No Skin Left to Pinch

For the past 8 days, I’ve felt a little like Billy Guerin in the History Will be Made commercials they showed during the playoffs. I’m totally speechless. The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup. Holy shit! They won the Stanley Cup. I was alive to see it. I saw it with my own eyes. When it happened, I had no words, and now, 8 days later, I still can barely believe it.

First off, I want to thank everyone for the really nice texts, and e-mails and phone calls I got about the piece I wrote before game 7. I know if my dad were alive, he would have really enjoyed watching this run, and it was nice of all the people that reached out to me, especially all the hockey guys growing up that knew Mr. Cornett, to take the time to comment. Secondly, I wanted to thank everyone that called, emailed and texted after they won game 7. I felt like I was Mark Recchi or something, only, I could work the new fangled cell phones! What an unreal feeling. The Bruins are Cup Champs, and I was stoic.

I stood up for the last minute of the game, watching as the clock wound down. Some of the people around me were hooting and hollering others had started to cry a little tear of joy. I, on the other hand, was stoic. I was 100% sure I was going to cry when they won, but I just stood there staring. I just could not believe my eyes. I glanced at the clock, and it was at 0:00. The Bruins were freaking out, people around me were freaking out, and I was standing still staring like a person seeing a wheel for the first time.

When the Red Sox won the World Series, I was all alone on the couch. When they got the final out, I screamed so loud, I woke mother, and MOL. Thing is, I don’t even like baseball! It’s slow, ad boring, and they rarely have good fights. I guess I was just helplessly caught up in the excitement of it all. Here I am watching the team I have put my heart and soul into for over 30 years reach the highest accolade in hockey – and I can barely crack a smile? It was so weird.

As I was driving home listening to the post game, it started to sink in ever so slightly. The Bruins were Stanley Cup Champions! Out of nowhere, someone had a pocketful rag weed, or dust or some shit, because I was overcome with tears, I had to pull over to cry! The Bruins are STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS! I was on 495 in the breakdown lane, tears streaming down my face, laughing hysterically. It was a feeling I couldn’t really describe happy, overjoyed really a little sad amazed speechless. Billy Guerin, I get you man.

So, here we are, 8 days later, and the bruins are still 2011 Stanley Cup Champions. Gone is the stupid beard and haircut. Remaining is the giggling at my desk every few minutes as it sinks in a little more. What a tremendous run. To say this is my favorite Bruins team of all time is a slight understatement. Everyone working towards a common goal with no egos. Just a blue collar team, punching the clock every day. It still hasn’t sunk in all the way, but it definitely will October 6^th when they raise that banner! Have a great summer everyone. You’ll recognize me as the fat guy in the championship gear giggling to himself all over Boston!