I just want you to know...I found a reason for me, to change who i used to be, a reason to start over new, and the reason is the Stanley Cup

Its been a few weeks since an entry, so i figured..lets catch up.

In the interim, Gary "The Animal" Constein, father and head of the most prominent family in Lancaster PA, had a massive heart attack. Medical lingo aside, it resulted in quintuple bypass surgery. That was quite a shock to hear...but Gary made it thru the surgery and resumed throwing zingers and one-liners as if they were candy canes in late December. Good to hear.

The World Cup of Hockey starts next week. Canada looks really good going in, so anything but the Gold would be a dissapointment. Brodeur in goal and Neidermayer on D should be reliable.

Speaking of hockey....its the only thing that matters anymore. Roller Hockey starts next Sunday and the World Cup will keep me good till the middle of September. The only thing thats important is the Stanley Cup.

June 9, 2003: Greatest Day of My Life
Current TV: Sportscenter

Why is it that everyone who ever knew you, said you're a sick son of a bitch?

I finally had a day off today, after a hectic work week. I worked 2 doubles, closed three times and worked 40 hours for the first time since January. I know its only 40 hours, but i spent all of them running around on a hard floor and my legs back felt it. I did get buckets of duckets though, but on the downside it all goes to bills.

After closing on Sundays, i went over to Josh's house, which i hadnt been to since we helped them move in months ago.

Possible quote of the Year:

Me: "i'm flicking ear wax on your bed."
Matt Constein: "Richard, Amy Bixler's head has been in this room. Shelly Michales' pussy has been in this room. You better have 2 pounds of ear wax if you want to phase me."

How great is that?

I guess i covered my big football stories here already, so here's the hockey story. I am THE New Jersey Devils fan. I've come from being a gigantic Raiders fan, to being a bigger Patriots fan, to the present state of Devils Devotion. As the Devils go, so do i. Playing the Flyers? They better win, or i will have to deal with it. The playoffs? Fuhgettaboutit. Stanley Cup on the line? They better win, or crimes may have to be committed. I thought about writing about the Devils 2000 Stanley Cup Championship. It was the very first time one of my teams had won anything. It was something i'll never forget and really is a story in itself. I also thought about the Devils 2003 Stanley Cup win over Anaheim. Heck, the last 3:44 of Game 7, after Jeff Friesen scored to make it 3-0 and officially seal the Cup, was probably the greatest 3:44 of my entire life. But i decided to go the opposite route and tell the story of Game 6 and 7 of the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals which pitted the New Jersey Devils and the Colorado Avalanche. That series still bothers me to this day, and i'll probably never get over it. After the Devils won the Stanley Cup in 2000, i wondered if i could still be the crazy fan i was before they won the Cup. I worried that i couldnt get into the game anymore now that they had won it all. I found out in 2001. The Devils were champs, and i wanted more. I wanted everyone to know it wasn't a fluke. I wanted the 2001 Stanley Cup more than i ever wanted the 2000 Cup, or a Red Sox World Series or a Patriots Super Bowl. The Devils made it threw the Eastern Conference Finals with ease. They met the Avs in the Finals and were in for a tough test. They got smoked 5-0 in Game 1. I was worried. The Devils bounced back and won game 2, and after game 5 they had a 3-2 series lead, and best of all...they hade Game 6 at home. They could win the Stanley Cup infront of the home fans, something they missed out on in the previous year against Dallas. The night of Game 6, i prepared. Soda-check. Snacks-check. Martin Brodeur Jersey-check. Warning to parents not to bother me until the game was over-Check. This was it, the Devils were winning the Cup at home. Very early in the first period, Scott Gomez scores for the Devils. I immediately go mad. Until i see the refs checking the instant replay. Trouble. It appears Scott Gomez accidentally kicked the puck in. He didnt intentionally, but all the same the goal was waved off. Im thinking, Big Trouble. There was the chance to strike first blood, and they lost it. Patrick Roy must be thinking this is his repreive. And it was trouble for the Devils. Before the Devils or I really knew it, it was 4-0 and there was a very troublesome Game 7 to deal with---in Denver. I was incensed. A soda bottle is throttled into the floor, exploding sheets of Coca-Cola over three walls. I wanted the Devils to win the Cup at home and they had blown it 2 years in a row. I come out of my self imposed shelter of my bedroom defeated. But there still was a Game 7. They could win it, on the road, and i still very much wanted it. Prove 2000 was for real, and the workings of a dynasty are being laid out. Game 7. I dont really remember much about the game itself. What i do recall is Alex Tanguay scoring on Brodeur on a horrible angle. 1-0. I remember Sean O'Donnell, who i hate to this day, high sticking Joe Sakic and giving Colorado a power play. A PP they used to make it 2-0. I recall the third goal, but the anger and frustration do not permit me to remember who scored it. Ah, it was Tanguay again, who i hate to this day. 3-0. I am not well. I am a boiling pot of rage ready to burst. Before i cross the line of sanity, which i never would return from, the Devils finally score off of a magnificent set play off a face off. 3-1. Right as the 2nd period ends, Petr Sykora ripped a wicked slap shot past Roy--and off the post. I fall to the carpet. I realize this is likely their last chance to score in the game. The third period begins, the Devils have 20 minutes to score 2 and tie it, or their reign as Champs ends, and Colorado's begins. As i watch the third period transpire, it becomes apparent the Avs are prepared to shut down the offense and play defense for 20 minutes and win the Cup. This becomes more apparent every time Colorado dumps the puck into the Devils zone. More so apparent as they let the Devils skate into the neutral zone, break up the pass and dump the puck back into the Devils zone. I realize whats happening after approximately the 15th this happens. Each time Colorado steals and dumps, my anger rises. Rises. And Rises. Around dump in #17, i punch the screen off my fan. #18, the wings shatter off as i punch it again. Later, 5 lb. bar bell is launched into the VCR, shattering its casing and lcd display. My room and everything in it, is quickly becoming a danger zone. I can take no more. If i stay and watch this progress any further, i might cause irrevocable damage to my room, the house, or myself. I speed off to College Boy's house. I will get him, we will find Pappy, we will get beer. I get to Kyle's and those insane bastards think it would be great fun to be sitting around the TV watching Colorado win the Cup. I walk in, see 30 seconds left on the clock, storm thru Matt almost knocking him down the stairs backwards, and make my way out the back door. I never saw the end, but i knew Ray Bourque had his Cup. I've taken some playoff loses badly, but never one that nearly pushed me to the brink of self-restraint. Every so often, i still think back to those 2 games in June of 2001 and think of what could have been. Even now that the Devils had won the Cup in 2000 and 2003. They could have had 3 Cups in 4 years. It bothers me still that they could have been one of the dominant NHL teams of this generation and missed out. What a shame.

