Shanoff's Wake-Up Call: Great Expectations

Today's Calls: Penguins vs. Celtics, Chase Utley vs. Josh Hamilton, Cubs vs. the West Coast, MLB vs. kiddie leagues, T.O. vs. Pacman, MLS vs. MISL and More!

The Opening Pitch: With one minute to play in regulation of last night's Stanley Cup finals Game 5, I was waiting to see a Cup champ crowned and thinking about championship expectations.

Great effort by the Pens just to get to the Stanley Cup finals, I thought. Their fans must be satisfied just to be this far.

Compare that to Celtics fans, who rightfully should be thinking "NBA title or bust" since the offseason deals created the "Big Three" -- and instant championship expectations. I said this yesterday: I am sure that is how KG sees it (and that is as he should see it).

There are two kinds of teams that participate in championships: Those for whom the appearance itself is a pleasant, thrilling surprise (see LeBron's Cavs a year ago); and those for whom it was expected, for whom anything less than a title is a lost season (see UCLA or UNC in this year's Final Four, as examples of failed seasons).

I doubt Lakers fans were thinking "NBA title" back in October, so the regular season's super-success must have been a pleasant surprise. But, at this point, they too must be thinking, "Title or Bust."

For all the nostalgic talk about the 1980s or "MVP vs. Big 3," that zero-sum scenario creates my heightened anticipation for these Finals: Someone will merely meet expectations; someone will fail.

So anyway, I had put the Pens in the "just happy to be here" list, and I prepared to enjoy watching the Wings win a Stanley Cup, just as 20,000 rabid Wings fans were ...

... Until the Penguins suddenly shouted: "NOT JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE."

NHL: What a finish. When the Pens' Maxime Talbot punched in the game-tying goal with less than 35 seconds to play in what looked like a Wings' close-out coronation, the Stanley Cup finals changed dramatically.

The Penguins went from being down 3-1 in the series, playing on the road, down with a minute to play, probably thinking dully about the series-ending handshake and summering in Manitoba ...

... To surviving a 3OT hellmouth, suddenly now down only 3-2, playing at home for Game 6 -- and, in a notion that was all but unthinkable with 36 seconds to play in regulation last night, giving themselves a puncher's chance to win this series. (Wow: Talk about expectations!)

Pens fans can cheer goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, whose 55 saves in Game 5 was a playoff and season high (by 19 shots) and eclipsed Detroit counterpart Chris Osgood's double shutouts earlier this series (which feel like eons ago) as the signature effort of the playoffs.

Stanley Cup all but secured with a measly 35 seconds to go, the Wings are now looking at another 60 minutes -- at least AND on the road -- before they see that scenario again.

MLB Instant History: Chase Utley is unstoppable. He hit his MLB-best 21st HR yesterday -- his fifth consecutive game with a HR. (No, wait: This is the second time this season he has had five consecutive games with a HR.) Yes, it is way too late to still lament not drafting him in your fantasy league.

(Meanwhile, in the same game, Ken Griffey sat, so he didn't have a chance to hit No. 600 -- but with Jay Bruce hitting another HR to continue his uber-sizzling start, I have to wonder whether fans in Cincinnati care about Junior when they have Jay.)

Cubs go on the road, keep winning: That would be eight straight wins for MLB's hottest team. After going 7-0 on their recent homestand, the Cubs started a seven-game California swing the same way they ended things at Wrigley. Carlos Zambrano didn't just earn his eighth win -- he had three hits, including his third career triple, a stand-up job to tie the game in the 4th inning. Of course he did. When you're as hot as the Cubs, everything just clicks.

Joba Chamberlain will make his debut as a starter for the Yankees tonight: Things to watch: Pitch count. Pitch count. Um ... and pitch count. This is what you've been waiting for, Yankees fans: The future of the franchise.

MLB Injury Watch: David Ortiz out a month with that wrist injury. It is only June, and as long as the Red Sox stay within an arm's length of AL playoff position (which I presume they will, despite last night's ominously portentous loss to the O's), this seems like hardly a dramatic injury. Then again, season-ending surgery a possibility -- or just hysteria? Tracking...

MLB Awards: Here's a good reason why Josh Hamilton was named my "After-Two-Months" AL MVP yesterday: He is the first AL player ever to win "Player of the Month" awards in April and May of the same year. (Last night, yet another HR for Hamilton, his 16th. He and Utley appear to be playing a game of "Can you top this?")

MLB hates kids: If your kid's team uses the name "Cubs" with even a hint of colors or logo, MLB wants its licensing fee. Yes MLB, be sure to drive even more young kids away from the game.

MLB hates the Supreme Court, too: By rejecting MLB's appeal of a lower-court ruling, the Court affirmed that fantasy stats are free for anyone to use, which is maybe why MLB is suddenly cracking down on the above-mentioned kids so harshly.

NFL: Roger Goodell furloughs Pacman Jones. Jones can participate in workouts, camps and the preseason, and if he proves he is a solid citizen, maaaaybe Goodell will reinstate him for the regular season on September 1. I would set the over/under on Jones doing something stupid at "July 4th Weekend."

Cowboys sign T.O. to 3Y/$27M extension: Everyone seems to think it's a great idea to avoid T.O. being in a distracting "contract year;" apparently, "THREE(!) YEARS(!) of T.O. b.s." is not a concern.

More NFL: Broncos cut Travis Henry. But how will he feed his 9 children? (No, seriously: That's a lot of obligations for an out-of-work NFL player.)

Video Games: Madden '09 team ratings released. (h/t: MJD)

Tiger Woods has started playing again: Even if he does have any trouble with his knee as he is finding his legs in advance of the U.S. Open, do you think he would let on? Not a chance.

CFB: Who is the best QB in college football? I am impossibly biased, but I have to respectfully disagree with Matt Hayes that Pat White is better than Tim Tebow. Go ahead, Matt: Pick White in our pick-up game; I'll take Tebow. And I will beat you into submission (You partially earn your way back into my good graces by ranking Percy Harvin as your No. 1 WR.)

Soccer: In the same week that MLS was named "sports league of the year" by SportsBusiness Journal, MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) announced it is going to shut its doors after seven seasons. Hmm: Will MLS expand indoors?

Sports Tech: Google Earth satisfies sports fans. This made its way around sports blogs yesterday, but it is worth linking to: Google Earth now has 3D renderings of football stadiums. Oh, the sweet goodness of technology ... (h/t: Wizard of Odds)

The Last Word: If you were part of the FIA, I presume you would vote "no confidence" for honcho Max Mosley, who was snarled in a Nazi-themed sex scandal -- which sort of makes the escapades of Pacman Jones look cutesy.

Dan Shanoff writes The Wake-Up Call every weekday morning for SportingNews.com and blogs daily at DanShanoff.com. Got any comments, questions or feedback? Email Dan at shanofftsn-[at]-gmail-[dot]-com.

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