I understand that some of you won’t want to read about the Ducks, so if so, this is your cue to move along. In fact, I’ll invite you to read my story about the Kings and Ducks, and where they sit relative to each other. That’s what you call a shameless plug, my friends.
For those who would like an insight of what it was like after the Ducks’ victory tonight, I thought I would share….
Those of us in the media — at least the responsible ones — don’t cheer for teams or individuals, but we do hope for “moments.” And I can say, with no hesitation, that this was the best moment I’ve ever been a part of. I’ve watched the Lakers celebrate championships and the Angels celebrate a World Series, but nothing compared to this.
It started when we got down the locker room area, with the parade of family members coming through the hallway on their way to the locker room. Players would poke their heads out the door, looking eagerly for loved ones. It made me think about each player’s individual story, what he and his family had sacrificed to get to that point.
Inside the locker room, naturally, was a mob scene. Wall to wall people and, before long, the obligatory spraying o’ the champagne. I was an incidental victim of Shawn Thornton, who actually apologized. That’s a hockey player for you. Unfailingly polite. Being a veteran of similar scenes, I managed to escape with minimal damage, and even got to shake hands with George Parros and congratulate him. George is a tremendous guy and I’m happy for him. Getting quotes in the locker room was near impossible so I ventured out onto the ice. Nobody stopped me, so why not?
Let me tell you, coolest thing ever. Many of the players and family members were still out there, taking turns taking pictures with the Cup and just hanging out and celebrating. I saw Scott Niedermayer smile for the first time ever, I believe. He was having the time of his life with his brother. I got to walk out to the pitcher’s mound after the World Series in 2002 and tonight I got to walk out to center ice after the Cup Finals. Not bad. Even the most hardened Kings fan would have to feel good for Giguere, who had his infant son — who was born two months ago with an eye defect — out on the ice. The kid took a seat in the Cup and his proud parents got the picture of a lifetime.
Back up to the press box to write as the arena emptied. Two hours after the game, the Niedermayer brothers — still in full uniform — appeared with their families and sat on the bench to soak in the moment. After a while, Scott and his wife went out to center ice for a private moment. There have been whispers that Niedermayer might consider retirement, and the way he was capturing that moment with his wife really gave me reason to think about that.
The Niedermayer brothers disappeared…and then came Ric Jackman. Jackman is a funny guy. He’s got tattoos and he’s missing a front tooth, so he looks like…a hockey player. Anyway, Jackman and two of his buddies — they might even have been brothers, I’m not sure — came barreling out onto the ice and basically flopped down at center ice to laugh and celebrate. It’s just a reminder of what the Cup means to all those Canadian kids.
After the writing was done, seven of us brave souls in the L.A. print media decided to check out the locker-room area again and see what was going on. The smell of cigar smoke hit us, a couple hundred yards away from the locker room. We passed Scott Niedermayer in the hallway and he said he hadn’t seen the Cup since they handed it to him on the ice.
Well, we found it. It was in the locker room, in the hands of Chris Pronger, who was serving as team bartender. Anyone who wanted a sip out of the Cup came up on the makeshift stage and Pronger, well, he pretty much dumped the beer all over them, but some probably went through their lips. Quite a scene in there. Just as packed as during the post-game interviews, but now completely with friends and family. Finland was well represented, and Teemu Selanne’s buddies looked like they were just gearing up to party.
Actually, everyone did, even though the game had been over for almost four hours. Most of the players were still in some part of their uniforms, some even in full uniform. Something tells me they’re still there, laughing, singing and dancing, just the way we left them. Anyway, seven of us went into the room but only six came out. Finally, out walked Dan Wood of the O.C. Register, drenched in alcohol. It really was a genuine celebration. The Lakers and the Angels, they were happy, but these guys were celebrating, still laughing and yelling 3 1/2 hours later.
The next time I see the Cup handled with white gloves, I’ll laugh. Because my lasting memory is of Pronger pouring beer out of it, down the front of someone’s shirt. Isn’t hockey a great sport?
