Getty Image / Mike Carlson
Does The Tampa Bay Lightning’s Unbelievable Collapse Erase Their Historic Success This Season? No. No, it does not.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made history once again this season by becoming the first team to get swept in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs after winning the President’s Trophy for having the best record in hockey. This is a MONUMENTAL failure and it will probably go down in history as one of the top 5 biggest collapses in sports but that doesn’t negate their history regular season tying the NHL record of 62 wins (and 128 points).
As a Lightning fan, I should be angrier but I’m surprisingly okay with this. The Lightning doesn’t owe me anything as a fan and any anger I feel towards the team is because of my own expectations placed on the team. I enjoyed the 2018-2019 season as much if not more than any pro sports season that I can remember.
However, I’d like to say FUCK THIS TWEET:
We don’t have any words and we know you don’t want to hear them.
We understand your anger, your frustration, your sadness. Everything you’re feeling – we get it.
This isn’t the ending we imagined, and certainly not the one we wanted. Thank you for being there the entire way.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) April 17, 2019
This is the most melodramatic bullshit I’ve ever seen and it sounds like it was written by a teenager going through a breakup. I’ve never seen a professional sports team apologize to their fans and they shouldn’t have to because they don’t owe us shit. Sports is a business, not a relationship.
Apparently, I’m not the only fan who was triggered by this stupid ass tweet from the Tampa Bay Lightning so I’ll go ahead and share some of my favorite responses with you guys:
— David (@_davidcaban) April 17, 2019
— caitlyn (@caitlynsherman_) April 17, 2019
— kuzy (@OozyKuzy) April 17, 2019
Yikes, Tampa. I’m a youth football coaching legend who ascribes to one motto on the rare occasions I lose – blame the players. I once went and told the entire school my players were useless failures after a loss. I recommend you do the same.
— Three Year Letterman (@3YearLetterman) April 17, 2019
CONGLATURATION LIGHTNING pic.twitter.com/bEX4NhWsUl
— Paula Deen (Fire Nagy FIRE BOWMAN) (@PaulaDe49308664) April 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/McBride_71/status/1118332537212940290
— Sean Caps (@SeanCaps8) April 17, 2019
— RR (@ahlan98) April 17, 2019
https://twitter.com/zac_christian2/status/1118332509434073088
https://twitter.com/RealJakeSH/status/1118332373295194113
https://twitter.com/AHirst01/status/1118332354127454208
I’ll never apologize for my hubris as a Lightning fan this season. They were the most dominant team for 6 months that the NHL had seen in decades. Then they all had a slumber party, pulled down their pants, and pooped the bed. I guess I’m now a free agent when it comes to my rooting interest in the playoffs. Send your bribes to @casspa on Twitter if you want me in your team’s corner.