2006-2007 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS - QUACKTACULAR!

Congratulations to the Anaheim Ducks for winning the 2006-2007 Stanley Cup! They're the first West Coast team to win the Cup since the NHL started giving it out in 1926 (and the first West Coast champion since the 1924-25 Victoria Cougars--what a juggernaut that team was, eh?).

The Ducks were excellent while snuffing out the Ottawa Canada Geese in only 5 games, a series the latter should have nightmares about all summer. In last night's 6-2 finale, the Sens basically imploded; Alfie was the only one to show up for the Sens as Spezza and Heatley disappeared, the team only got 12 shots on goal, and Emery and the defense in front of him had a horrible night. They had a good postseason, but didn't have enough in the end. There was a nice moment afterwards as team captain and Conn Smythe winner Scott "Ol' Graybeard" Neidermayer handed off the Cup to his brother, Rob. I didn't realize that, after Scottie, every single Duck player was a first time Cup winner. That's amazing. And man, I wish I owned a bar in Anaheim right now.

One quick note to all the lazy ass journalists/bloggers out there: DISNEY NO LONGER OWNS THE TEAM. They sold it over 2 years ago! So you can stop making oh-so-funny Mickey Mouse jokes. However, the Linda Cohn comment to lead off ESPN Sportscenter (hockey? On ESPN?) was funny: "Somewhere Emilio Estevez is smiling."

Of course, the happy celebration was momentarily suspended as Gary "Fucking" Bettman walked to center ice to give out the hardware, and he was once again heartily and lustily booed. Starting with the 1995 Devils Cup win (I'm so proud) where the fans were angered about the team possibly relocating to Nashville, this has become an annual tradition, a rite of spring if you will, much like dumping the Gatorade bucket over the winning football coach's head. In fact, the ever-slippery Bettman even had a quick line ready to quiet the crowd ("Sounds like hockey's doing pretty well in California, don't ya think? Uhm, SURF'S UP, DUDES!") Do you understand what this means? Every year he gets booed, and every year he knows this and tries to sidestep it. Doesn't anyone realize how ridiculous and sad this is for the NHL? He's the commissioner of the sport, and he is universally loathed by its most ardent fans. Why isn't he gone already? Anyway, I'm going to put a positive spin on it, and call the annual "Bettman cheer" the official start of summer!

LET'S PLAY GOLF!

(The US Open starts in approximately 6 days, 20 hours, and 9 minutes.)