The Stanley Cup has officially left the building...and it's headed back to Boston for the first time since James Brown was topping the pop charts.
Tim Thomas was fabulous. He won the Conn-Smythe in what had to be a landslide vote. The Boston defense was fabulous. To hold the NHL's previous two scoring champions (The Sedin twins) to just two goals over a seven game series is outstanding. All the credit in the world to the Bruins.
The big story for me is still Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo. WHERE WAS HE? When this guy shows up, he's the best- hands down. He can make saves no one else can come close to touching. BUT, he is very streaky, and fell flat on his back when his team really needed him. He got hooked twice in the series, and probably should have gotten it a third time.
Luongo will need to make some major adjustments in the coming years if he wants to survive in Vancouver. Bad news for Cannucks fans, is this guy's contract makes Carl Pavano's old deal with the Yankees look like a bargain. He's signed for the next 11 years (through the 2021-22 season) at $5.3 million a year. When you consider the NHL salary cap stands at $62 million, and you need 20 guys on your roster day in and day out, its tough to justify spending just under 10% of your resources on a guy that couldn't stop a basketball shot at him. Unless his play improves, he'll be making over $5 million a year to ride the pine for the next decade- because Vancouver can't afford to give up 5 goals a game, and no one will take on that kind of deal in a trade.
With Luongo, forget the gold medal. That seems like eons ago. He got yanked twice in the Stanley Cup finals. Enough said.
Quick hit on the US Open- I'm sure I'll end up watching some of it, but it doesn't have its usual sparkle without Tiger. Eldrick needs to heal quickly and get back on the course before the British Open. You can bet PGA Tour officials are thinking the same thing. Some good picks for the weekend seem to be Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, and Martin Kaymer.
The clock is running, and as of now, we are officially keeping score...
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