Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Bright Side: Sharks on very long path to success

Yeah, yeah, Shark fans. I know it's been a rough three games, scoring first and watching the Stars deteriorate that lead. But take heart! All is not lost. There has been something very familiar about the Sharks' path this year, and I couldn't put my finger on it until last night. Winning a first round series in seven games, then on the brink of being swept in the second round; where had I seen that before?

Ah, that's right. The 1997 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, playing in their first postseason in franchise history, beat Phoenix in seven games before bowing out to the Red Wings in four. And guess who was their head coach? A fellow by the name of Ron Wilson.

So if the Sharks end up losing tonight, don't fret. Here's what you do. Fire Ron Wilson, citing philosophical differences (just point out his self-contradiction in declaring that the Sharks needed to "relax" and "play desperate" in game three). Hire a guy like Pierre Page to replace RW, and you're set.

By my bar-napkin math, the Sharks are only ten years, six head coaches, four general managers, and one massive jersey re-design away from duplicating Anaheim's path to the Stanley Cup. Assuming the Sharks can hold to the pattern, a decade's not that long to wait for a taste of Lord Stanley's glory, is it?


The light at the end of the tunnel?

Of course, if the Sharks win tonight, all bets are off. We shall see.
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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:04 AM

    Hire a guy like Pierre Page to replace RW, and you're set.

    Why hire a guy "like" Pag&eacute, just hire Pierre Pag&eacute himself. I'm sure he's available.

    I once made the argument that Pag&eacute was the worst coach in the history of Southern California professional sports. Opposition to this opinion was scarce.

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  2. Earl Sleek10:06 AM

    Why hire a guy "like" Pagé, just hire Pierre Pagé himself.

    Hiring Page would be the best choice in this farcical gameplan, but I couldn't be bothered with the tedious research to find out if he was currently living or dead.

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  3. Cheechew10:17 AM

    Would Page be worse than the great Al Sims?

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  4. brokeyard10:55 AM

    Yeah, if the Sharks win tonight it will just be that "false glimmer of hope" for Sharks fans that Sleek talked about when the Ducks won while on the verge of elimination.

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  5. Earl Sleek10:58 AM

    That's true, but I should note that G5 of the Ducks series was probably the most fun I've had at a game this year. There's something certainly liberating about going to see your team when even a win won't help that much; it's almost a no-pressure experience that Sharks fans might get a chance to enjoy if the finned ones can force a G5.

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