Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more
By Editorial Staff
My esteemed colleague over at RinkRoyalty has already posted his prolific prognostications, so I will defer to his wisdom.
Ooh, and ya gotta check out the sweet hilights over at VERSUS!
Right now I’m just gonna focus on the fun!!!!!
Has H-E-double hockey sticks frozen over? I do believe it has!
I never got the chance to see The Great One patrol The Great Western Forum in person, or, for that matter, many of the truly iconic players of my time, but that’s all about to change tonight.
For the first time since 2002, the lowly Kings have a legitimate shot at the Cup. Staples Center is selling standing room only tickets. When was the last time you heard of that at a hockey game in Southern California?
I’ll repeat myself for those of you who are hard of reading.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Not Chicago, not Buffalo, not Newark, not Ottawa not freaking Vancouver.
True, the Ducks frenzy about a lightyear ago was quite enthusiastic, but also rather expected. Looking at that lineup with Jiggy, Scott, Rob, Prongs, et. al, it felt like a foregone conclusion.
This is very, very, very different. This is epic. This is history.
I’ll even give the bandwagoners a pass on this one because ya never know if an event like this will turn a dilettante into a hardcore fan.
As I write this, L.A. Live is getting rolling with a Kings celebration like nothing they’ve ever seen. Yesterday’s brief rain storm was cause for pause, but today dawned impossibly gorgeous and positively clement. I believe the hockey gods have smiled and decided it is finally the royalty’s time to shine.
To quote Black Sabbath’s “Turn Up The Night”:
A rumble of thunder, I’m suddenly under your spellNo rhyme or reason, or time of the season, but oh wellThe darkened deliver, I shake and I shiver down your soulYou know what to cover, I think for another it’s a story toldSo get a good holdYeah