While I don’t want to burst anyone’s bubble, I wasn’t crying at the end of the game. 
It may sound romantic and it would create a new myth for us but it wouldn’t be true. As many of you know, I have severe allergies and the pollen count is 1100 here in DC. I received new contact lenses the day of the game as I blogged about in USA Today. Hence, my eyes were killing me and were watering a bit which made me pinch my eyes. But there were no tears of emotion, only eyes in pain because of allergies.
Also my friend, George Stamas, wasn’t hugging me out of emotional grief. We are buddies and Greeks. He was celebrating the cheering of the crowd and how far we had come as a franchise.
Yeah and I bet it was the allergies and contact lenses that got you at the end of Old Yeller too!
Ted:
Just wanted to let you know that as a fan of the Caps since the early eighties this was truly one of the best Caps teams ever put together.
I was so certain that like the time I was seated behind Ron Hextall when Dale Hunter won game seven in 1988, I would walk out of the phone booth celebrating a win the other night. While very disappointing, I am trying to convince myself the loss the other night was a necessary step in the maturation of the team.
I have purchased partial season ticket plans in past years, but am strongly considering getting a full plan for next season. I share your hope that hockey will become a more popular sport in Washington in the years to come.
While I have you can I just say that I hope you are able to do deals with Huet, Federov, & Cooke as I think they all proved they are key pieces of the long term puzzle.
Thanks again for the season. George, Bruce, and all of your team deserve plenty of rest and time away before renewing your focus for next year.
Jimi
Well I felt like crying after the game ended too, but I sat back, thought about it and realized where we were vs. where the Caps were in 2007 on April 22 (out playing golf or getting ready for the Worlds).
I sort of smiled quietly then, and looked to my neighbors in 421 of three years and said “See you in September…”
Then I stood up and applauded as the teams shook hands and I applauded Ovie as he clapped at the crowd. What a great player and human being this guy is…
I actually also walked a lap downstairs just to get one last look at the place before a 5 month break (I don’t like going to events at the arena during the offseason…I never have, even in Landover. It doesn’t seem right to me…).
Anyway, I will be back in September, and I know this team will go deeper in the playoffs, and contend for the Cup. It won’t be easy this offseason as I know some of the players who were here will be going (We can’t carry 10 defensemen, 15 forwards and 3 goalies…). I hope that the players who were here for 2007-08 and aren’t here will keep the memory of the season intact.
Hopefully many of the players will be here.
LOL – You’re already a legend, Ted – a little embellishment would do no harm. I too was using the old “my allergies are killing me” excuse in section 118 at the end of OT – actually I was bawling into my red towel. Thanks for a great season and a fun blog.