Greetings, my fellow port swillers!

A bit late, perhaps, but Ol’ Robbo would like to raise his glass to the Washington Capitals for making the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history, after being left playoffs bridesmaids seemingly for the last umpteen years now.  Well played, gentlemen, and best of luck!

I have to confess, though, that hockey really has never meant much of anything to me.  After all, I grew up in South Texas.  Back in those days – before this absurdist trend of placing franchises in cities like Vegas and Tampa Bay which I would quickly quash if I were Emperor – it was very much an alien, northern sport, and so simply never established itself in my developing braims.  I don’t dislike it (as I do basketball), I’ve just really got nothing one way or another.

Nonetheless, as I say, it’s nice that the boys made it and I hope they take it all.

Ol’ Robbo’s beloved Nationals (who are getting back into form, by the bye) have been getting into the rah-rah swing of things, too, wearing caps and jerseys and doing the pro-Cap P.R. biznay.  On the one hand, a lot of this seems to be genuine camaraderie and good will, which Ol’ Robbo quite likes.  On the other hand, there are some who seem to be suggesting that if the Hockey Gods have allowed the Caps into the Stanley Cup for the first time this year, perhaps this is an indication that the Baseball Gods also will let the Nats finally win their first post-season series.  To me, this is deeply troubling.  Sports Gods (all of them) are fickle and capricious, and the fastest way to get them to turn against you is to in any way make them believe that you think they “owe” you any kind of action one way or another.  (And don’t tell me it’s all just fun and games.  Baseball Gods are real.  And dangerous.)  I wish these people would just cut this kind of talk right out.

Indeed, let’s just sit back, relax, and concentrate on the contests at hand.  And if I may say it even as an admitted non-hockey guy:

GO, CAPS!!