10 Reasons You Should Be Watching The Stanley Cup Finals Too

1. The Players - There is literally no way Lebron James can win the Stanly Cup.

2. Facial Hair - The hockey playoff beard is one of the best traditions in sports. Of course hockey players tend to be a little crazy (really crazy), so the facial hair tends to go beyond just beards. There is no greater collection of beards, mullets, and porn mustaches than in a Stanley Cup Final.

3. The Arenas - The Dallas Mavericks arena has been alive in two games so far but the Heat arena has sucked harder than Franklin and Bash. The seats are rarely full when play starts and the fans that are there struggle to get into the game. How do you struggle to get into a NBA Finals game? On the hockey side of things, Rogers Arena has been loud and full of Canadians hopped up on Labatt Blue and maple syrup (I assume they drink syrup), and the TD Garden has been just as packed with angry Bostonians. The energy of a playoff hockey crowd is higher than in any other professional sport. During the Superbowl, the only event you could argue, the crowd is full of CEO's and salesmen more concerned with impressing clients than with the game. In a hockey crowd, everybody wears jerseys to the game (under-rated), everybody sings the national anthem (super under-rated), and the only music during the game is from the Hockey Organ somewhere high in the rafters (most under-rated thing in sports).

4. Commercials - The NHL consistently puts together the best commercials on TV. I won't get into it here as I have already explored this in the videos section of my blog. What's really important is the ads from the sport's sponsors. The NHL and NBC quickly realized that less is more and to this day, I have yet to see a single Franklin and Bash Commercial on NBC or Versus. Thank you NBC. Also Franklin and Bash jokes are one reason the NBA finals absolutely must go seven games. Please don't take these away from me Mr. Stern.

5. Overtime - You won't find a better overtime in sports than in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The speed of the game and the two-way style of play means goals are scored faster than in any other sport. Throw in the sudden death angle and it's like letting Tony Montana hang out by a bucket of cocaine, nobody is sure what's going to happen, but something will and its probably going to happen fast. In the NHL playoffs, a game, a series, and an entire season can end with one flick of the wrist. No other sport is decided so quickly and so simply. Football can end on one play and baseball can end on one swing, but the pace of play is so much slower in those sports. The time between pitches and between plays provides an opportunity to breathe that doesn't exist in overtime hockey.

6. The Handshakes - Handshakes happen at two different times in a hockey series. One is when the series is over. Two teams that just got done literally beating the crap out of each other, suffering bruises, bleeding, and lost teeth, come together to say good game. It's an age-old idea and such a simple gesture, but it's one of the things that makes sports great. The other time hockey players shake hands is after a fight. It doesn't happen after pushing matches, but when the dust settles after ply drop the gloves and go one on one, it usually ends with two guys congratulating each other. This show of friendly affection immediately after unchecked aggression will always fascinate me. Of course this handshake opportunity wouldn't be possible without reason number 7 on the list.

7. Fighting - More specifically, teams handling their own business on the ice. What's more exciting, a technical foul call or seeing two guys drop their gloves and throw a few punches? As thrilling as a loud whistle can be, I have to go with the overhand rights. In hockey, teams are allowed to stick up for themselves and if a teammate gets hit, guys get a chance to retaliate. And because its hockey, teams always retaliate. Amidst all the fighting however, there is an incredible sense of fairness and an eye for an eye mentality that settles the majority of disputes. In basketball, you get ten dudes starting at each other and yelling 'hold me back' over their should as they run away to their own bench. The most aggressive act on the court is the ref making the 'T' motion. Speaking of refs...

8. The Refs - Anybody who has watched a minute of the NBA finals knows the refs and flopping calls have hijacked the series like Hans Gruber. Every game a flop has been called or a foul has been missed that has played some sort of role in the outcome. Going into the Finals people were understandably worried the refs would play a large role. In hockey, the refs play a role in the final score about as often as the apocalypse and the most impact they have is breaking up fights. 

9. America - A team from the United States has won the cup every year since 1994. In 2004, a team from Florida won it, giving the ultimate middle finger to Canada. This year its Boston vs Vancouver and again we have the chance to take the cup from Canada. This would be especially sweet coming off the heels of a Canadian victory over the US in the 2010 Olympics.

10. Tim Thomas - The goalie for the Bruins has been out of his mind during the Stanley Cup finals. He's let in only 5 goals in four games and has made 642 (numbers not exact) ridiculous, disheartening saves on Vancouver shots. On top of that, the guy plays like the love child of Brian Urlacher and a strong safety from the Lingerie Football League (google it). He somehow manages to be the dominant force that anchors the Bruins while being stuck between the pipes. The video below says it all and if you just skipped to the bottom, this clip should provide reason enough.