"How's your Bud Ice? Do beee do beee do.........."

A cool little jingle and the marketing plans went real well until
those damn Rats down there in Too Hot, Florida went and spoiled
the party on our home ice at the Civic Arena (not a great place
to watch a hockey game) here in Pittsburgh.  Of course, it wasn't
the first time as I was there in 1993 when the Penguins best team
*ever!* failed in the 2nd round at home in Game 7 when David Volek
really crushed our dreams for a 3-peat!  I was also there in 1989
when Kenny Wregget, then with the Flyers, spoiled the show in Game 7
of the Patrick Division Finals.  

But then, heartbreak is nothing new for a Penguins fan, as we can
(un)proudly say that we are the only team to blow a 3 games to 0 lead
in the playoffs.  Of course suffering is also known as the 1980s,
when I became a hockey fan.  

Why?  Heck, who knows.  I was just under 10 years old when the Penguins
went on a neat little run in the playoffs (hey, getting to round 1 was
a run then.  Winning a game or two in the playoffs in round 1 was
a cause for celebration!).  We all played street hockey at the local
corner and all tuned into our radios, without fail, to listen to Mike
Lange and his crazy, "Oh, Michael, Michael, Motorcycle!"  "Great Balls
Of Fire!"  "Look Out Loretta!"  "The Bullet Strikes Again!" off-beat
sayings everytime the Penguins lit the lamp (which wasn't often).  Of
course, we were always praying for a tie.  With no OT, that was a bonus
to the Penguins as not having to play for five more minutes meant that
you knew you had a chance to celebrate a tie when there was 3 seconds
left with the faceoff outside the zone! 

Even the savior, Mario Lemieux, in '84, couldn't limp this team out
of the basement throughout the 80s.  With last place sealed up that
season, we still went to our radios to see if Team Mario would reach
100 points in the final game of the season (he did).  

It took more than one player and it took more in the Patrick Division. 
Do you remember when the Penguins finished 36-35-9 and still finished 
last in the Patrick Division?  Were you there when the Penguins needed a 
tie on the last day of the season to make the playoffs -- and it went OT 
-- only to see the wrong lamp lit with just over about a minute left in OT?
(I had glass seats for that one along the boards -- just inside the
blueline).  

The suffering did pay off though.  I remember the first game I went
to.  In the early/mid 80s against the big, bad Edmonton Oilers against
the Penguins, in their customary cellar-dwellar position.  Well, somehow,
Pittsburgh showed up in this one and Edmonton didn't as the Penguins 
won, 4-3.  I was instantly hooked!  In fact, even though the Penguins
still sucked most of the time, they didn't lose the first 11 times
I saw them play.  I considered myself a good luck charm.  I remember
a Saturday Night '80s game against the Habs that I went to by myself. 
At the end of 1, Montreal led, 3-0.  But in the end, the Penguins won 6-3.

Of course, we were eventually rewarded for suffering through misery
with the historic run of 1991.  I had attended more and more games each
season and my dad finally pulled in season tickets in 1992 -- and, getting
to see the playoffs and all was such a thrill!  The '92 Cup season was one
to remember because it was even more difficult getting through the top 2
teams in the league in round 1 and round 2.  We kept our tickets through
1995.  After that, it just became way too expensive.  And as any true
Pittsburgh fan will tell you, its not the same crowd anymore.  Before
1992, it was fun.  After that, its become a status event only.  Doctors
& Lawyers attend the games.  They get there at the end of 1 and leave
at the end of 2.  The true fan is left at home to watch the game on TV.

Making the playoffs isn't a struggle anymore, though the team is past
peak of its glory years.  Maybe, though, just maybe we won't have to
suffer through the '80s again and continue to have a taste of the playoffs.
And who knows, maybe sometime down the line, the magic of 1991-1992 will
return again.  Even if it doesn't...for those of us that started loyally
following the team in the 60s, 70s, or early 80s, we've already had a
lifetime of wonderful memories -- even if the Penguins pull a Rangers
and don't win the Cup for another 54 years.  
  
More stories to come!

Check out the links:

HOCKEY
The National Hockey League

 Rob's 96-97 Season Outlook (Predictions)
 '96-'97 Pittsburgh Penguins schedule                          
 NHL '96-'97 league schedule
 The Hockey News


More goals to come!