The pain that won’t go away

I have to admit I am a huge fan of the HBO series 24/7.

As a hockey fan I really wish the NHL would do a lot more of this kind of thing. One of the smartest things Pete Rozelle did during his tenure as NFL Commissioner was green light Ed and Steve Sabol’s brilliant idea of NFL Films. NFL Films went a long way to helping to propel the NFL into the juggernaut that it is today.

While the NHL will never be as big as the NFL in America, more behind the scenes projects like 24/7 could go a long way into making it into a much bigger and more lucrative league.

A few things stood out from a Leafs standpoint during the first episode of this year’s edition of the 24/7.

I can’t get enough of Randy Carlyle trying to work a toaster. I wonder if the man struggles with the ice maker in his fridge at home as well.

I didn’t realize that Dion Phaneuf drove a Bentley. I greatly approve of his choice of a commuter vehicle. It is a little flashier than my Honda Civic, but then again, I am in a different income bracket than Phaneuf.

Joffrey Lupul will be the Leafs star of 24/7, and nobody else is even close. It was also revealing to see the grueling work-out Lupul puts himself through to get ready for a game.

I love hearing the on ice communication that goes on during a game. If not for 24/7 hockey fans are not privy to the kind of subtle things that are said between teammates during the flow of a game.

My only complaint with the opening episode was the flashback to that day which will never be spoken about in my house ever again; May 13th, 2013.

I will never forget as long as I live receiving a text message from a buddy of mine who paid a small fortune to fly to Boston that day to attend game seven.

“Langer, this is the greatest night of my life.”

After the incident which will never be spoken about any more I received another text from him.

“Langer, this is the worst night of my life.”

I am still numb to what happened that night. I never thought I would feel as much pain as I felt the final week of the 1987 season when the Blue Jays collapsed down the stretch and the Tigers beat them out for the American League East.

But May 13th, 2013 is every bit as painful. Especially when you consider it all happened in the span of less than an hour.

So give me more Phaneuf in his Bentley and Lupul dropping F-bombs against Slava Voynov and Carlyle fumbling around with a toaster and Kessel not saying anything.

But for the love of God, no more flashback shots of May 13, 2013.

I am looking forward to the second episode when we will hear a frustrated Sidney Crosby bitch and complain to the refs to call a penalty after he is hit by Cody Franson behind the net.