Levine: Joe Maddon Not Choosing A Side In Stanley Cup Final
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon had to play the role of master politician when asked about where his loyalty will side during the Stanley Cup Final. The matchup of the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Rays creates a difficult choice for the 60-year-old baseball man.
Maddon lived and worked in Florida for nine years as Rays manager and is deeply entrenched in the business community of the Tampa-St. Petersburg area. Maddon is is a part-owner of a fabulous Italian restaurant in Tampa named Ava.
"May the best team win," was Maddon's response to the question who will he cheer for. "I am becoming a Blackhawks fan, as I should be. I do have some roots back there in Tampa Bay. I know coach (Lightning coach Jon) Cooper really well. He is a really good guy. I have not met coach (Joel) Quenneville yet."
The Stanley Cup appearance for the Lightning is the second in their history, after they won the Cup in 2004. Chicago will be making its 13th trip to hockey's championship round. The Hawks have won five Stanley Cups, including two in the last five seasons.
"I am really excited about watching the whole thing," Maddon said. "It should be a very powerful series. I hate to say let the best team win, but I will say let the best team win. Coach Cooper was just at Ava the last few days. He has been texting me a little bit. I watched the game last night and it was a pretty incredible victory. You could see how they broke the will of the other team. I just think if you are a hockey fan you really have to be into this thing."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.