Bettman's Sad Day at JLA

The cameras panned over the crowd at Joe Louis Arena. Most seemed to be having the time of their lives. But then it focused in on one somber looking individual. Gary Bettman, the commissioner of the NHL, looked as though someone had peed in his beer. Or maybe he had just gotten a call that his favorite pet goldfish had flopped out of it's bowl. CHEER UP GARY! You are one of the lucky ones who get to attend a stanley cup finals game.

Oh wait. I know why you're upset. It's the third period, and your golden boy, Pittsburg Penguin Sidney Crosby, is on the losing end of a 5-0 blowout at the hands of the Detroit Redwings.

Now it makes sense.

Sid the Kid is the face of the NHL. He is it's savior after the lockout of 2005. And NOT winning the Stanley Cup two years in a row would be a travesty! Especially if it's to the same hated Detroit Redwings both times.

The wings take a 3-2 series lead into Pittsburg tonight with a chance to clinch the cup, and I am sure Mr. Bettman has spent all of last night on his knees, praying to whatever deity he believes in, to let Sid come out on top.

THE NEW FACE OF THE NHL.

Sid the Kid has been known as a whiner. Wasn't that sloth from the Ice Age movies somewhat of a whiner as well? Didn't he always complain about everything? And his name was Sid too.

Well Sid is starting to develop a new reputation; that of a hacker. His slash/chop to Hank Zetterberg's knee in the 3rd period last Saturday was about as cheap as they come. And unbelievably, he got a penalty!

And this is the savior of hockey?

You may remember his love tap to Kirk Maltby's skate after the loss in game 1; a two-handed chop to the top of the foot.

The NHL needs a new face.

I am not one to complain about the officials or the job they do, but some of these calls, and non-calls, seem extremely suspect. Sure, if you look at the box scores, you would see that Pitt has taken more penalties over the series, but that is mainly due to them losing their composure in Game 5.

In all the other games, it was the timing of the penalties that I call into question. For example, in game 3 the refs were barely calling anything. Great! Let em' play! But then, in the third period with the game tied 2-2, they called Jonathon Ericsson for interference. The play was almost identical to numerous plays that had not been called on Pittsburg. The Penguins wound up scoring on the power play on route to a 4-2 victory. Now, I am not saying the Wings would have won that game, but to make that call at that time after letting it go so many others, well it's just downright suspect.

The Wings just seem to play through every piece of adversity thats thrown at them with dignity, and they just keep winning. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Cleary, Osgood; they don't cry like us fans, or like Sid the Sloth-Kid. They just play hard and win.

This series is not over by any stretch, but I want nothing more than to see that team hoist another Stanley Cup tonight, or Friday night if necessary.

Sorry Mr. Bettman. But look on the bright side. Next year the wings will be a little older, more tired, and Sidney will have another year of experience.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?