Muses on the Day Before

As I sit here in the bowels of the Red Army Digest building in downtown Moscow, I find my mind wandering off as I ponder philosophic queries that have piqued man's interest since the dawn of time. "What is the meaning of life?", "Are we really alone in the Universe?", and "How can I use the word 'bowels' in the opening sentence of this article and not have my editor nix it?".

The answers elude me, so I focus my pondering on something I'm more comfortable with-- Red Army hockey. It would appear that today is this holiday season's first eve, so to speak, as in 24 hours, the Red Army and Prestige Worldwide will face off in a hockey game to determine a champion.

One game.

There were 63 games played in the regular season, and so far nine games in the playoffs, for a total of 72 games leading up to tomorrow night. Game 73 determines it all.

The question that I've been getting in emails, texts, tweets, coffee shops, and orthodontist offices is this: Regardless of tomorrow night's outcome, has this Red Army season been a success?

The answers I have been hearing range.

Some fans think that this season was considered a success when the Soviets strung together seven straight victories. Some think that the playoff win over Trailside, a win which still has the city abuzz, clinched the "successful" benchmark. Others feel that staving off elimination in game two versus Prestige Worldwide was reason enough to celebrate.

Still, others, including some of Mother Russia's favorite sons, think that nothing can be deemed successful that doesn't include a banner.

"We're successful if we win," Ryan Odell said. "Anything short of a championship, be it a winless season or coming within one game of the championship, is still a failure."

Mike D'Ignazio agreed with Odell, though admitted the season had exceeded expectations.

"I guess I would say yes and no, regarding this season being a success," D'Ignazio said. "When we were 2-4, if you had told me we'd be in the game three of the championship, I'd say 'yeah, that's a successful season'. But the thing about expectations is that they are constantly evolving. When we won seven in a row, and even when we played Trailside really close in the final game of the season, I think the expectations changed from simply being competitive to maybe, 'hey, let's make something special here'."

Added D'Ignazio, "Speaking of making something special, I make great ravioli. Just saying."

So fans out there in the Motherland, has the season been a success already? Or do the Comrades need one more win to make it official?

I think renaissance man Pat King said it best this morning when he told a reporter this, "You don't tell your grandkids a story about almost winning, and you definitely don't leave your grandma around Ben Breiterman."