Blues Had a Great Season No Matter What the Outcome

**Randy Gardner photo**By Randy Gardner

Once again, I cannot handle the ups and downs of this St. Louis Blues team. Seriously, they either have to win it or lose it outright. This playing great one night and then terrible the next is driving me crazy.

How does that happen? These guys are supposed to be professionals and that means that these swings are supposed to be kept to a minimum. I know that having a child is the most important thing in life but Tarasenko’s game has fallen to pieces ever since the birth of the baby.

If anything, I think it would give you that extra spark but it is doing just the opposite. He has been terribly quiet. Maybe he will explode this week. Once again, I am writing my column on Tuesday, the day after the butt kicking at home for the Blues. The reason I say butt kicking is that they just gave up, or should I say the Sharks outplayed them and out-hearted them if that’s a word. I think that that concept is huge in this series. One team just out-hearts the other; they want it worse and now the Blues are on the ropes.

Either they will be getting ready for game 7 home again when you read this or they are packing up their lockers for the season right now. It will be interesting to see who shows up for this Blues team in San Jose. Either way, truly the Blues have had a great run. The fans should be proud of them even if they will be very disappointed in them also.

Hard to Believe State Championship was 30 Years Ago

It hit me like a ton of bricks today as I slipped on my State Championship Soccer Ring from Aquinas High School this morning. I took a look at it as I was cleaning out my dresser drawers and looked really hard at the class of 1986 logo on it. Really? 1986? That is 30 years ago. Damn, am I old. That scares me.

I’m not supposed to be that old. Sometimes I physically feel that old when I get out of bed because of all of my soccer injuries but mentally I feel like I am in my twenties. Is this what happens in life? You take a breathe and you’re 30, then 40, then 50 and so on? It’s funny how I never really thought about it until this morning, but I am aging fast.

I am always the first one to throw out the advice to not sit on your butt and go do something active and don’t let life pass you by. I am almost 50 now–once again, that scares me. Many people all day have told me that 50 is young, I hope it is. I have had the chance over the past few months to talk with a few older individuals who were in their 80s and they are so full of wisdom. I can only hope that I can gain as much knowledge over my next 30 years to pass on to the younger generation. I think that is one of our most treasured assets to pass on: the knowledge of life and what makes someone happy and successful.

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