How the West was Won - Koci Upholds Bet

If it’s true you have to beat the best to be the best, the young Chicago Blackhawks just learned what it will take to emerge from the Western Conference in

If it’s true you have to beat the best to be the best, the young Chicago Blackhawks just learned what it will take to emerge from the Western Conference in the next coming years. 

But recognizing your dreams and actually achieving them are two entirely different tasks.

Although, Chicago’s upside and potential is great, probably greater than any team in the league, what they aim for, as players and as an organization, is the Detroit Red Wings. 

The Wings, have established what sports fans around the globe like to call dynasties. Their formula for success has been simple to identify but almost impossible to replicate. 

They develop talent into exceptional players, (Datsyuk and Zetterberg; 6th and 7th round draft picks respectively) surround them young talent that seems endless, throw in a mixture of some of the games best players, and oh yeah, quietly hold them together with the most under rated goalie of the last 20 years in Chris Osgood. Once you do this, repeat for about 15 years.

If the Chicago Blackhawks want to achieve anything in the next 10 years with the core of young talent they have, this series more than proved their road must travel through Hockeytown each year.

The Red Wings ability as an organization to obtain and retain their talent is mind boggling. While considered “old” at times, their youth quickly turns into household names year after year. If you didn’t know who Darren Helm was before the playoffs began, I’m sure you do now. And their success has bred success. Superstars like Marian Hossa, have seen what the Wings organization has done and put money behind the opportunity to win a cup. 

The Wings, this year and for the past decade, have generally been the best team on the ice. They play together, simplify their game, and all work towards their common goal of winning a Stanley Cup. While other teams certainly try this, and do a admirable job, the Wings are one of the few teams that have perfected it and win constantly.

In the sports world of free agency and salary caps, its not easy to do what the Red Wings have done, But somehow, they have. They turned a struggling franchise in the 80’s into one of the most prolific ones in the last 15 years. Their success is unmatched and will take an extraordinary amount of talent and luck to duplicate. They’ve earned the title of Hockeytown and show no signs of letting it go. 

The Bet: Phase I - Completed

As for the pizza, Mike Illitch is certainly a very successful man. He is a great businessman and professional franchise owner. But, he wouldn't know how to make a pizza if the Stanley Cup depended on it. We may have lost the war on the ice, but we won and will continue to win the pizza debate, if you want to call it that. I will be in contact with Hondo in the coming days to satisfy the second part of our wager, a true Chicago Style Deep Dish pizza of his choosing. If you have never had one, I suggest you do. The Wings played a great series against the Hawks and have earned everything that has come their way, not to mention, they earned Hondo this pizza. 

The Bet Phase II - Pending

Best of luck in the Cup Finals, and we'll see you next year to renew the bet!