Kiss the Cup?

Every year around this time I find myself doing something that does not come naturally: watching professional hockey. The NHL regular season is just about the most boring thing in professional sports; conversely, the NHL playoffs are just about the most exciting thing in professional sports.


What's cool about this year's playoffs is that there are three former Badgers still alive. Two are relatively well-known and play for Detroit: former Waupaca softballer Brian Rafalski, and 89-year-old Chris Chelios. These guys have enjoyed long, successful careers and already have their names on the Stanley Cup.


That's why I'm pulling for Adam Burish and the Chicago Blackhawks. Burish, you may remember, is the Madison native who captained Mike Eaves' 2006 national championship team. He just seemed like one of those ultimate team guys who, while not the most talented player, did all the right things to keep the locker room together and get the win.


Several weeks ago, while I was on vacation, Burish did something that I meant to blog about but couldn't find a computer. The Blackhawks were playing Calgary in the second round, near the end of a game Burish cross-checked former Badger teammate Rene Bourque in the face. Bourque threw up his arms in a "What the hell?" manner, then chased after Burish, who broke his stick on his former teammate's face.


Hockey is hockey, but still, can you think of another situation where former college teammates have gone after each other like this?



This would be like Michael Finley slamming Devin Harris to the floor with a flagrant foul, or Jim Leonhard spearing Lee Evans' knees. Players probably aren't thinking about alma maters in the heat of the battle, but still, the Burish-Bourque thing seems somewhat unprecedented.

Here's to Burish and Chicago playing a bunch of multiple-overtime thrillers that end with his name etched on the Cup.

Stanley Cup winners

Congrats to two former Badgers who won the Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings last week: Brian Rafalski (right) and Chris Chelios. Chelly, who's about 80 now, didn't play much, if at all, in the finals, but Raffy played a big role.

Rafalski had goals in the last two games, and would have had the series clincher in Game 5 if not for an exciting late goal by the Penguins. For the playoffs, he had four goals and 14 points and was a plus-6. He's one of the best defensemen in the NHL.

And yet, if you passed him at the mall, you probably wouldn't guess that he's a world class athlete. Listed at 5-10, I'd bet he's two inches shorter. A few summers ago, when the NHL skipped a season because of a strike or a lockout (can't remember which; did you notice?), Rafalski played in the same softball league as me in Waupaca. Apparently he married a girl from Waupaca and owns a home on our beautiful Chain O' Lakes.

Didn't realize it was him until, batting left-handed, he hit a single to left-center (me) and stretched it into a ... triple. Man is he fast!

Congrats to these two guys for getting two more names of former Badgers on the Stanley Cup.