I apoligize if you read this entire post.

As a sportswriter there are times when you just simply cannot be a fan. It doesn’t matter what team you are covering. It could be a team you used to play for or a team that your son is quarterbacking--you have to put all fandom aside and look at the facts.

Well, I am a fan of the Stars, and I love their success in the postseason so far. But, when I start being honest with myself I feel like the end is near.

There was nothing that scared me about the Anaheim Ducks or the San Jose Sharks, minus one player on each team (Teemu Selanne and Joe Thornton, respectively), but the Red Wings have plenty of pieces that look scary. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are a given, they are world-class players, but when people like Franzen step up with two (TWO!) hattricks in one series, it causes problems. Granted, the Colorado team that the Wings faced in the semi-finals was severely depleted and probably would have been swept by any of the other six teams in the playoffs, but the Red Wings didn't win the President's Trophy this year in the regular season by just beating depleted teams. In fact, the fact that Detroit faced an easy opponent in the previous series can only mean it's collective legs are fresher (especially after the Stars just participated in the 8th longest game in NHL history).

So far, the Stars have won both of their series with a 4-2 record after starting out on the road. That means that they won at home during Game 6 in each series. That's nice.

One six can be a good thing. Like a 6-pack for example, what a treat. Or the age six. You are now probably in first grade if things are going right, one step out of kindergarten (where no one takes you seriously), but not quite into the harder subjects like multiplication.

Six is the smallest 'composite number' because its divisors are 1, 2 and 3. Also, since the sum of 1, 2 and 3 is six, that means it’s a perfect number. You don't get another perfect number until 28, and well, there just aren't that many games in a playoff series so who cares about 28.

Speaking of composite's numbers... A lot of the sticks hockey players use today, including the one Brenden Morrow used to score the game winning goal last night, are made up of composite materials. Two main ingredients are Kevlar, which is more known for being in bulletproof vests, and carbon. Why is this important? What is carbon's atomic number? Six!

Enjoy music? Well, there are six strings on that guitar used in your favorite solo. How about "The Twelve Days of Christmas"? I don't know (or care) about your opinion, but for my money "Six geese a-laying" sounds like the best option.

Sports? Before that extra point is attempted, each touchdown is worth six points. The amount of hockey players on the ice per team, including the goalie is of course six. The member of each baseball team who is generally considered the best athlete, or best defensive player, is the shortstop. Six represents the shortstop on positional charts. Ever heard of the Original Six in ice hockey? Toronto, Chicago, Montreal, New York, Boston and Detroit.

Like bacon? Me too. Unfortunately I can't think of anything the number six has to do with bacon unless I capitalize the B. Yup, the six degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Not to mention, six definitely has the best Latin prefix. *

Okay, well, I've rambled enough about 6. The point was that in the first series with Anaheim, whom I might add was the defending Stanley Cup Champion, we won in Game 6. This was huge because Dallas finally won a playoff series and got out the first round. In the second match up, we also won in Game 6, giving us two Game 6 victories.

How cool is 66? It's pretty cool, but not as great as beating the reigning champ.

For starters, it’s not a perfect number like six, but it IS a multiple of a perfect number, so at least its semiperfect.

Look up the atomic number 66. Dysprosium. Yawn. But hey, at least 66 represents an element.

The Green Bay Packers had a famous linebacker by the name of Ray Nitschke, who of course wore the number 66, played for 15 seasons, and ended his career in 1972. Another cool thing about that; the last player to wear the number 66 for the Packers before it was retired in 1983 was offensive tackle Larry Pfohl, who you wouldn't recall. Remember pro wrestler Lex Luger though? Yeah. Same guy.

1966, or '66, happens to be the year that England not only hosted, but also won the world cup. And we know how crazy they are about their soccer (football).

John Steinbeck was pretty respected, and he calls Route 66 the "Mother Road".

Well, here we go. On Thursday the third series begins for the Stars, and I have a feeling they will lose in Game 6. It'll be a 4-2 series win for the Red Wings. It'll add the third six to my stupid analogy, putting the final touch on "The Number of the Beast". Those damn Red Wings will celebrate with their 'Western Conference Champions' hats on our home ice while they parade around in the red (Devil!) sweaters.

But now that I think back on where my head was at when I started this post I realize... sometimes as a person I have to put all the sportswriterdom aside and be a damn fan.

Let's go Stars, prove me wrong why don'tcha? After all, you have given me no real reason to doubt you so far.

Peace, love and one of the most successful American hockey teams vs. the most successful American hockey player.

-Sam


*Sex