I got home last night and Mr. Pants asked how the Penguins game went.
After a withering glare, and admitting to the 2-2 series score, he asked if I thought the Penguins would still win.
Yes, I do. Of course I do. They’re my team.
My optimism took a beating last night, and I couldn’t even see the game. You know what shit sounds like on the radio? Shit. I won’t be using the DVR either, preferring to pretend it never happened and the Penguins aren’t doing the walk of shame back to Pittbsurgh in a stolen t-shirt with one broken high heel.
I also don’t want to see the fracas at the end. A seething pool of frustrated rage still boils in my core over last season’s face plant first round loss to Philadelphia. If we are approaching that low, I’d rather just close my eyes and crash.
Regardless of these last three games, I believe in my team. I believe they can turn this around. The Islanders are playing very well, and much credit to them. They never say die. But the Pens are playing very poorly.
If the Isles’ best can still only manage goal-for-goal shitshows against the Penguins’ worst, then all we need is not their worst. Right? Anyone, math?
So, what is it that keeps up hanging on when things look bad? Is it the knowledge that anyone can win any game on any day? Do the agony and ecstasy of competition make this ancient struggle poetic?
Yes and no. I don’t want to be epic, I just want to win. For me, optimism is a mix of believing my team is better (than they’re playing now) and some Stage 5 cocktail of denial and dependency, spiked with stubbornness and a paper umbrella. Tell the bartender to keep ’em coming.
Of course the Islanders fans believe as much as Penguins fans – probably more, and they deserve it. I’m insanely jealous of the fun they are having. Still, optimism doesn’t care who is at the other end of the seesaw trying to toss me off.
I’m holding on for dear life. Or Vokoun.
Seriously – VOKOUN. We can believe in Fleury after we believe in winning this series. Bylsma, the whole team is a hot mess but you’re getting one goal leads. Give the guys a chance to make them stick!
Oooh, I’m getting psyched again thinking about it. Come on, Game 5!
This deserves endless RTs on the Twittah Machine, Miss P!! Soon as my bunker of an office gives me a modicum of cell service, I’m doing just that. LOVE your math – because it’s CORRECT. Boys seem to play better D in front of Voky (God only knows WHY, but who cares?!?), so maybe that will help. Also, read in Dejan’s & Rossi’s columns in the Tribune Review that there was definitely ANGER in the room last night. Probably NOT a bad thing at this point. I’m joining you in numerous rounds of that Stage 5 dependency! haha Barkeep…..
Thanks Pants! It is good to know that your voice of reason can talk the rest of us down off the ledge. Here’s hoping that the Pens get their act together, finish off the Islanders, tear through the rest of the playoffs and bring the Cup back to Pittsburgh. That or I’m going to start trolling the Sidney Crosby fan fiction sites…
I should learn to not watch the post-game videos or read the beat reporters’ Twitter posts, and instead come here for sane, rational logic. This was just what the doctor ordered. Very good, Pants – very smart. You talked me away from the ledge that I’ve been creeping towards.
Today’s optional (really Disco? Optional?) practice will be very interesting to see who shows up. And if anyone but Vokoun is in net tomorrow (seriously, can we get Kipper? Schneider? LOLuongo?)…I know there’s a good chance I’ll be sliding back into my hopeless pit of despair.
Thanks, Pants. I really needed this. Especially after reading practice today was canceled. Which I’m hoping is translating into a much needed ‘come to jesus’ meeting and lots of video review on the stuff got wrong *and* the stuff got right so far in the series.
I second this motion re: “Come to Jesus” meetings & watching video!!! Your lips to the Hockey Gods’ ears. 🙂
Love this (and the gif at the end does my heart good).
Come on, Pens!
Hide your kids, hide your husbands, hide your friends, cuz if the Pens don’t win, it’s gonna be ugly!
At the bottom of my crazy, down here in the basement where they hide it, I feel like Sid is so Canadian in at the .gif. I can hear his accent when he’s saying “hockey.”
I’m just going to sit over here in my corner and alternate reading this and watching this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdqnrqBYA_8. Because I don’t want to think about the rest.
Kimma. This video. I was doing OK until this. If they don’t make it through I’m going to spend the next six weeks crying into a bowl of Honey Nut cheerios because I love these dufuses so much.
There are no words more accurately strung together in the English language than “James Neal, hair enthusiast”
Right there with you, Lindsay!! This video only reinforces my passionate love for this team! 🙂