Big gulps, eh?

Without any true connection to either the Red Wings or Penguins, my mind was free to wander after Game 7 on Friday. It was neat to see Sidney Crosby accept the Stanley Cup as the youngest captain in NHL history and to see Mario Lemieux hoist it above his head. But the multiple awkward moments truly made it a memorable experience.

To begin with, we have to watch Marian Hossa shake hands with the Penguins, the team he played with for four months last season. Next, NBC microphones pick up Red Wings coach Mike Babcock telling Crosby, "that's great leadership." Crosby says thanks, but doesn't really look Babcock in the eye. You almost feel bad for him, like he was trying to be nice and Crosby just didn't reciprocate.

A few minutes later, Evgeni Malkin, who had the highest playoff point total since the L.A. Kings' Wayne Gretzky in 1993, was presented with the Conn Smythe Award. So....Crosby....yeah. He's kind of the posterboy of the NHL, so was he really happy for his teammate? NBC did a good job of showing his reaction, and he looked pretty happy for him. But still, fun to ponder.

This part happens every year, but there are few things as uncomfortable to watch as when the Stanley Cup gets passed around. It starts with the captain, who usually passes it on to an elder teammate. Once the old guys have their chance, it starts to get interesting. The player looks at his group and thinks "Hmm...you weren't important, you were, you weren't, oh, ok, I'll give it to you."

When NBC's on-ice reporter interviewed Marc Andre Fleury it was like listening to Ozzy Osbourne during the seventh-inning stretch.

And who will ever forget poor old Gary Bettman. You knew he was the most disappointed person inside Joe Louis Arena when Pittsburgh won. He knew he'd get hear the boo birds, but presenting the Stanley Cup to the Penguins in Detroit? You know who else knew? The two guys who were smirking while carrying the Cup onto the ice..."Oh man, I can't wait to see that little guy behind the mic!" Bettman literally had to scream to be heard over the booing, and if that wasn't enough, his whole body shakes when he screams.

Love me some NHL.
-Pros