Never has a city's NHL and NBA teams celebrated world championships in the same year. Part of this phenomenon is because of dynasties. In the NBA, when the Celtics were dominant in the 1960s and semi-dominant in the 1980s, the NHL's Bruins were either lousy (1960s) or not quite good enough (1980s). The Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, and Edmonton Oilers, between them, won all but one Stanley Cup in the years from 1976 to 1990. No NBA teams in Montreal or Edmonton, and no Knicks championships in that time.
I may have just put the kiss of death on things, but I think it's worth chattering about now, with the Red Wings halfway to their 11th Cup and the Pistons halfway to being halfway to their fourth NBA title.
What if, indeed?
Detroit parties in 1935, after the Tigers' World Series triumph
The Stanley Cup figures to be awarded sometime in the first week of June. The Larry O'Brien Trophy, about a week or two later. (Of course, the way the NBA drags out its playoffs, we might see the Larry sharing air time with MLB's All-Star Game. Did you notice the Nets and Cavaliers played Game 2 last night and don't play Game 3 until Saturday? Jeezalou!). So wouldn't it be something if Woodward Avenue got quite a going over next month?
I've been trying not to think of such possibilities, but with each playoff round Dominik Hasek wins (he's 6-0 as a Red Wing in playoff series) and with each convincing victory the Pistons rack up in their 6-0 postseason, it's becoming harder to shove those thoughts aside. And I would wager that the same folks who are lambasting me now for putting the jinx on our teams are the same ones who are just too chicken to throw it out there for public consumption.
So let's talk about it.
Why not harbor such ideas? Is it so unlikely that the Wings and the Pistons could both walk away as champions? Would it be so terribly shocking -- especially with the 67-win Mavericks out of the way?
You know you've thought about it -- admit it. And not just in a passing, idle moment. You've wondered how this city would react if the unprecedented were to happen.
Could we handle it?
I mean, would it be too much? Sensory overload? Confetti contamination? Open car syndrome?
Yeah, yeah -- neither team ain't won nothing yet. I get it.
But you're thinking about it -- I know you are.
How can you not?
3 comments:
Aren't you counting your Ducks before they are hatched?
What about a World Series appearance, a NBA Finals appearance, and a Stanley Cup Finals appearance all in the same 12 months? And yes, we are getting a bit ahead of ourselves with the Wings at least Alan, the Ducks are going to be a very very tough series. But, then again, I thought that about the Bulls with the Pistons, and we see how that worked out so far.
-Scott
... or putting the cart before the Bull??? ~grin~
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