Lightning Win Stanley Cup
(June 8, 2004)

While it has nothing to do with football, it certainly was one of the biggest days in the history of Tampa Bay sports. As improbable as it may have seemed, the Tampa Bay Lightning are the 2004 NHL Stanley Cup Champions.

A dramatic Stanley Cup Final gave seven, after having defeated Philadelphia in a seven game Eastern Conference Final, was the biggest home game in the history of Tampa Bay sports. With a record crowd inside the St. Pete Times Forum, and thousands more outside on the plaza, the Bolts had nail-biting 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames. The Lightning brought the Cup to the sunbelt for the first time and Tampa Bay became hockey-town. Was it as big as when the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl. Well no, this still a football town, but the two months of playoff games did form a bond between this team and the community.

Long time Lightning fans have suffered through 50 loss seasons and a history of blunders. Sound familiar Bucs fans? A dozen seasons ago, Phil Esposito brought hockey to Tampa Bay and signed female goalie Manon Rheaume as a publicity stunt. There were Japanese owners, who nobody saw, and later the Duke of Manchester, who had money but could not spend it. The team played games in a barn called Expo Hall and a baseball stadium known as the Thunderdome.

There were far more downs than ups. Chris Kontos scored a still team record four goals in the team's first game. There was the overtime goal by Alex Selivanov in the 1996 playoffs before an NFL record crowd at the Thunderdome. Before last season there was little else to cheer for. Just a few years ago, the Sports Illustrated named the Lightning the worst organization in professional sports.

Then came head coach John Tortorella, who built a core of young players into champions. A Southeast Division title last year and the best record in the Eastern Conference this year. Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards developed into stars. Ruslan Fedotenko and Nikolai Khabibulin found new life with the Lightning. Dave Andreychuk picked Tampa Bay to finish out his career and became the story of the playoffs. After 22 seasons, he finally got his chance to skate Lord Stanley's prize.

There are many people who have been introduced to hockey during this playoff season. The Lightning are building a decent fan base here and may have turned the corner. For those born hockey fans, who suffered through a inept decade, it was especially sweet.

A couple quick closing thoughts. From the what have you done for me lately department, hopefully, the Lightning will do better at defending their title than the local football teams did. From the "Oh No Not Again" department, lets hope the NHL labor dispute will not disrupt next season and team chemistry. From the most obvious closing comment department, hey Devil Rays, can you say World Series?