Hockey Thoughts: Caps Postmortem

Another year, another colossal failure by the Caps.  I didn't even get around to making my 2nd Round picks before one series was over...and the rest are nearing completion.  After such a tough and drawn-out 1st Round I'm blown away at how quickly the 2nd Round is closing out.

I didn't try this time, but somehow I became emotionally divested from the Capitals and Lightning series.  When the Caps dropped the first two on home ice I sort of knew what was coming.  I didn't even consider a comeback.  I just pondered my feelings for the Caps and considered calling it quits.  I'm not a fair weather fan by any means, but I didn't start out a Caps fan.  I didn't become a Caps fan until I had moved back to Nashville.  I was an Ovechkin fan, and that eventually translated into supporting the entire team and not just one player. 

But it turned from a healthy relationship into an abusive one.  How many times can you expect someone to come crawling back after you've beaten all of the hope out of them.  Taken their dreams and stomped on them.  The difference between the Caps and the Preds is that I don't expect the Preds to win.  The Caps are supposed to be my ace in the hole once the Preds' season comes to an end.  Yet, they've never held up their end of the bargain.

Then this morning I came across Ted Leonsis' blog post about the series.  He's a businessman first and foremost, and what he did was excellent business.  He was honest about their failure, didn't attempt to sugarcoat it, accepted blame, and apologized.  I went from not caring at all to being very moved in an instant.  It made me remember that Ted isn't going to give up.  He wants a Cup more than anyone, probably even more than Sasha.  I remembered how awesome it is to watch games on TV that are in the Verizon Center.  The rowdy, all-red scene is familiar to people now but it still feels foreign to me every time I see it.  That's not the Verizon Center I remember...not even close.  He's come so far with this team, and I know he won't stop short of the finish line.  So, as long as Ted hangs in there, I'll hang in there.  I just wish they wouldn't keep us all hanging for so long!