"Don't you realize? The next time you see sky, it'll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it'll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what's right for them. Because it's their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it's our time. It's our time down here. That's all over the second we ride up Troy's bucket" - Mikey Walsh in The Goonies.
Penguins fans are not just fans of the team. They're a part of Penguin Nation. The team and the Igloo have belonged to us just as much as the individual players that skated on that ice. We've been through the highs and lows and they've involved more than just shooting pucks into a net. We've watched Mario and Sid captain this team to three Stanley Cups. We've choked back sobs and heartache as we paid tribute to Badger Bob Johnson. We've held our collective breaths and said our prayers that Mario would beat cancer. We look to the rafters at number 21 and wonder what could have been.
We've known since March 23, 2007, that the day was coming when the Igloo would not be the home of the Penguins any longer. We've needed a new building for a long time, and it's almost ready for us. I long for the day that I can walk comfortably through the concourse, not stand in line during the entire intermission to pee, and not have to smell the the deodorant - or lack thereof - of the man sitting next to me because we are practically on top of one another.
But I'm not ready. Not like this.
If the Pens take the ice tomorrow night and score ten goals, I won't be surprised. They are that damn good and they've done it before. But I'm sincerely afraid that they don't have enough gas left in the tank. They have played more games in the past three seasons than any other team except Detroit and look where they're at right now.
Tomorrow night. It might be the end. I pray that it's not but I'm making peace with the fact that it may be so. I know that the Penguins are the better team. That didn't matter in '93 or '96. Lord Stanley is a fickle and cruel son of a bitch. He will shine light upon you one moment and break your heart the next.
Don't you realize? The next time you see the banners, they may be over different ice. The next time the puck is shot, it may be into a different net. But this is our time. And it's all over the second we give up hope.
So let's hope maybe Orpik or Fleury set some booty traps (That's what I said! Booby traps!) or that Gonchar and Geno are wearing some slick skates. Maybe Sid will come swinging in wearing his Superman costume.
Because these guys are Goonies.
I'm a Goonie.
And Goonies never say die.
Let's Go Pens!
