Idiots Write About Sports

It is clearly a very big deal up in Canada that the Calgary Flames are the first Canadian team to play in a Stanley Cup Final since 1994. When Edmonton Oiler fans are pulling for their hated in-province rival, you realize that some amount of national pride is at stake.

It’s at stake north of the border at least. Down here in the Lower 48, I think it’s safe to say that, outside of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, not too many red-blooded Americans have too much riding on the fortunes of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Unless there’s been an increase in hockey betting that I’m unaware of.

Not that any of this is stopping ESPN from playing the nationalism card in its Finals coverage, with the network even going so far as to have Gary Thorne shriek “It’s Canada versus U.S.A.” to open tonight’s telecast.

I’m sure the three American-born players on the Lightning roster really appreciated that, even if winger Andre Roy is the only one who will probably see significant ice time in this series. (After all, if backup goalie John Grahame makes it on the ice in relief of Nikolai Khabibulin, that bodes ill for Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup aspirations.).

Just in case you’re keeping score at home, Tampa Bay does, in fact, employ more American-born players than the two on the Calgary Flames roster. However, seeing as how those players are Craig Conroy — currently second on the Flames in terms of playoff points behind only Jerome Iginla — and Jordan Leopold — a defenseman who logs significant ice-time — the Flames’ Americans figure to be heavily involved in the outcome of this particular final. But why let that get in the way of a good Canada! U.S.A! rabble-rousing?

After all that patriotic breast-beating, do I have to tell you that ESPN cut away to commercials during the playing of the Canadian and American national anthems? Faithful readers, I think I do not.

Actually, Calgary also has three American players on its team: you forgot winger Chris Clark from Connecticut.

Really? I'm almost sure we gave Connecticut back to the British.

Yes, I did miss Chris Clark. And he's right there at the top of the roster I linked to, as well. I can only assume my eyes saw the words "Windsor," and I thought "Ontario" instead of "Connecticut."

There is also the possibility that I'm not terribly bright.