From a marketing and PR standpoint, this is probably one of the best Stanley Cup Finals match ups that Gary Bettman and NHL HQ could have hoped for. You’ve got the face of the league and a hockey mad town (basically Buffalo but with past success) going up against one of the most dominant teams of the past decade, that just so happens to reside in a top 10 American market. It’s the Red Wings vs. the Penguins. It’s two teams you don’t like. One’s star player is Cindy Crosby the other is the Evil Empire. But hey, at least they’re not the Flyers, right? Whatever.
With all due respect to Kissing Suzy Kolber, let’s break this bad boy down.
Team
Pittsburgh Penguins — Detroit Red Wings
City
Pittsburgh, PA — Detroit, MI
Crappy Nickname
The Steel City — Hockeytown
Dump in Dire Need of Replacement
Mellon Arena — Joe Louis Arena
Most loathsome player
Do I even need to say it? — Name one.
Unlikely Star
Marc Andre Fleury — Johan Franzen
Most annoying characteristic
Fan base actually believes this isn’t rigged to favor Sidney — Have a goalie, but really don’t need one until Lidstrom retires
Most annoying form of smug
Mario Lemieux’s Smug — The smug that emanates from crowning yourself Hockeytown, USA.
Another reason to be annoyed by their city
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the terrible towel. Nuff’ said. — The Pistons’ death grip on the Eastern Conference.
OK, just name anything you don’t like about these places
The size of Ben Roethlisberger’s head — Did I mention that they call it Hockeytown?
Biggest mis characterization
Bitter, cling to guns and religion — Redneck town
Quickest way to piss off fanbase
Gary Roberts sucks — Wear Avs jersey
Line we’re all tired of hearing
WWGRD? — It’s the economy’s fault!
Reason to show a little sympathy
Almost lost their team to Hamilton, of all places — The Lions are really, really bad
So you understand what Pensblog is talking about the next day — Seeing them make the Finals is sort of routine, and you like routine_uacct = “UA-1868762-1”; urchinTracker();
BallHype – Red Wings vs. Penguins: Who Do You Loathe More?
ballhype_story_widget_288967(false);
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!