The Tip of the Iceburgh

We keep winning championships n’at.

My unhealthy obsession with Pittsburgh sports is well-documented on this site. One can imagine my current excitement level, seeing that both the Steelers and the Penguins have championship trophies right now.

I should probably have my heart checked after those two championships games. Big Ben led the Steelers on a game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes of the game. The intensity within the city, and even within the room in which I watched the game, was almost tangible.

That intensity level was heightened as the Penguins entered game 7. The up and down series culminating in a final battle on the ice was almost too much to handle. Anyone who was with me as I watched the third period of the game can likely still hear my heart pounding. And when it was all said and done, I watched history. I watched Marc-Andre Fleury make a diving save with only a second remaining. I watched Evgeni Malkin raise the Conn Smythe. I watched Sidney Crosby raise his first Stanley Cup.

The Penguins traveled an extremely hard road to win the Cup, as I chronicled earlier. Winning on the road in a game 7 is simply incredible, but when one takes into consideration everything they did before that…it is seemingly impossible. But just like the 6th playoff seed Steelers a few years ago, the Penguins went to Detroit and brought a championship home.

The excitement has not faded, nor will it any time soon. Pittsburgh as a city is buzzing with pride, and they have earned it. Pittsburgh is a city that supports their teams to the fullest extent. They cheer, they travel extremely well, and they certainly know how to throw a victory parade.

The other aspect of Pittsburgh fans that can sometimes be ignored is class. As the Penguins passed around the Stanley Cup, booing was heard from the Detroit fans. It lasted the entire ceremony. I was stunned that is lasted that long, when only a year ago in the exact same situation Penguins fans stayed and watched respectfully. Because of that incident I have no sympathy for Detroit and I am inclined to make a few Lions comments.

If I sound proud, that is because I am. It is hard to stay humble when your favorite teams keep on winning. Pittsburgh has 3 titles in the last 4 years. Each one will stand in my memory as long as I live, and I hope I see many more. The important thing to note is that I am going to cheer just as loudly, watch just as many games, and eat just as many plates of nachos no matter what happens.

That said, the Penguins have a young core locked up for several years (not to be greedy). If Shero keeps pulling strings and dealing for role-players to surround the stars, this could be just the beginning. Crosby is only 21 years old. Malkin – 22, Fleury – 24, Staal – 20! This team just won the Stanley Cup, and not one of them has come close to hitting his prime. It should frighten the rest of the league that this group is going to get better.

Regardless of the future, this team’s accomplishments will not be forgotten. Nor will 2009 for what it held for Pittsburgh sports.

Welcome back, Lord Stanley. We missed you.