I was in DeKalb for a job, and wasn't able to go home to watch. I watched from my hotel room, and after Kane's goal, I called my mom, and she could tell I was crying on the phone...I had just gotten her into the Hawks about two seasons prior, and I would have loved nothing more than to have celebrated with her at that moment.
After that, I teared up again when I heard Toews yell out "Where's Hoss!?" when it came time to pass the Cup. It was great to see Hossa lift the Cup after two years of "oh so close".
I was a little young when the Wings repeated in 97 and 98, and didn't really follow hockey in 2002, so 08 was technically the first cup I've seen as a fan. Didn't tear up, just went ballistic and started yelling at the top of my lungs. But say if the Lions won a super bowl, THAT would probably be the only time I would tear up for a championship.
Man, what I would give to experience that feeling again. I know the Pens have a chance this season, but nothing beats "your first time"
Not hockey but the idea is the same. Tears and elation only scratch the surface on how I felt about the 07 New York Giants. '11 was also amazing but nothing beats the first.
To be honest, I get a little lump in the throat regardless of what team is hoisting the cup. It's the only sport where watching a team winning a championship has any emotional effect on me.
I've never cried before in my life. When the Leafs finally win I'm just going to punch the nearest woman in the eye and fix somebody's pickup truck with a chicken wing in my mouth.
Waiting for the faceoff with 8 seconds left I pretty much had a flashback of the low points of the Pens 'rebuild' and sneaking up past my bedtime to watch the end of games when I was a kid. When Fleury made the save and the game was over I was stunned for a few seconds then I had to sit down. I didn't weep, but I was tearing up something fierce. I was 3 and 4 when the Pens won their first Cups, so that doesn't count.
I was barely 19 when the Devils won their first cup in 1995. THey were ahead 3 games to 0 over Detroit and had a 3 goal lead in game 4 with 5 minutes left. I just remember sitting in my room and smiling knowing in about 15 minutes i'd see something i'd dreamt about seeing since my first Devils game back in 1984.
2000 was different since I was older, had experienced a cup before and the ending was in doubt right up to when Arnott went top shelf on Belfour.
2003 was great since it took the sting out of 2001 and also it was kind of unexpected. I really thought Ottawa would beat them in the ECF.
I didn't cry when they won. I was on Madison Avenue (pretty drunk) and the confusion after Kanes goal delayed the celebration a little. I was covered in beer, hugged my friends and complete strangers, gave high fives to everyone, walked a couple blocks from the bar to the UC and joined the mob of people out there. It was a great night.
The 2010-11 Home Opener was a different story... When the 1961 team came on to the ice to present the cup banner to the 2010 team, I cried like a baby. I remember watching old NHL videos of that team and really never thought the Hawks would win after Dollar Bill crushed the franchise. I guess thats when I really realized the gravity of the drought being over.
