Below is one last video for the day, and a really cool one, as it chronicles the Stanley Cup’s journey to Staples Center last night. It was neat that the handlers took a detour and drove it past the Forum on the way downtown.
What a 24-hour period it has been. Congratulations to all of you for being rewarded for years, and in many cases decades, of loyal support of the Kings. One of my best memories of Game 6 will always be the guy who was standing in the back row of the 300 level, right in front of my press-box seat. For most of the game he stood, both palms on top of his bald head, as though he might lose his head if he didn’t hold onto it. By the final minute, people everywhere were hugging, and I’m pretty sure some of them even knew each other. So, for me, that was the neatest part of the night, along with seeing the families of the players and staff on the ice, and seeing so many people who have worked in/around the organization for years get to experience a special night. If I start listing names, I’m certain to forget some important people.
On a personal level, I thought about two sportswriting friends. Matt McHale was my predecessor at the Daily News, and later my editor. He was never quite sure that covering hockey was my best career path, but when he saw the success we were having with the blog, he provided the most encouragement. Graig Woodburn wrote for the Riverside Press-Enterprise and, later, The Associated Press. His dedication to hockey (and fitness) was such that would often ride his bike from Santa Monica to El Segundo to cover practice. Matt died in 2008 and Graig died in 2010.
Again, enjoy it everyone. Thanks, as always, for all your support. And shave, for goodness sake.
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