Episode 4 is the final installment of the Caps/Pens 24/7 HBO Series. It's only been one month of this, but it's been an amazing month for hockey. I would almost say "a perfect month for hockey", however I'm really starting to hate the usage of the word "perfect" so I won't say that.
After setting up people and teams in the first 2 episodes, I've been pleasantly surprised that the last 2 episodes have been devoted to the Capitals/Penguins games. The final installment of the series was, and certainly should have been, almost entirely Winter Classic. Ok, maybe not entirely ... maybe it was just 30 minutes but who's counting really? After a bit about how Crosby's point streak ends, and he shaves that awful teenager's mustache, and how creepy Matt Cooke's kid looks in a suit that looks exactly like his dad's, HBO moves right into Winter Classic stuff. I have to say right here, now, and in type ... Marc Andre Fleury is definitely my favorite Penguins player (with Brent Johnson a close second after our New Years Eve experience). The guy is hilarious and came just short of saying "now, go away or I shall taunt you a second time" during the Winter Classic practice shootout. It was really good to see how the NHL executives were sitting around with the weatherman to see what the best time for the game to be played was. I think some people would argue that 8pm wasn't great, since it rained in the 3rd period, but I thought the game was awesome under the lights the whole night.
Then it was game time. Shots going back and forth between locker rooms, and one of the greatest scenes I've seen in reality TV ... Bruce Boudreau taping up that shitbum Mark Madden's article on the white board. The game footage was awesome. I love that HBO had the referees mic-ed up too. It's good to hear that referees aren't cardboard cutouts with a string you pull in order to recite random rules and consequences. There are certainly times I wish I could say some of that to college soccer coaches/players. The game moves on, goals are scored, Crosby runs into Dave Steckel, and Ovechkin is heard screaming "We're going to win it" (or something close to that because all I hear is Adrian yelling at Rocky right now). Ovechkin's joy in winning this one hockey game was extremely prevalent at the end. Then HBO does what it does best ... a montage of sounds, pictures, and quotes that make you love being a hockey fan or makes you really want to become a hockey fan if you weren't one. All in all, this was a fantastic month of hockey.
I leave this show with some thoughts and questions:
- Who did you learn the most about throughout the series? Is what you learned good or bad?
- Would you watch the series on HBO next season, even if it's not a team that you specifically follow?
- Did it seem like Matt Cooke even got under the skin of the referees? I think that's when your "agitator role" has gone too far.
To answer my own questions:
- I learned that Sidney Crosby is one hell of a competitor, a good leader, has an awful lot of superstitions, and does seem to complain as much as people speculated. I feel like I've learned some good things that makes me appreciate what Crosby does more than I did before ... as long as he's not playing the Capitals that night. Ditto for Dan Bylsma. That man is just wired to be a hockey coach.
- I would definitely watch this series every year. I think the fact that it was during the season makes for some great banter within the locker rooms. I feel like this year's 24/7 was only the beginning of what's to come in the future.
- Matt Cooke creeps me out. He's the type of player that would really have to get knocked around in order to draw a penalty call. Referees don't like hearing from players all the time, and honestly the more you whine and complain the less a referee sees. It's just the way it goes ... only one sense can be used at a time, I guess.
PS: I love those white Winter Classic jerseys under the lights ... I almost cried when I realized the series was over.
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