The Stanley Cup and a War of Words

Last night the Chicago Blackhawks won the NHL Championship and the Stanley Cup in the last minute of the game against the Boston Bruins.  I did not stay up to watch the end but caught much of the replays on television and internet.  Good for Chicago!  They are one of my favorite NHL teams.  I know it was a devastating loss for Boston but that is part of the game.

I love the NHL playoffs because in the end everyone who wins gets to "hoist the cup" as part of the celebration. It's such an interesting transition that the NHL employees who are keepers of the Stanley Cup treat it with reverance and handle it with white gloves.  Then as part of the celebration it is handed over to sweaty exhausted hockey players in smelly gear to skate around the rink after they win.  Heavens knows what happens to it when it travels to the parties after the win.

My husband and I got to touch the Stanley Cup and get our photo taken with it at an event sponsored by the USHL which is the league in which our local hockey team plays. (Indiana Ice).  That photo made it on our holiday cards that year. 

The other thing I have been watching this week is the fall out around Paula Deen and her admission of use of the "N-word" over 40 years ago.  Everyone is aghast and her network and sponsors are dropping her as fast as possible.  I am pretty disgusted with the Food Network because in my opinion they seemed pretty quick to condemn her.  I wonder if this is more of an age issue rather than a language issue.  Paula is 66 years old, much older than all their other chefs.  I just wonder if they were looking for a reason to not renew her contract.  I hope Paula is able to withstand this tide of negativity and come out on the other side a stronger, better person.  Personally I do like her, I like her brashness and Southern - ness.  I also like that she loves her sons and includes them in her shows.  

As one writer mentioned it is all right for Rush Limbaugh to call a young woman a prostitute and a slut for using birth control but it is not all right for an older woman to admit she used derogatory racial language 40 years ago.  This just goes to show the gender and age inequality that still exists in our society. 

Hang in there Paula.  Times may be tough now but I am hoping you rise from this a stronger, better person and know those who are your friends and those who are not.