Current TV: Austin Powers baby yeah!
Current Mood: If only they had won.

Bob Nystrom scores the goal! The Islanders win The Stanley Cup!

Tonight was horrid. Woke up at 2:30 in the afternoon, and got a call from Braud asking me to work for him. I denied him. Then at 3:10, he calls back again and offers 20$ and tells me im first out. I figure Tuesday wouldnt be too busy, so i agree. Then i realize that i would not be first out, but LAST out. That wouldnt be too bad as long as it wasn't busy. But since its me, and in my life, anything bad that can happen will happen. Sorry to everyone for me being there. It was just hectic and we had to go on list. Turns out Brad hornswaggled Steph and me, so he can die the deaths of ten men for that one. Well, not before he gets me the 20$. Now i get to train Keri how to close tomorrow night, which wont be bad, because shes nice and will be there all night, so i dont get blasted by my lonesome. So goes my pitifull life.

The Red Sox traded Nomar Garciaparra the other day. He was THE fan favorite in Boston since 1999 or so. Before last year, i would never have thought they would trade their playoff megastar from 1998 and 1999. Then i watched him hit for shit in the playoffs last year, and i got real tired of him. I was all for them getting rid of his ass after the ALCS. Earlier in 2o03, Nomar rejected a 15$ million per year contract. The Red Sox management decided that he wasnt coming back, and saw how he went so far downhill batting and fielding, and decided that they should try to go after Alex Rodriguez. Needless to say that didnt pan out and it hurt poor Nomar's feelings. He started being an outcast and moping around, being a general poor sport loser crybaby. So it wasnt only neccessary to trade the big vagina. So good that hes gone. The Sox are better off without him, chemistry, defensively, and morale wise.

