"Friend" gives no respect - come on... it's the playoffs!

I guess I should be faulted for believing that I could get away with playing golf on Saturday with 19 other friends and acquaintances. I asked people before they hit the links to keep the score of Saturday's game to themselves if I happen to walk by them later on in the day. I managed to keep the results largely under wraps until after the round came to an end.

Earlier in the day I had been told that the clubhouse was closed. I was pleased to hear that, figuring that this would prevent people from lounging around too long (I was the day's organizer and thus could not simply pack up and leave whenever I wanted to.) I was dismayed to hear that at the late hour at which we finished our round, enough people had hung around to justify opening the bar. Great.

I was among the last people to enter the clubhouse at the end of the day. With most people seated at tables talking to each other, I asked them once again not to reveal any knowledge they might have of the game.

Nary a second had passed when one fellow golfer looked me straight in the eye and stated: "Penguins. 4-3." I was shocked! What about "don't tell me" did he not understand?! When I expressed my bewilderment and jokingly chided him for pulling my leg he pulled out a $20 bill instead, daring me to match his wager to show how convinced I should be that he was being truthful.

Not willing to be suckered into a bet where one of the two parties involved already has complete knowledge, I politely declined and went upon my business. After all, I had 18 other people to keep happy and willing to come back to future events! Once I got home I fired up the PVR and grudgingly sat down to watch the game. Sure enough, the Sens lost 4-3 despite some pretty decent play, especially when compared to past years' efforts!

Why did he do that? He knew how much I enjoy playoff games. He knew that I love golf even more and, through the magic of technology, I could have my cake and eat it too that day. The fun was sucked out of the day in less than three seconds.

Come on, people - if you come across another person who makes a plea similar to mine on Saturday, just use some basic common sense and resist the urge to burst his or her bubble. After all, the playoffs come only once a year for the Sens. For other teams (like the Maple Leafs) - well, you never know when they'll get in the playoffs again... so if they do ever make it some year hence, be nice to that Leaf fan and don't blow it for him or her. You never know when their next opportunity to watch a post-season game will come!!