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This is how they do it...
Robert Ciubotaru, Romania, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
28/11/2011 - 10:00
Postgame thoughts: Oilers
This is how they do it...Before I start, I apologize for not doing my job around here lately, my car got broken into and I was busy with that for a while, with the useless cops and the windows being replaced.
Now, for whoever got excited about this game, don't. Just don't. It won't happen. It's not the game that turns the season around, Elliot is not the savior the team needs and no, the Avs are not a good team. There, I said it. Remember in the past years, looking down on bottom feeders like the Oilers and the Islanders? Well, this is the Avs now. Of course, we don't see it through the burgundy and blue tinted glasses, but it's true. We took permanent residence on the bottom of the league. Well, not permanent, but at least for a long time. Every time we make the playoffs it's a surprise. The Avs are the always "young, exciting, fast" team that gets beaten by everybody.
So... for the last few games, the Avs were horrible. Even against the Oilers they weren't that great, but faith smiled their way. What is so frustrating is that they show bursts of what could be a good team. The difference? They can't keep it up for a whole game. That is the difference between a contender and an ordinary team. That and the desire to win. These guys don't show it. Sure, they have that "we're running out of time" desperation, but that's not enough. They lack the winning culture. Vince Lombardi said it best: "Winning is not a sometime thing; it's an all time thing. You don't win once in a while, you don't do things right once in a while, you do them right all the time. Winning is habit. Unfortunately, so is losing."
Yes, that's exactly what the Avs are doing. Winning once in a while. And they keep inventing excuses. Injuries, young team, bad luck... Sacco is the best there is at finding excuses for losses, but let's here it one more time from the legendary coach: "Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." So true, Mr. Lombardi, so true.
So I'm not gonna get excited about a win or about a great game from a player. Elliott could turn out to be the next Bobby Orr or he could be the next Hunwick. We can't judge it from one game. What I'm sure of is things have to change on a bigger level than just juggling lines 3 or 4 times in a single game, demoting players or making goalie changes. It's a mentality thing and some in this organization just don't have what it takes. And it start at the top. If you don't demand excellence, you're not even gonna get average. So maybe is my usual pessimistic outlook, but I don't see the silver lining just yet. The Avs are right now on their knees, but you know what?
"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory." Do they have it in them? Will they get somebody to instill it in'em? Or will they waste their youth on a losing team, waiting anxiously to finish their contracts and go to a real contender? Only time will tell.
Robert Ciubotaru, Romania, eurolanche@eurolanche.com
28/11/2011 - 10:00
