You know all that hype? Believe it.

Look at Ovechkin. Look at those two grown men embracing. Good times are being had by all. (Well, except the Penguins. And their fans.)

It's Ovechkin vs Crosby and Malkin. Ovie vs Sid and Geno. Three of hockey's finest players, none older than 23, squaring off in the second round of the playoffs. A series that is so far - somehow - actually living up to its incredulous media hype.

And I've been kind of apathetic towards it. I figured it was just that: hype. 

I've caught about 45 minutes of actual action throughout the first two games. Truthfully, I've been watching more Toronto Blue Jays baseball. Hey, they're a first place team, asshole. (Playoffs!!1)

Full highlights of games one and two have been watched, though. Amply. A helluva playoff series is going down. The stars are shining. Well, except that Malkin guy. And, umm, where was this Varlamov character all season?

I caught the third period last night, and my reaction to hat-tricks by both Crosby and Ovechkin was a hearty "fuck off." (Ovie's third was something, enough for Bob Cole's trademarked "OH BABY!") Both #87 and #8 have officially taken their game to the proverbial "next level." It certainly does exist. And it's slightly arousing to watch.

Wednesday night, the Blue Jays are in Anaheim. Which means a most accomodating 10:05 PM eastern start time. One that works out perfectly because, clearly, there's a hockey game to be watched.

As the fine folks at Puck Daddy pointed out a few days ago, Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky never met in the playoffs. I guess this is what it would have been like.

Some quick, penetrating thoughts: Crosby complaining about hats being thrown on the ice to celebrate an Ovechkin hat-trick - the nerve of Washington fans! - is going to do wonders for his reputation as a whiny little bitch crybaby. He must have the same PR guy as Mats Sundin ... Chris Kunitz is officially a douchebag. Cross-checking the goalie in the neck? Stay classy ... Mario Lemieux's playoff beard can only be admired and appreciated. I am in love with that man. Did you know that when he came into the league Lemieux asked to wear #99? So as to not draw too much attention to his desire to be better than Gretzky, and create his own brand, he simply flipped the numbers around. What a man ... It's going to be quite the afternoon: Brett Cecil makes his MLB debut for the Jays, followed by Man United vs Arsenal. For Cecil, the beginning of a promising career. For the Gunners, the end of their Champions League aspirations.

"Keep Sundin" - Cox Bloc

Ever since joining the blogosphere about 15 months ago, I've become a reader of many different blogs. There's a ton of good ones out there. And even some great ones. When it comes to the Toronto Maple Leafs, two blogs I regularly visit are Pension Plan Puppets and Cox Bloc. Both are beauties, and both I suggest you visit.

I just finished reading the latest entry by Godd Till on Cox Bloc entitled "Keep Sundin" and, well, you've got to read it. Required reading it is (Yoda!) for any and every Toronto Maple Leafs fan out there. Trust me.

I love to write. I actually think I can put a pretty mean sentence together. But sometimes, someone writes something, and it's just sheer beauty. A masterpiece. That's what Till has just done, and there's nothing I could possibly add to "Keep Sundin." There's no way I could change it, because it has sent a flood of emotions and memories through my body.

Mats Sundin came to Toronto a young, taut, Swedish boy. With full and lustrous blond hair. I must admit that his blue eyes stole my heart the day he was traded here, and I've been, as those who know me best me would attest to, a staunch Sundin supporter since day one. Mats had me at hello. It was 1994; fourteen years ago. Hard to believe.

"Keep Sundin" has brought back all the Sundin memories, both bad and good. The incredible goals. The overtime goals. The playoff goals. His 500th goal. The playoff, overtime goals. The smiles. The frustration. The anger. The day he got the "C" on his shoulder. His 917th point as a Maple Leaf. The playoff victories. The playoff defeats. The tears. The pucks to the face. The emotion. His 1000th point.

I will never forget the night of April 28, 2001, in New Jersey during the playoffs years ago, when the Leafs rallied from a 5-2 deficit they were facing in the third period. Sundin led the way with three points in the final frame, and Toronto tied the game up on a last minute goal from Stumpy Thomas. The emotion on the captain's face was incredibly inspiring. The Leafs would, in heartbreaking fashion, go on to lose the game in overtime.

I will also never forget the look on Sundin's face when the Leafs were defeated in April of 2000, once again in New Jersey, after a performance in an elimination game in which they only managed six shots on goal. Three in the first period, two in the second, and - unfathomably - only one in the third. Bob Cole's words that night will forever haunt me. Every now and then my brother, for no apparent reason, still repeats them: "Six.....shots."

Cox Bloc has kept it about as real as possible with "Keep Sundin." I couldn't do Sundin, and his legacy, any more justice than Till has. Watching Sundin over the years has been a pleasure, and if he doesn't want to leave, why the hell should we trade him? The title, my friends, of the entry says it all: Keep Sundin.

Before I read the post, I was all for trading Mats - my captain, my favourite player, my heart and freakin' soul. The plan was to then cheer for the team he was traded to, and hope he would win a ring as a rental. Thank you, Cox Bloc, for having changed my mind. I don't know what the hell I was thinking.

Sundin for life.

If you haven't already, go and read the damn thing!