Happy New Champions - 2009

These aren't the winners. These guys lost. Big time.

Series Summary:
4 games to 1
Game   Home   Away
   #1        2           5
Shots     41         63
- The warm up

   #2        5           1
Shots     49         46
- TSN turning point

   #3        4           2
Shots     39         46
- All lines firing

   #4        7           6
Shots     59         62
- Not good enough

   #5        6           1
Shots     ??         ??
- Total domination

This is the winning team.
After losing 3 series, we can finally put our names on the Cup. We tried playing the latest EA NHL 2K9, but it was too complicated for our middle-aged minds. We were reminiscing of the days of N64 and Sega. And some of the moves we'd make on the ice.

We agreed to quick 5 min pre-game warm up and then It was GAME TIME! It was time to be serious. It was du-mano du-mano (I wanted to say 2 guys vs 2 other guys but I think I have it in French and Spanish, whatever, my kid's in Montessori).

Derrick didn't want to face Antonio. But I think Hong did and had jealousy in his eyes.


We lost the first game but we didn't panic, we looked at the video figured out what we we needed to do to neutralize them and regrouped.

We also ate some food, had some beers, cleaned our noses.
Saw some travel photos of Anne and Antonio's trip to Japan, HK and Philippines. You know to relax a bit before Game 2.


Game 2 was the reverse of Game 1. It could be the TSN turning point of the year. Had our whiteboard strategy worked? Could we execute in Game 3?
It was time for a break. Regrouping on one side and tuning a formula 1 engine on the other. Who was coming out for Game 3?


Antonio showed us his new grey fake polo shirt from the philippines. Only a trained eye can tell it's fake. But here's how you know. There's no man on the horse on the shirt. And the tag says Pola. But it fits him like a glove. Medium up top and XL around the mid section.

Price was right. 5 pesos. Includes alterations and 5 free washings and a massage by an old filipina (man or woman, depending on availability).

He jumped on the deal like a starved filipino cat on a 5 day old dead rat.

Game 3. Was close but a repeat of Game 2. The execution was there. 2 early goals put the Away N.Amer all-stars in a hole. How many times can they give up the first goal and still think they can come back. It's not a good strategy, what were they thinking? They are now 0-2 when giving up the first goal.

Game 4. The Away N.Amer all-stars are down 2 games to 1. No one has ever come back from a 3-1 deficit and won. At least not that I can remember. We can barely remember which house we played at last year. The Away N.Amer all-stars were on the ropes. They needed to win or face huge odds. Communication was key to winning this pivotal game. But Hong was now recruiting a new team member for 2010. Derrick was left in doghouse. Maybe he'll test free agency in the off season.

Game 4 was crucial. It either meant all square or the Elvis was getting ready to leave the building and sing his 'na-na na na, hey hey good-bye' song.

It was close but no cigar for the Away N.Amer all-stars. Again they gave up the first 2 goals. We were always ahead. But a few late goals in the 3rd period made it close. They were storming back and running our goalie trying to tie it up. Derrick even thought he had the game tying goal. But ah..too bad. We were still up by 1 with a minute left. But those early goals by the Home N.Amer all-stars was too big of a hole to dig out from. Victory was a game away. Sweet.

Sweet as the home made ice cream and pie that Anne brought out for us for the intermission before Game 5. Awesome pie by the english Martha.

Game 5. It was time to finish them off and put them out of their misery. We had them on the ropes and they were talking to each other but neither was listening.

It was a rout. Pure domination. What was set up to be an evenly matched series was surgical precision on the part of the Home N.Amer all-stars and the dismantling of the Away N.Amer all-stars. They got schooled.
You could say that team is now in a rebuilding phase.
The GM and Head coach are on borrowed time.

Thanks for the great dinner Anne. Maybe next year we do pot luck? So the spouses don't have to do so much and they can enjoy themselves. That's if the other spouses show up.

This is what a boy's night out is like post 40.
Click me for a few more photos
Video interview of the losers.