“Article by Gino Ferretti for Pittsburgh Sporting News”
Pittsburgh is still in the pits.
It’s in the bleak blue eyes of the Starbucks barista. It’s in the mumbled tone of the young man scanning your groceries at Giant Eagle.
The manager of the Rite Aid near my house, who loves to bend my ear about the hottest sports topics of whichever day I’ve stopped in, only has a good morning and head nod for me lately.
On my way to work I pass the house of an elderly man who is always up too early. He’s perched on his front porch, battery operated radio by his side, a cigar pushed firmly between his lips. He has a Penguins flag hanging outside his house, and a “Buckle Up, Baby!” yard sign. But all has disappeared for about a month now.
Except for the lawn sign.
Someone still must not have the heart to tell him the Penguins were in an accident. An accident the rest of the city watched in disbelief. The Penguins asked everyone to buckle up, but they drove oh so carelessly. They raced their Ferrari to the usual speed, and got so far ahead that they didn’t mind to look behind. When they finally did, it was too late. The little blue engine that could, became the little blue engine that did. And the Pens crashed into a familiar wall.
The Stanley Cup Finals are full steam ahead without the Penguins, again.
The temperament around town is anything but jovial. The drinking town with a sports problem has struck the lull on the sports calendar in between the seasons of the city’s two most adored franchises. This time of year in many other cities is reserved for America’s pastime. And though the recent success of the Pirates is certainly palatable, the hunger for 24/7 baseball is at best, sketchy.
Pittsburgh’s new favorite pastime is sulking.
Boy, the Penguins really blew this one.
Whether they got caught smelling the aura of their success too soon, or simply had too many intangibles to overcome, it remains incomprehensible that a 3-1 series lead was blown. It still feels fictitious that the Penguins could ever be defeated, and eliminated, in three consecutive games. Especially against a team that failed to tally a single goal in the previous two games leading into Game 5.
It doesn’t matter who’s to blame because that answer is too broad. What does matter is actuality.
The Penguins stifled.
It’s most bothersome because of all the failures of the last five seasons, the return on this particular investment was most feeble. More feeble than 2010. More than 2011. All the right things that needed to happen for them to slip into cruise control happened. They just couldn’t get out of their own way.
A change had to be made. A change was made. And more change is on the horizon. The best drama of the 2013-2014 Penguins will unquestionably be the storyline of the offseason, as it will help to propel the team either into a revamped super power, or a continued super dud. There’s one rumored move that would have the earth shattering from Wexford to West Mifflin, and everywhere up, down, and in between. But let’s not jump the gun with assumptions and what ifs.
There’s still a growl in the fan base that needs to be attended to. The could’ve, should’ve, would’ve is only intensified because of the lowly Eastern Conference representatives playing for Lord Stanley’s Cup. For now there’s a collective wound that needs to be licked. But also, a collective exhale is imperative. A chill needs to come over the hyperactive worry warts that continue to spread over the region. The best interest of the Penguins is in the hands of Mario Lemieux. And since 1984, that notion has never failed the franchise.
So forget about blue shirts and red Habs. Sit back, kick your feet up, and enjoy the Pirates. Take the kids to Kennywood and start chipping away at the projects your wife has compiled on your Honey-Do list. Watch Breaking Bad all over again from start to finish. Enjoy some adult beverages. Lots of them, or a responsible amount. Either activity you chose, enjoy the months before the new Steelers season. And rest assured that all is under control at the Consol.
Buckle off, baby!
Photo Credit: USA Today Sports
