Playoff Rules to Live By

I knew if I waited long enough, my good friend Jeff Hale would show his cards before I had to.

Well, now it's my turn. First, I am on record as a fan of the Los Angeles Kings, so there is no switching now. Turning to the Eastern Conference, well I won't. I grew up in the Western United States and I have always lived by the notion that the West is the best.

So I say good luck to all the Eastern Conference teams and I will see your best against the West in the finals. Simple rules here, handed down by my father, who was a rather straight line, no nonsense kind of guy. You dressed up for church and you dressed up to go watch a professional sports event. Heck, you dressed up to go watch a high school game.

That made going to a game a more civil affair. Couldn't flounder my mustard krautdog on my good sweater knowing it was in the starting lineup for church the next day. In fact, you pretty much ate before you went to a game. You went to the stadium or arena to watch, not to treat it like a day at the food court.

Like I said, my dad was a straight line guy. A straight line from the parking lot to the seat. Straight line from the seat back to the car. Straight line home. Here are his straight line rules.

In baseball, American League over the National League. In football, the 10 teams from the old American Football League. Period. No expansion teams, even if they are in the AFC. Too bad. The AFL 10 or nothing.

Basketball, well that's even tougher. The four teams from the old American Basketball Association or nothing.

In hockey, it used to be the West over the East, and no picking teams from the old World Hockey Association. Had to break that rule when the freshly stolen Nordiques came up with the Stanley Cup as the Colorado Avalanche. As a Colorado native, I don't think I could have stayed as rigid in my beliefs. I know my dad relaxed the rules. He even let my mother, who was known as the Jinx in my house, watch the Avalanche.

So there you have it. My Stanley Cup champion has to win the Clarence Campbell Bowl first. The Prince of Wales Trophy? You can have it.