Am I the only one watching the Stanley Cup playoffs?

[givemebackmycountry]

I AM A HOCKEY FAN.
I LOVE THIS GAME LIKE NO OTHER.
THE CUP IS THE HARDEST TROPHY TO WIN IN ALL OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

I live to watch the cup skated.

Anyone want to go into the boards with me?
Eh?

[Forkboy]

1. No cable

The only games I catch are the NBC ones.It's one of the only reasons I even thought about getting cable back last fall.I agree that hockey is hands down the coolest sport out there.

I live to watch the cup skated.

Ironically,the best Cup presentation I've even seen was when Konstantinov was given the Cup when Detroit won it...while he was in the wheelchair.That had both my sister AND me crying.One of the classiest things I've ever seen in any sport.

The second classiest was also in hockey,when the Maine Black Bears coach,Shawn Walsh,had cancer.The first game of the year the opposing team came out on the ice and the whole team had Walsh's name on their jerseys instead of their own.That was cool,and Walsh was blown away by it.

Give blood...play hockey!

[northzax]

2. the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win?

please. how is that statement possible when the options are Ottawa and Anaheim? this is hard?

First I would argue that the UEFA Champions League is the hardest trophy to win in professional sports, based on level of competition, number of games and global talent level.

and yes, you are the only person watching it. that's why it's on Versus along with Curling, Cycling and Bass Fishing.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

7. NHL players

are also the best in the world. 82 regular season games, plus four physical best of seven series. What does "Ottawa and Anaheim" have to do with the level of difficulty?

I guess two people are watching it! Says a lot about this country when more people would rather watch a bunch of overweight middle age men play poker on TV. Hell millions of bugs eat their own shit everyday, doesn't mean I think it's good eatin'.

[northzax]

8. I agree, they are the best in the world

but then maybe 100,000,000 people play hockey, MAYBE. 3.5 billion play futball. guess which is the deeper talent pool?

Hockey had it's shot. they blew it.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

9. How did hockey have it's shot?

People don't grow up playing it so they have no idea how much skill is involved. As a fellow soccer fan I can't understand why American fans of either sport take shots at the other. Too many people dismiss these sports out of their own ignorance. That's too bad. They don't know what their missing.

(By hockey blowing it, did you mean the '95 lockout? Therefore failing to capitalize on the surge of U.S interest during the Ranger's cup run?)

[northzax]

12. yes, the lockout

where it went from a basically major sport with national interest to something played in the upper midwest and Canada. Before the lockout, the Caps sold out most of their games, now, despite having one of the hottest young players in the game, they are lucky to draw 60%. the sport is on Versus, instead of ABC. the Finals are drawing similar shares, nationally, to a regular season tuesday night baseball game. The finals! put simply, the lockout made Hockey a niche sport again. maybe it will come back, maybe it won't. who knows?

and yes, I have played it. I know how much skill is involved. I just don't care anymore. I went from having season tickets to the Caps to having season tickets to DC United. I love hockey, I am bored by the NHL.

[Captain Hilts]

11. I love UEAFA cup but, yes, I think the Stanley Cup is more debilitating...

because of the tight schedule of the games and the exhausting nature of the game itself.

I think the Tour de France is a harder trophy to win. But that's it.

[Forkboy]

15. Soccer players are in awesome shape,but running for up and down a field...

...isn't as tiring as a twenty second scrum along the boards in hockey.I played a lot and I've never had one aspect of a sport be so exhausting.I normally played goalie,and that was tiring,but after playing defense awhile I learned being in net wasn't so bad after all.

Not to knock soccer at all.They're some of the best athletes in the world,but a much shorter schedule,a lot less physicality (though soccer is a lot more contact than many think),and the nonexistent danger of having a 90 MPH hard rubbing disk hitting you in the face make soccer a little "easier" (relatively speaking).

And c'mon,they even call the games a "Friendly". Awwwwwwwwww...that's kinda cute. ;)

Not sure the Tour De "Lance" is tougher,but it has to be right up there.

[devilgrrl]

3. I'm a hockey fan too. F' the naysayers!!!

Great game last night. The Sens finally have to work this post-season. Ryan Getzlaf is a monster. Mike Fisher can play anywhere. Emery's a chump. Hope this goes 7 games.

[LisaM]

4. I'm watching! I get it on two networks

CBC and Versus. I'm rooting for the Senators. I was disappointed last night, but I think that the Sens will find their legs in Game 2.

[rep the dems]

5. I'm watching. Very good game last night, glad the Ducks won.

I like the play by play (if thats the term for hockey too) commentator a lot. His voice sounds really cool when he gets excited.

[MrSlayer]

17. That's Mike "Doc" Emmerick.

He's been involved in hockey for over 50 years. He's the current announcer for the New Jersey Devils and used to be the announcer for the Flyers after Gene Hart retired.

[Forkboy]

19. My favorite sports announcer.

He has the coolest job on the planet and he seems to love every second of it.One of the all-time greats in the booth.

[Awsi Dooger]

6. I have to remind myself to watch

Versus is on my cable channel 67 and I never watch the block of channels in that area. I almost have to stumble upon it while clicking through every one.

[Captain Hilts]

10. Where is it on television? I'm rooting for Ottawa. nt

[Forkboy]

14. Game 3 and any games needed afterwards will be on NBC at 8 EST

Starting Saturday night.

[Dulcinea]

13. Not even close!

My DH & I love hockey & are watching, despite his beloved Sabres getting knocked out, & my Pens aren't quite ready yet ;(

I hope it goes 7 games too, because then we go into sports drought till football season begins!

[MrSlayer]

16. If you can't appreciate how incredibly hard it is to win The Cup, you just don't understand sports.

I never miss the NHL playoffs. There is no greater competition in professional athletics.

[LisaM]

18. The NBA games are currently only on cable, too

Though no one seems to mention that!

Another disappointing game last night. I really don't want Anaheim to win. I hope Ottawa can at least take a couple.

[Dr. Strange]

20. Here's a Cross Check!

I watched some of the playoffs, but not much. My team wasn't in it. (Can you guess who that is?)

I miss Foppa!