-pounds of his 5-foot-11-inch frame to smack it with a ball-peen hammer.

And a city explodes.

(more…)

“Superfluous Sports Information For Your Next Trip to the Bar Stool”

Chicago Blackhawks center Patrick Sharp celebrates a short-handed goal. Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The year 2010 could go down as a monumental campaign for a select few hockey players. There are 14 rink rats on the remaining four teams that have a chance to win both a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal:

Boston: Patrice Bergeron, F

Chicago: Duncan Keith, D; Brent Seabrook, D; Jonathan Toews, F

Philadelphia: Chris Pronger, D; Mike Richards, F; Jeff Carter, F (Alternate)

Pittsburgh: Sidney Crosby, F; Marc-Andre Fleury, G 

San Jose: Dan Boyle, D; Joe Thornton, F; Patrick Marleau, F; Dany Heatley, F

Vancouver: Roberto Luongo, G

Final eight teams with none: Detroit and Montreal

ONE TIMER: Ken Morrow is the only member of the 1980 USA Olympic “Miracle On Ice” team to win a Stanley Cup that year. Morrow stayed in the Empire State, moving from Lake Placid to Long Island as a member of the world champion New York Islanders.

ONE TIMER: The last time a player won a Stanley Cup and gold medal in the same season was 2002, when Canadians Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman played for the Red Wings.

Boston Bruins left wing Milan Lucic is surrounded by teammates after scoring the go ahead goal against the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period of game two of the eastern conference semifinals in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Garden. The Bruins won 3-2. Greg M. Cooper-US PRESSWIRE

IN NEED OF SOME RAIN

There will be quite the celebration in an NHL city this summer, should Pittsburgh or Detroit bow out of the quarterfinals of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The Penguins and Red Wings have combined to win 40 percent of the Stanley Cup finals since 1990.

The Stanley Cup droughts of the final eight teams:

TEAM, CUP TITLES     LAST CUP TITLE

Penguins, 3      2008-09

Red Wings, 11    2007-08

Canadiens, 24    1992-93

Flyers, 2        1974-75

Bruins, 5        1971-72

Blackhawks, 3,   1960-61

Canucks, 0    Runners Up in 1993-94

Sharks, 0        Entered League in 1991

Sidney Crosby and the Pens look to lift some heavy hardware. Luc Leclerc-US PRESSWIRE

 

THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU LIFT THE STANLEY CUP OVER YOUR HEAD, IT WEIGHS 35 POUNDS

ONE TIMER: Henri Richard’s name is engraved on the Cup more than any other player, 11 times. That’s one less than the amount of women who have had their names etched onto hockey’s Holy chalice.

Montreal Canadiens goalie Jaroslav Halak (41) and Canadiens right wing Brian Gionta (21) celebrate. Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

No Ice, No Players

Despite franchises in Dallas, Miami, and Phoenix, you’d be hard pressed to find professional hockey players hailing from Southern cities. Less than 10 players hail from points below the Mason Dixon line. None of them are from Arizona or anywhere close to the Southwest.

The Southern-most born player is Tyler Myers. The Buffalo Sabres’ defenseman is from Houston, Texas.

THE MATCHUPS

BOSTON BRUINS (3-2) v. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

“No Gloves, No Love”

A series that harkens back to goons past

Game 6: Wednesday

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (3-3) v. MONTREAL CANADIENS

“Deux for Deux”

Penguins on road to repeat

Game 7: Wednesday

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (3-2) v. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

“Bad Luck Canucks”

Chicago looks to eliminate Vancouver twice in as many years

Game 6: Tuesday

SAN JOSE SHARKS (4-1) v. DETROIT RED WINGS

“Superfluous Flying Cephlophods!”

San Jose knocks out Wings; Motor City’s calamari drought mysteriously ends…

 Western Conference Finals: Sharks v. Blackhawks/Canucks

Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews. Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE

WHAT THE CANUCK?

The etymology of the term “Canuck” is a murky one. One theory suggests the phrase came about when soldiers in the American Revolution would mispronounce “Canule” a French term for Canadian. Today it’s considered both an affectionate and derogatory phrase.

COMING SOON: NBA PLAYOFFS