The Stanley Cup-

-Was on Tim Russert's desk this morning at the end of Meet the Press.

He finished his interview, unfurled a Sabres jersey and said that the cup was coming back to Buffalo. While on the one hand it was nice to see the Stanley Cup somewhere other than on top of a fucking waterfall or inches from the maw of a bellowing grizzly bear, I have to admit, it was a little jarring to think of Tim Russert as a fan of Buffalo sports teams. This may be because I've never seen him standing drunk and shirtless in the back of a pickup truck screaming the word 'faggot' at an 8 year old in a Tom Brady jersey.

You know how Philly has a reputation for being the new sad sacks of sports teams, with the Sixers, Flyers and Eagles always coming close but never winning it all? Those fans are afraid of Buffalo fans- those motherfuckers are NASTY. You think the Eagles had it hard? Tell it to Marv Levy. You think the Flyers have had bad luck? Did Brett Hull kick the puck into their net to win the cup? It happened to Buffalo. Sports fans in Buffalo are like pre-2004 Boston Red Sox fans without the benefit of literacy. Honestly- the only other way to create a character as foul-minded as a Buffalo sports fan would be to raise up Andrew Dice Clay in a Dickens novel.

And I hate to say it, but this might be their year.

Game one of the Sabres and Flyers last night was absolutely EVERYTHING that playoff hockey should be, great goals, HUGE saves, thrilling overtime, and if anyone still thinks that Bettman's warnings to the officials are taking the bang out of playoff hockey, tell it to R.J. Umberger's mother. I bet she's a sweet lady, but she had a hard night last night after her big strong son got his bell rung so loudly that half the Buffalo fans got out of their seats thinking lunchtime was over and it was time to head back to work.

As an American Hockey Fan, I'm rooting for this one to go seven, with overtime all the way- if I had to make a call, I'd say Sabres in 6.