Tampa, Florida					Thursday, September 09, 2010

This Battered Band of Brothers Become Kids Again
Tuesday, June 8, 2004
TAMPA—So there they were, kids again on a rink made by man, on which they earlier had earned the right as men to become kids again. There they were, the new champions of all hockey, but being kids again--because they could. There they were, that Band of Battered Brothers returning to the ice times of their childhood and early youth, when they learned that which they mastered on frozen ponds of the Northland to win the most precious of hockey titles on ice made by humans in the Southland. There they were in our town of sunshine and warmth beating a skilled, savaging-playing from the Calgary town in Canada where chill and snow are the norm, beating the best of Nanookland at the sport of their forefathers. There they were being kids again because it was their privilege for the Tampa Bay Lightning had in the previous three hours at the St. Pete Times Forum here flat put out the Calgary Flames to win the National Hockey League championship and for at the 2003-04 season become the keepers of the big ole Silver trophy called the Stanley Cup. So there they were, those new keepers of that Cup, which is hardly a cup at all but surely is a Trophy, carrying the distinctive silver masterpiece around the Forum rink, in ones, and twos and them large groups, hugging it, holding it high and kissing it and yelling and screaming as they moved around for closer looks by as many as possible 22,000 there witnessing the impromptu late night skate. This long curtain call followed the 2-1 victory over the Canadian team for the four out of seven series triumph that finally ends this season that seemed without end. The 2-1 final win was an uneasy one, surely not over until it was over, not over until one of the unyielding Flames had one last, desperate but solid shot that Tampa goal tender, Nikolai Khabibulin turned away from the Lightning at the net at the last instant, causing Tampa Most Valuable Player of the Series, Brad Richards, to philosophy: “It’s just last man standing.’’ It was. And, Richards added, basically, we may have won one more battle, gotten one more big save, another goal. One of those things. It’s just unbelievable.’’ The final win, that big old fog horn signaling game’s end and thus victory, well, after the formalities that followed, those gallant men in black became kids again. I mean, well, they stood there after the initial hooting and hollering, victory pileups around the net, slaps on the heroic backs of all, while NHL boss Gary Bettman declared them champs, made other anointments to Richards and Martin St. Louis, the real fun began for fans and for the players. While those in the seats stood and cheered even move, so many on the ice became those kids again . I mean, each player took a turn carrying the Stanley Cup aloft and skating about, of course with Richards, St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, Habi-Habi-Habi, and the two-goal scoring hero of the night, Ruslan Fedotenko most widely received because of their terrific seasons and recent games. Then, St. Louis, the little man of big smile, thighs, scoring ability and over all talent, grabbed his handful of baby and skated with the child wild-eyed in the ride in his dad’s arms, and the big, bullish Chris Dingman, billed as a hitman, took his turn with his armful of kid. Next Dingman and Andre Roy, toughs both, skated hand in hand and that mannerism purposely. . . and Pavel Kubin and another shoved	each other around on the ice as if indeed, they were below-tens. Now, out came Hulk Hogan, a booster and a favorite of the team as well, cupping his ear seeking more support, as is his way in the ring of wrestling, but now in the rink of skating he so enjoys. Now, the players were skating and singing that they were the champions, and it was a lot of fun for nearly an hour, Coach John Tortorella, General Manager Jay Feaster, President Ron Campbell and others who made this all possible by money, market and player decisions. Indeed, one of the hardest hugs to completely embrace Feaster (he’s a big man) was by shooting star of the title game, Fedotenko. GM Feasterwho brought the shooter to Tampa and was questioned at the time, but praised now. He got good ones, too, from his other picks, and Tortorella was swamped by his players. This wiry, tough little man flat got it done—flat got it done, a major development being the strong working relationship put in place between him and Lecavalier, a stickout now playing to potential, surely a man necessary for this climatic win, this sweep through the playoff series. Had the good, closeup view of all this, the momentary return to childhood because of the manhood that followed the childhood and set on course this reliving of the grand times of youth. Not that this is an old team. Absolute is not, though it was the oldest man on the team, the 40-year-old Dave Andreychuk, who surely had the time his life during these four hours, as well as some of his most tense. I mean, Father Dave, and he is the Father of this Lightning team, was playing Monday in his 1,597th NHL game, his 161st in playoffs, but had never won a Cup. Now, he has, though the wonder was there in the closing minutes, for a sudden letdown by the Tampa defense swift shot past Khabibulan had seen the game no longer safe at 2-0, but unsafe, dangerous at 2-1 with 9:21 to play. The Torts Men turned too, noticeably from a defensive position to offense, though ahead, a daring but proven technique for Tampa. It worked again. In fact, Tampa dominated those last minutes, won the game going away, and the post-game fun began. So there we were, wife Linda and I, in that front row, on-the-ice, they say, with friends David Lefevre, The Hunt Construction people who built the arena, the Tom Dempsey Family who own Saddlebrook, Lightning supporters deluxe Steve and Sharon Yerrid, the Tom DuPonts (DuPont Registry Magazine) and Tampa Bay Buccaneer defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who could not believe the skating speed and ferocity of body checks, but does now. From there, the view is different, dramatic, the view of the competition and of the fans in the stands spectacular. It is down there near the trenches, you are so grateful to those who made this all possible, the franchise, the arena, now this team. A special personal moment came with three different groups thanked, me, saying, “for the team, sir, Mr. Davidson,’’ and “we hope you will keep St. Martin St. Louis with the Lighting.’’ I thanked them and assured I would. They had mistaken me for owner Bill Davidson. Simply could not make myself say I was a non-millionaire from Wauchula. Guess I need now to thank him, too, for this franchise this team and the men who man it and all who run it. Wonder if Mr. Davidson is ever mistaken for me? Likely doesn’t go to Wauchula much. ##
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