Fans of the Penguins and Flyers have waged a let’s-deface-a-city-landmark contest throughout the Eastern Conference final. (http://theorangecrushblog.blogspot.com/)
Seeing how it's almost white-flag time in the Battle Carnage of Pennsylvania, we may as well turn our attention to the faithful of the Flyers and Penguins as they try to one-up each other in tee-hee-hee schoolyard antics.
Supporters of the dirty birds, probably fearing some unscheduled dental work had they been caught defacing a Philly landmark in broad daylight, courageously slipped into the shadows of the famous Rocky Balboa statue and, in darkness, slipped a Penguins' shirt on the chiseled frame of Mr. Far Too Many Sequels himself.
See, if you're going to make a YouTube video pimping Philly's answer to Mount Rushmore, do it in daylight hours so we can at least hear the f-bombs and death threats from the fine denizens of the City of Brotherly Love. You know, this is supposed to be a battle of sorts. Treat it as such and grow a set.
Pulling this stunt while Philly sleeps is akin to a panty raid. Not only spineless, but unoriginal.
And then the Pittsburghers — really, that's what they call themselves — claimed to be the "original" let's-dress-Rocky-up pranksters. Uh, not quite, yinzers. Seems a couple of Montreal Canadiens' fans beat you to the punch, pardon the pun. Seems originality, much like cleanliness, is not a common trait in Pittsburgh.
In a rather lame attempt at revenge or a weak opening warning shot — which, given the Flyers' resistance in this Eastern final, seems oh so appropriate — a few Flyers' faithful actually dressed up the Art Rooney statue at Heinz Field in a Flyer jersey.
Wooooooo, you got 'em there, gang. Edgy stuff.
OK, so all this hide-behind-your-mommy and use-darkness-as-a-shield footsies crap has got to go. Time to up the ante, Pittsburgh. Kick back a few pints, get tuned up and walk into the Core States Center First Union Center Wachovia Center, or whatever the name is this month, with a Crosby jersey on and play a little game of Dodge the Beer Bottle for three hours or so. Make a night of it, and prove you have the pills.
Come on, Pennsylvania. The series is over. Turn up the hate.
Besides, it's the only battle we are going to see on the Pennsylvania Turnpike this spring. May as well make it worthwhile.