Tampa, Florida					Thursday, September 09, 2010

Some Perfecta—The Stanley Cup and Lombardi Trophy
Sunday, May 9, 2004
TAMPA—Owner Bill Davidson not only saw the entire gripping 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers live Saturday afternoon, along with a St. Pete Times Arena record crowd of 21,424, but he appeared to pump a fist or two, occasionally applaud, and make a little noise. A scholarly and successful man of 81, Davidson is not given to such public demonstrations, all say, but, well, the tense win he appreciated so much advanced the Tampa Bay Lightning he owns to an important 1-0 position in the National Hockey League best-of-semifinal playoffs, and again, well, if his hockey could win it all, he’d be the only big league majority franchise owner to win in two sports. The Detroit Pistons he owns have won the NBA twice and are alive this year as well. Davidson does not see more of his Lightning games because his home is in a Detroit suburb, and he prefers home than the road at nights. He has a G-4 private jet. He can see a game, or part of it, in Tampa, get to the private airport here, G-4 home, then chopper his way to his own, well, pads. But, “he stuck around for the win over the Flyers,’’ said Lightning President Ron Campbell, “was clearly into the game, and saw it all. Good for him. Good for us,’’ said the beaming Campbell, a man in so many ways so responsible for the Lightning successes in Tampa, after the win, at the Magnolia Ball his organization co-sponsors on behalf of the Moffitt Cancer Clinic in Tampa. Another mark of the Lightning involvement in Tampa is that Magnolia involvement with wife Mary Jane, who rushed to the gala after the hockey win over Philadelphia. “I hope it was the key I think it was,’’ said the jubilant Campbell who enjoys these support groups so much. But the owner, he prefers the quieter times now, particularly after the up-tempo night of hockey before the record crowd, the win and the latest proof his investment in this Tampa Bay franchise was worth it. Get to the Stanley Cup championship—they are three wins away—and he surely will have cause to celebrate, perhaps stay up all night, like the rap song counsels. He bought this Lightning team when it was depicted in Sports Illustrated some years ago as the worst franchise in sports. No more. The climb to this elevated position in the NHL has been nothing less than phenomenal, as was win over the Flyers the other day, a daytime game and another reason for the owner so hang around . He figures he can get from his suite seat in the arena here to his Detroit home in three and a half hours. In that win, the Lightning, coming off an eight-day respite because of two playoff sweeps (Long Island and Montreal), started slowly before their owner, held off early frantic play of the Flyers, then took charge at 1-0, 2-1 and 3-1 on a variety of goal scoring successes with the puck slapped home in the netting by the veteran, Dave Andreychuk, then the on-fire Brad Richards and finally tough man Chris Dingman after a feed from newcomer Eric Perrin. I mean Richards has had three winning goals in these playoffs and in this eight-game winning streak , a skein to remember. And, of course, throughout this streak, throughout this late season rush to victories, the man of these grand Lightning (and Davidson moments) has been world-class goal tender Nikolai Khabibulin. Just when he appears mortal, he establishes he is not with another rock-ribbed, Mr. Everywhere performance, as he did against the Flyers. He’s special. The Bulin Wall has clearly been shored up, the cracks that seemed emerging weren’t after all. Once more, this is a sound, tough-as-it-has-to-be team, one of speed more than the Flyers seemed to credit, though that matters not at all, when the final is 3-1, Lightning. It was a team of young and middle-aged, of not that much playoff experience, but now that is no longer true. When talent was sought and needed, the man in charge of such pursuits, Jay Feaster quietly found that talent. When other matters needed tending to, money,	say, President Campbell took chare of that, with help, as needed at the top from Tom Wilson and everyone’s boss, Davidson. When matters of public relations needed attention, President Campbell and PR/Media Relations Man, Bill Wickett, were front and center and active. And on the ice, when the offensive stars were too closely shadowed, or off a bit, two-way standouts came through, and tender Khabibulin, and non-starters, plus all defenders. This is not the biggest team on the block, but it is as big as it has to be to stand up for itself. Now, that gets us to Head Coach John Tortorella, and his aides, Craig Ramsey and Jeff Reese. Tortorella has grown with the team and challenges, which still leading and coaching. He too is as tough as he has to be, innovative as he has to be. Individual and team coach with the same success. He is a candidate for Coach of the Year in the NHL. That did not seem a likely possibility when this season began. Win the Cup and he’s a shoo-in, as Martin St. Louis would be for Player of the Year. And there would have to be honors for others too, like shooter Brad Richards, like tender Khabibulin, like Fedrik Modin, like the reliable Andreychuk who so seems to deserve to play in a Cup Final. Now, asked these are some of the mutual descriptions of some of the players: Khabibulin: No words needed. Look at the record. All-around vision. Driven. Vincent Lecavalier: Proving his value, his high draft pick, and now leading and capable of astonishing individual play and play-making. Quality man and player. Martin St. Louis: Quick getaway, and change of direction. The NHL has not yet figured him out. Unstoppable. His speed, toughness and short stature make him uncontainable at times. Brad Richards; Started slower than he expected, but has come with a rush of talent and feeding and scoring. Unselfish player, and now an invaluable one. Fedrik Modin: All-around player, and great one at that. Can do it all and will. Another selfless player, entirely selfless. Seems to be there when needed. Ruslan Fedotenko: An unsung player. Does a lot of the dirty work, fairly. Cory Sarich: A stud. Team guy. Defensives standout. Dan Boyle: Got guts. Plays hurt. Like now, with a broken bone. Tim Taylor: A veteran whose presence means so much. Been there and done that. Dimitry Afanasenkov: What a name, eh. Learning ropes alongside veterans like Taylor and Andreychuk. Andrey Roy: What a pronunciation of a name, to Tampans, eh? Wah? Hitter./ Tough. Need in lineup. Brad Lukowich: Has a Stanley Cup ring. And that helps this team. Had a 100-sticch injury repaired. Tough, of course. Nolan Pratt: Filling in well for Jassen Cullimore. John Grahame: The tender always ready. Eric Perrin: Made great feed to Dingman in first Philly win. Learning ropes and loving it. Pavel Kubina—Reliable. Unflappable. A top defenseman. Can take it and give it. Cory Stillman—Found this season and what a find. Needed another scorer and found this one in St. Louis—St. Louis the town. Darryl Sydor: He was just the additional defenseman Tortorella said he wanted, and Feaster got him for the team. Good move, clearly. Now, all that said, if this team plays as it has established it can, plays that way enough for the next games, well, Mr. Davidson just might be convinced to see more games in Tampa. Might even stay the night, if they win it all to make him that rarest of owners, winners of big deal championships in two leagues. Hey, might even get him on the ice to receive the Stanley Cup and lead all in a parade around the Forum, as you know who did when the mighty Buccaneers brought that other trophy to Tampa. What a photo op, eh, the two trophies and the two owners and two head coaches, Jon Gruden and John Tortorella. Some perfecta, eh? ##
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