• The LA Kings defeated the New Jersey Devils to win the first Stanley Cup in the franchise's 45 year history. In the final game (Game 6) a major penalty to Devils winger Steve Bernier in the first period gave the Kings the opening they needed. They netted three goals in the span of 4 minutes and the never looked back on their way to the cup. Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis both scored two goals in the victory.
• Kings goalie Jonathan Quick won the Conn Smythe trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. Following tradition, Kings captain Dustin Brown accepted the Stanley Cup (the oldest trophy in North American sports) from commissioner Gary Bettman. The New York born Brown is only the second American born captain of a Stanley Cup winner ever (Darian Hatcher of the 1999 champion Dallas Stars being the other). The Kings only lost 4 games this postseason (including an astonishing mere one loss on the road) obliterating more highly touted teams to win the Stanley Cup.
Durant v. Lebron underway
• The NBA Finals began on Tuesday night with the Oklahoma City Thunder winning their first ever Finals game by a score of 105-94 in front of their home fans. The Thunder trailed for nearly all of the first three quarters but never panicked, chipping away at the Miami lead and using a monstrous 4th quarter by Kevin Durant (17 points in the 4th, 36 for the game) to put the Heat away.
• The series has been touted as a showdown between the two best of the next generation of the NBA and former superstar Magic Johnson said that this series would decide who Kobe Bryant would figuratively pass the baton to as the next face of the NBA.
• Many people have assumed that Lebron James (30 points but a game-high 4 turnovers in Game 1) would be that player, but this is his 9th season and he still has not claimed an NBA championship (last year was the first year he even won an NBA FInals game). Durant is 4 years younger, has led the NBA in scoring for the past 3 seasons and carries much less scrutiny, unfair though it may be, than his counterpart in Miami.
• Game 2 is on Thursday night and then the series shifts to Miami for 3 games.
One of the Best Traditions in Sports Begins
• When the New Jersey Devils won the Stanley cup in 1995 they started a tradition that is one of the most interesting traditions in the game. Every player, coach and front office worker gets a day with the Cup to do what they please. There are two full time members of the NHL who go on tour with the cup.
• Generally, each player takes the cup to their hometown and that town has a party to celebrate their returning hero. In the past the cup has been used to baptize a baby and to eat popcorn out of at a movie theater, as well as being home to a plethora of drinks.
• This year, the cup will likely travel to various parts of the USA and Canada, as well as Yugoslavia and Russia. That is of course when it is not on late night shows and at the White House.
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