Since its 2am, and speaking of sports, i felt like writing out my definative sports fanatic stories. I'll start off with Baseball and do hockey and football in the coming posts.

I guess my peak fanaticism towards the Boston Red Sox was in 1995-1996. I listened to every game those summers out on my dads van radio. Nothing like being out in the van with a glass of tea and some pretzels until 2am while the Red Sox made their west coast swings. I kind of got away from Baseball, until the 2003 season. The Sox won the Wild Card, and beat Oakland in a classic series. Then they moved onto an even more classic Series against the Yankees in the ALCS. Here it was...the Red Sox and the Yanks in the playoffs again. The Red Sox had one of the best offenses in MLB history. They won game 1 and i was sure this was the series they could finally beat the curse. The series went back and forth and before i knew it, the Red Sox and Yankees would play Game 7 for the right to play in the World Series. It would be Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens, arguably 2 of the best pitchers of the generation and my life time. Maybe the most anticipated Baseball game ever played. If Boston could win, they would finally get the Yankees after the Yankees getting them for 80+ years, finally get Roger Clemens back, and maybe get to finally win the World Series against the very beatable Marlins. The Red Sox took an early 4-0 lead, chased Clemens from the game and really really looked like they could pull it off. I was gleefull. More than the Game 7, i wanted them to stick it to Clemens, Steinbrenner, and New York city. The Yankees pulled within 4-2, then they brought in David Wells to pitch to David Ortiz. Wells first pitch was belted by Ortiz into the black stands in dead center. It was 5-2, and i was absolutely positive they were going to do it, Pedro was still cruising. Get the Yankees! Revenge! 1918, Babe Ruth, Bucky Dent...all would be alright after that night. Flash forward to the 8th. Red Sox still up 5-2, Pedro still pitching. Pedro lets up some hits and its 5-3. 2 men on, 1 out. Still the Red Sox have the 2 run lead and are 5 outs away. Grady Little comes out to check on Pedro. At home, i yell at the screen: "Its Pedro, hes the best, he's going to reach back and pull the best pitches of his career out of that glove and we are going to the World Series!" Little checks, asks Pedro, leaves him in, heads to the dug out. I feel fine, the right decision has been made. One broken bat single from Jorge Posada later, all of New England, Red Sox nation, and 1 fan in Lancaster Pennsylvania, are awestruck. Deflated, i see the Yankees tie the game. I cannot get over it. They had it and blew it. Its 1978 and the Boston Masacre all over again. Its 4 game sweeps to Oakland in 1988 and 1990 all over again. Its Bill Bucker Game 6 10th inning all over again. Boston was in control, and they blew it. I never believed there was a curse on Boston, but now it was apparent. Destined to get to the brink, only to blow it in the worst imaginable way. Sure it was still a tie game. They could have technically won the game. But i knew better. After Martinez gave up the 2 runs in the 8th to tie it, there was no chance in hell of the Red Sox winning that game. The 9th went by, along with the 10th. I don't think the Red Sox made solid contact off Mariano Rivera, let alone a hit. After the Red Sox half of the 11th, i got in bed and tried to fall asleep before the Yankees won. Before the commercial break, they showed the Yankees due up in the bottom of the 11th. I saw Aaron Boone was up first. Instantly, i knew Boone, who couldnt hit the broad side of a barn since the Yankees traded for him months earlier, like any other schmuck New York gets and turns into a playoff and World Series hero does, would hit a homer to win it. I just knew it. So i flip thru the channels during the break. Lets see what happens, i think to myself as i change it back to the game. When i get back to FOX, i am greeted with the Yankees dancing around home plate. I bounce out of bed. What happened i scream. After a minute of seeing the Yankees parade around, American League Champions, i found out. Sure enough, Aaron Boone hit Tim Wakefields first pitch into the left field stands. That son of a bitch, who hit like Bob Ueker the entire time he was with the Yankees, hit a home run to become the hero. I wasn't dismal because Boston had lost. It was like i was hurt that i would actually believe Boston could beat New York. I felt so gullible. The Red Sox had made it so far...5 outs from the World Series, and they blew it. Getting to that point alone was so hard, getting back might take another 85 years. So after i was clued into how they lost it, i was off like a race car to the Fairview to meet up with Kyle to bitch and complain.

Current TV: Quantum Leap