A debt outstanding……

How to start. After numerous times sitting down, starting and quitting, my thoughts and feelings can be summed up in only a few words…..


Karma
Pronunciation: \ˈkär-mə also ˈkər-\
Function: noun
Etymology: Sanskrit karma fate, work
Date: 1827
1 often capitalized : the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence

Welch
Pronunciation: \ˈwelsh, ˈwelch\
Variant(s): also welch \ˈwelch\
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: probably from Welsh, adjective
Date: 1905
1 sometimes offensive : to avoid payment —used with on
2 sometimes offensive : to break one's word
— welsh•er noun, sometimes offensive

Humility
Main Entry: hu•mil•i•ty
Pronunciation: \hyü-ˈmi-lə-tē, yü-\
Function: noun
Date: 14th century
: the quality or state of being humble

Redemption
Main Entry: re•demp•tion
Pronunciation: \ri-ˈdem(p)-shən\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English redempcioun, from Anglo-French redempcion, from Latin redemption-, redemptio, from redimere to redeem

Date: 14th century
: the act, or process of writing Creepy’s freaking essay to complete the payment of a debt and to prevent the reoccurrence of similar fortunes to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010.

Given the word limit of my penance, these few words simply aren’t enough.

What can I say, no matter how bad things seem at the time, they could always be worse. Such is the case with May 15, 2008. Sitting on my couch watching a dejected group of Orange Warriors











shaking hands with their defeaters




and getting ready for their next endeavour,




I thought this was a bad as it could be.

Jump forward to June 12, 2009, the youngest captain in NHL history hoists the coveted Stanley Cup above his head. All I can think to myself is “Dammit, why didn’t you just write the essay you lazy Bastard!” As I wonder, hopelessly how I will cope, I am overwhelmed. Despair grabs hold, I hear the re-cycling truck out front, I decide to end it all and I dive. In true Martin Biron style, I miss it….. almost.

It clips my leg and leaves me with the mobility only appreciated by Darian Hatcher.
In retrospect, truly an amazing accomplishment for a group of young up-and-coming superstars, and Bill Guerin. Now I know this was supposed to be written in appreciation of the 2007-2008 Penguins squad but the Whitney & Hossa references are lost on this current group of upstanding men.

Wow, quick check on the word count… little ways to go… not sure if it’s anguish, apathy or memory suppression, but a painful process none the less.

Sidney Crosby
In one word… Poise. Never wavering in the un-ending, perhaps daunting to most, scrutiny of the international media, he led his team to the Promised Land.


















Getting his points, taking his lumps, responsible defence culminated in the perfect winning combination.


Evgeni Malkin
After an anonymous post-season in the 2007-08 playoffs, Malkin faced all his doubters, myself included, and proved them wrong by leading all scorers in the post season. A key contributor to the sustained, and disperse offence that led the Penguins to the cup.

Jordan Staal
Staal proved that, despite a dip in offence, that he can be a valuable contributor at both ends of the ice and is, indeed, the best on the Staal clan in the league. Likely to pick up in offence, he provide a valuable element to the game plan developed by the Penguin’s saviour, Dan Bylsma.

Marc- Andre Fluery
A history of being streaky, the streak last year culminated by the last second save on Lidstrom that won the cup. That goal goes in, the whole story could change, potentially for the worse. Streaky or not, a big save when it mattered is all you can ask of a quality keeper.



Sergei Gonchar
Always known as an offensive weapon, Gonchar de-bunked the myth of the soft Russian stereotype by coming back and playing in the final series with a bad knee to shore up the defence against the high powered wings. Guts and leadership are key in winning a title.

Rob Scuderi
Surprisingly, Scuderi emerged as the shut down D-man capable of handling all the wings threw at him effectively and efficiently. Can he keep it up? Who knows. Was it a difference maker? No question.

Maxime Talbot
A role player chipping in with not only the biggest goal of his own career, but the biggest goal for the franchise in years, Talbot’s heroics in the final game, epitomized the Penguins year. Hard work and executing your role end up paying dividends for the whole team. Everyone pitching in for the greater good right until the final buzzer sounded was the theme of their post season.

The true definition of team, besides Webster’s Dictionary that describes it as the following:

Main Entry: 1team
Pronunciation: \ˈtēm\
Function: noun
Date: before 12th century
1 : a number of persons associated together in work or activity: as a : a group on one side (as in football or a debate)


is the coming together of many parts for the greater good. In all honesty, that was probably the largest contributing factor to the Pens’ success. Despite the possibility, and somewhat justifiably given their talent, of a susequent collision of egos in the dressing room after the 08 loss, it appears that it was not the case. Everyone did their job, supported the roles of the others and was genuinely happy and appreciative of their successes. Many have come before them with the same goal in mind, but have been unsuccessful in their quest as the “name on the back became more important than the logo on the front”.

Despite the fact that I am likely to remain a fervent, stanch, and passionate supporter of THE Philadelphia Flyers and would likely entertain the same bet again….. ex these stupid essays…. Credit where credit is due. After a crushing defeat in 2007-08, the young group of Penguins responded better anyone could have asked them to that defeat. A young group, with limited experience, in their formative years in the league could have crumbled. Me, myself and I could have taken over the room, with each worrying more about the next contract that how to take that next step but they banded together to accomplish what many dream of and few achieve.

My deepest apologies to the Creepy Gilmore Organization



for the approximate 2-words-per-day pace at which payment was generated, but this summation of the Penguins victorious season intends to fulfill this debt and open up the possibility for future trash talking, antagonizing, wagering and the resolution of the current imbalance in the balance of power in the State of Pennsylvania…….














Let the games begin.

Time to shower…. I feel dirty.