THE END IS NEAR....

Of the 2007-2008 Hockey Season that is. As I went to bed at 11:30 last night, I couldn't help but think "Mon- day... that's it." So, Red Wings in 5. I just hope Chris Chelios can find some way of getting his ancient butt on the ice so he can be there to carry the cup one more time.

Yep. Watching last night's game, that was indeed entertaining, you couldn't help but think "If the Pens couldn't score on the 5 on 3 power play, they were done. Well, they looked like the Islanders for the two minutes. They just couldn't make it work, no matter how hard they tried. And they did try.

Read a really wonderful entry on ESPN.com by John Buccigross while I was watching the game, and Big Angry Man was snoring on the couch. It's called "Travelling to the 'Burgh..." http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/playoffs2008/columns/story?columnist=buccigross_john&id=3419326, and it really is a special piece of work. I had a heated discussion with another hockey writer over the quality and caliber of Bucci's hockey writing, but I only know him from his written word, not his on-air ESPN stints, and I've loved every chapter. Every entry is painted with a master's brush that does nothing but evoke emotion. If you have some time, check it out.

At the end of the game, a member on the NYIC board posted Greg Logan's 10 pm article "Dubie, other free agents, won't be back." It was sad to see, but no surprise to me at all. As fellow Blog Boxer Frank Trovato had said to me one night at the table "He's done. He's going to be some team's number one next season."

I guess this time, he was right. (He's still wrong about Blake, but he's right about Dubie.) I'm just glad this means Dubie will have to get that mask painted again. I really had a bad feeling when I saw the Fisherman style lighthouse on it. It gave me the creeps.

I had a feeling about Satan and Tank too back in April, but I'm surprised about Big Joe. They really liked him and he did have sparks of greatness. They were just few and far between.

My mother-in-law is going to be very upset. She fell in love with Kozlov last season and was devastated when he wasn't back on the ice. Ruslan was an acceptable substitute with the same Russian good looks and rosey cheeks. I will have to explain to her that this is what it means to be a hockey fan. That every season you have the potential of having your heart broken as your favorite player is sent packing. (A passionate sport evokes passionate heartache.)

Joey Mac will get the nod as Ricky's bench warmer, I mean back-up. I'm perfectly content with this move, although it means I will have to get used to his Leprechaun-style voice during locker room interviews. I'll also have to make a point of not staring at his feet and the amazing amount of space there is between his toes. (The first time I saw them, I had a hard time looking away. They are just that unusual.)

So, as I turned off the TV at 11:30 and woke my husband, I announced. "Wings won, Yanks are tied at 6 in the 12th and Dubie is a goner." That was my condensed version of the 11 o'clock sports.

On another note: Sorry that some of my writing may be a little unintelligible of late. I've been functioning in a cloud, and it doesn't seem to be lifting yet. My friend Dean used to have a saying for it. "I'm in a dither." I think "dither" only applies to a short period of functioning stupidity. This fuzzy period is more "I'm functioning... but my head is up my butt." It's almost like "pregnancy stupids." (And any mother will know what I mean!) Hopefully things will improve soon. Although with the eminent end of hockey.... withdrawal symptoms should start pretty soon.

Oh crap... this isn't going to be pretty.