Pen Zen: Bill Guerin Tribute

Happy Easter, Yinzers!

The game yesterday was definitely something to behold. Sergei Gonchar and Evgeni Malkin beat the injury bug and played spectacular. Unsung hero's like Jordan Leopold stepped up to give the Pens an extra 2 points. Lastly, the Pens proved that they would not go quietly. It was a hard earned, and well earned win. However, those weren't the only special events in last nights game...



Although this fight had limited impact in this game, it displayed what Bill Guerin brings to the Pittsburgh Penguin roster, heart and intensity. It was his second fight in the previous two games, which seems odd because Bill Guerin is 36 years of age. However, as Mark Twain used to insinuate, Guerin is 36 years young...

Notably, Bill Guerin was the Penguins winner of the NHL Masterson "Comeback Player" Award, yesterday. As the Official Pittsburgh Penguin website states, "Masterton candidate is nominated as the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." In the short span that Bill Guerin has laced up for the Penguins, he has exhibited these qualities, and then some...

Perhaps the greatest example of his "dedication to hockey" was after game 5 in Stanley Cup Finals. After losing 5-0 to the Wings in the Joe Louis Arena, most players would be dejected and have very little confidence about their chances winning the cup. The day after game 5, the Penguins held a practice that was different from most practices, especially after a 5-0 loss. There was no anger, anxiety, or angst in the locker room or on the ice. Bill Guerin kept the atmosphere light and fun, cracking jokes on Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, encouring role players like Pascal Dupuis, and Phillipe Boucher, Guerin made hockey what it should be, fun. We all know what happened afterwards, The Pens won game 6 and 7 to win the Stanley Cup, and although Bill Guerin didn't score any goals, his demeaner in the locker room was perhaps his greatest contribution.

So... In light of this tribute to Guerin, I would like to post a song inspired by the man himself (and from the movie Super Troopers). It is a song I partially wrote myself, and I hope if nothing else, you might have this song stuck in your head when Bill Guerin scores. I hope you enjoy it.

(The Original Version)


(My Version)

(Chorus)
Big Bill, He’s Iron Tough
Big Bill, He’s got a chest like a rug
Big Bill, He don’t take no guff
He’s Big Bill

(Verse)
Goin’ down the ice, got fella’s on his back
Pens logo in the front and got a jersey in black
By sam a drink and get one for his dog
You know he’s gonna score when he skates from the fog

(Chorus)
Looking over their shoulder, but they’re never gonna find
Big Bill’s got a hit that will knock you unaligned
13 in Black’s gonna knock ‘em out of sight
Never gonna catch him and you never wanna fight ole’…

(Chorus)

Oh, Big Bill (x6)

(Chorus)

(Verse)
So remember if you can, when you’re traveling down the road
Be careful there’s a man who pulls a heavy load
He’s hotter than the sun with a team that’s going up
With a slapshot from the slot, he’s gonna win another cup

(Last Chours)
Big Bill, He’s Iron Tough
Big Bill, He’s got a chest like a rug
Big Bill, He don’t take no guff
Big Bill
C’mon give ole’ Bill the cup!

Go Bill...