Comments on: Is it wrong to touch the Stanley Cup if you didn’t ‘earn’ it?

By: polegojim

polegojim — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 15:01:41 +0000

Players: The superstitious stuff is crap, players should not touch out of respect. Touching it has long been the right ‘earned’ by being on the team that wins it. I support that.

Fans: Go for it.

By: thebigwhitecat

thebigwhitecat — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:04:35 +0000

When the Blackhawks brought the Stanley Cup to Wrigley last summer for a White Sox-Cubs game, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen grabbed the Cup by both ends and held it over his head in the classic pose. Now THAT was wrong.

By: nhlbruins90

nhlbruins90 — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 02:19:23 +0000

I’ve always understood the “don’t touch” rule to apply only to players. Who would care a whit if I touched the Cup? I doubt if any player cares.

By: donttouchthedirtypenny

donttouchthedirtypenny — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 01:52:07 +0000

Just touch it. Oh yes. Touch it.

By: emperorzero

emperorzero — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:49:37 +0000

Just because I’ll never have the opportunity to win the Stanley Cup doesn’t mean I have the right to touch it. Because I’ll never score a game-winning goal, or block a shot, take a hit, get in a fight, etc. doesn’t give me a pass over those who do these very things to get their name on the Cup. I think of all the stories about the Stanley Cup (babies being baptized in it, spending the night at the bottom of a pool) and I just don’t think mere mortals as ourselves should defile the grail.

By: obsolete777

obsolete777 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:19:06 +0000

Demons87, good questions. I would say that it would be up to that players own conscience as to whether he earned it or not, and should touch it.
However, I think hoisting it over head should probably be reserved to those players who will actually get their name on the cup. Obviously, your Providence Bruins example player wouldn’t get his name on it.
When Adam Burish brought it to Madison last year, I touched it. But I am not a player.

By: dohpey28

dohpey28 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:11:41 +0000

Since I am never going to play professional hockey, I would be all over it.

By: demons87

demons87 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:11:09 +0000

What qualifies as having earned it?

Is it the NHL’s definition of 41 games or a playoff game or it something different?

Does a Providence Bruin who was called up for 6 games with Boston when they were real thin on defense mid year, qualify as having earned it? What if he had scored a game winning goal and that helped them clinch their playoff seeding?

What about Blake Wheeler who played 58 games for the B’s before being traded. Did he earn it? I think they all helped earn it even if you skated a single shift for the team.

By: BlackandGoldMNBruinsFan

BlackandGoldMNBruinsFan — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:33:18 +0000

I agree with ThatGuy…if you, at some point, could possibly be in the quest for the Cup, you shouldn’t touch it. (At least, I wouldn’t). But as a fan/writer/whatever who has no chance of being on a team that wins it, then fire away. Just show it the proper respect it deserves.

Here’s another valid question. If you are in the farm system for the championship team (say, the Providence Bruins), can you touch the Cup?

By: ThatGuy

ThatGuy — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:27:19 +0000

If your dream of winning it is still alive(NHL, AHL or even top prospect), I wouldn’t touch just by Tradition not superstition. But as a keyboard jockey, if I got a chance i’d be all over it like a teenager at prom.