Champions, current and soon-to-be

In October, in this very space, the following words appeared:

“A mere four months removed from a berth in the Western Conference Final, and now [the Ducks are] not even good enough to make the playoffs? No, says this corner.”

They sure showed me.

Congratulations to the Anaheim Ducks, who captured their first Stanley Cup in franchise history Wednesday night. The mean, nasty, and very mighty Ducks absolutely dismantled the Eastern Conference champion Ottawa Senators, in a display of five-game dominance rarely seen.

Less than six minutes into the game, I stopped watching, knowing the Senators weren’t going to rally for the win. I checked back in time to watch Scott Niedermayer lift not only the Stanley Cup – his fourth – but also the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Niedermayer is a more than worthy recipient, and when push comes to shove, throughout the playoffs he was Anaheim’s best player night in and night out.

Again, congratulations to the Ducks, and I’m sorry I ever underestimated you.

In other championship news, my beloved Hamilton Bulldogs pushed the Hershey Bears to the brink of elimination Wednesday night with a 6-2 win at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton. Game five goes Thursday night in Hamilton, and the Dogs will look to win their first Calder Cup in franchise history.

An odd correlation between the Ducks and Dogs: both teams played for their respective Cups in 2003, and both teams lost game seven. Now both teams are once again playing for their Cups, with the Ducks winning theirs in five, and the Dogs have a chance to win in five as well. As was the case last Friday when the Calder Cup Final got started, another long-distance shout-out to my team.

And while the hockey world is wrapping their championships up, the NBA Finals get under way Thursday night in San Antonio. The Western Champion Spurs are clear favourites heading into the series, but all eyes are on LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

James is making his first appearance in the Finals (as are the Cavs, for that matter), and following his performance in game five of the Eastern Conference final, it seems nothing short of spectacular will suffice. James has done it before, and he’s done it in the playoffs now. He’s entering a whole new world of pressure that separates the legends from the truly great. If only so I get to watch, I hope James plays the whole Finals in the same zone he played in during overtime in game five in Detroit.

I’m no basketball expert, and I have about as much right to make a serious prediction as Lindsay Lohan does. That said, if we’re really watching LeBron James’ transition to legend, the Cavaliers will win this series. If James plays two legendary games, and two regular James games, the Cavs win. Otherwise, it’s the Spurs.

LeBron James gives anyone a reason to watch basketball, and his ascension will be fun to watch. I’m truly rooting for it.