Do you subscribe to the theory that success is only measured by winning a championship?

 

How often have we heard that winning the Stanley Cup in the NHL defines the ultimate accomplishment? Indeed, the Stanley Cup champions are in one boat, in a league of their own, if you will, while the other 29 teams are in another.

 

Obviously, by winning, the Chicago Blackhawks have reached this pinnacle of success for 2009-10. However, I believe that a few other teams can declare this year a rewarding one, even though there was no parade.

 

Check out your favourite team, in my list below and see which (non) successful “special” category they have been placed in:

 

 

Awful season: The 14 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs. I do not consider Edmonton any less fortunate than Calgary though the Oilers were the worst of the bunch and the Flames barely missed the

playoffs. Qualifying for the post-season is a minimum standard regardless of circumstances. It can be argued that Edmonton is in a better spot than Calgary because of the Oilers high draft position. Too bad the Toronto Maple Leafs don’t have that high draft pick (2nd overall) to show for their misery again.

 

Disappointing season: Washington, New Jersey and Buffalo. The Capitals, Devils and Sabres had very good regular seasons but were all upset in the opening round of the playoffs. It does not matter how many points they accumulated, the sting of first round elimination to a lesser opponent leaves a bitter pill to swallow for these three teams, that underachieved.

 

Ho-Hum season: Ottawa and Nashville. The Senators returned to the playoffs but did little to excite their fan base against Pittsburgh. The Predators performed the same act we seem to witness each year, good enough to qualify for the playoffs and then a quick first round exit.

 

Encouraging season: Phoenix, LA and Colorado. All first round losers but teams that made significant regular season gains and surprised many observers by qualifying for the playoff derby. The bar for the Coyotes, Kings and Avalanche has certainly been raised, meaning it will be much more difficult for them to progress to the next step.

 

Stomach turning season: Boston. No matter how the Bruins spin it, losing in the manner they did left their fans angry and disgusted. It looked so promising for Boston, upsetting Buffalo in the opening round. However, blowing a 3-0 series lead and a subsequent 3-0 lead in game seven to Philadelphia is inexcusable. The Bruins made history for all the wrong reasons.

 

Digress season: Pittsburgh and Detroit. The two teams that competed in the last two Stanley Cup finals sunk to second round elimination. At least the Red Wings were beaten by a first place team. The Penguins, winning 3-2 in the series, should never have lost to Montreal, despite Habs goalie Jaroslav

Halak’s heroics. After all, the Flyers did not seem to have trouble scoring on him.

 

 

Mediocre season: Vancouver. It may seem harsh to put this label on the Canucks. I realize they placed first in the division, earned over 100 points and it took the eventual Stanley Cup champions to eliminate them. However, they are not the Coyotes. The Canucks needed to reach the Conference final to claim any notable triumphant. A good regular season followed by a first round victory and a second round exit is not acceptable any more for a team with so many talented players.

 

Tease season: San Jose. After another great regular season, it appeared to be the same old Sharks in the first round when they trailed Colorado 2-1, before going on a six-game winning streak. Just when one may think they have turned the corner, the Sharks were swept by Chicago in the Western final. The San Jose tease has been better than the flop of the past, but many still get the feeling that something is still missing with the Sharks.

 

Overachieving season: Montreal and Philadelphia. The Habs upset Washington and Pittsburgh with miraculous come from behind victories. I bet you didn’t know the Canadiens actually had more playoff losses (10) than playoff wins (9); nevertheless, Montreal gave us an unexpected thrill. The Flyers were resilient, but not quite a team of destiny like many suggested. By falling just two wins shy of the Cup, Philly certainly got the most out of its talent.

 

 

Championship season: Chicago. The Blackhawks achieved the most rewarding prize as the undisputed best team. The Hawks were the only club never to have played a game when facing elimination. They swept San Jose, the only team to finish ahead of them in the regular season. The Hawks have now set the ultimate standard that other clubs can only marvel at.

 

30 teams, one winner ? Yes, that may be true, but there were at least a few other teams that can lay claim to a promising season. Interesting though how sometimes hope one year can certainly be followed by hopeless the next.

 

 

Happy Father's Day to all Dads !

By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's  wrong.

 

Eugene Van Roosbroeck, an 82 year old former Olympic cyclist was awarded a gold medal he never received from the 1948 Games. The only problem was having to wait five hours for him to come up with the urine specimen. 

Can’t believe all the fuss over the horn blowing this week. I mean if Dion Phaneuf thinks he can be captain of the Leafs more power to him.

 

World Cup referees have been given lessons in detecting profanities in both French and English. Referees were given speeches by former PM Jean Chretien as he was able to swear in neither official language.

A minor league baseball team in Florida will no longer refer to batting practice with its commonly used moniker, "BP," in protest of the British Petroleum oil spill. They will also forbid players from making a slick play, uttering crude remarks or taking a leak.

 

 

So BP has a new strategy for combating the runaway oil leak. Its called the "Hey everybody, the World Cup is on."

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook Petco Park during the Padres game against Toronto Monday.  You know, there hasn't been so much rumbling in San Diego since Tony Gwynne Sr. had hunger pains. 

 

The San Diego Padres turned a triple play against the New York Mets. It’s always big news when a Padres triple play doesn’t include the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost.

 

The New York Jets announced the limited release of their commemorative wine called Jets Uncorked. That is different from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s own commemorative wine called Ben Unzipped. 

 

Several media sources called right-hander Stephen Strasburg's major league debut the most super-hyped ever in baseball. Clearly a pitcher worth more than a thousand words.

 

The top three things a CFL quarterback won't want to hear on his new radio-equipped helmet:
3. I give up;
2. Get the stretcher;
1. Rod Black's play-by-play.

 

 

 

It's only June and already 2011 calendars are on sale. I hear they're selling particularly well near Wrigley Field.

A British TV documentary is alleging Tiger Woods had a "secret love child" and that DNA evidence supports the claim. If true this could be be the most expensive Tiger cub in history.

The NBA finals and the Tonys last weekend had something in common. Both of them rewarded great acting.
Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 

Car-X Lube in Chicago is offering LeBron James and his Ferrari free oil changes for life if he signs with the Bulls. I would've expected New Orleans to make that offer.

 

Reggie Bush pledged to help USC fight the recent NCAA sanctions.Isn't that like Nixon vowing to help all those who went to prison over Watergate?

 

Before the World Cup, many people thought a vuvuzela was a former Dodger pitcher. 

 

 

 

Japan won its first-ever World Cup game on foreign soil, a 1-0 victory over Cameroon. Honda  scored the only goal in the 39th minute. It was not assisted by Toyota or Volvo.

 

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.