[NPMUG] 1200 FaceBook fans + Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma + the mystical power of lucky burritos = ( Pens beat Wings 2-1 )
Dave Sevick
dave at davesevick.com
Tue Jun 9 22:09:02 MDT 2009
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Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:55 am EDT
Penguins Coach Bylsma and the mystical power of lucky burritos
By Greg Wyshynski
The Stanley Cup Playoffs reveal all sorts of ritualistic behavior in
the NHL; when else can an athlete grow face foliage like a shipwrecked
castaway and claim it's for good fortune?
Coaches don't grow playoff beards, but they aren't immune to sports
voodoo. For Pittsburgh Penguins Coach Dan Bylsma, it manifests itself
at a Qdoba Mexican Grille located three blocks away from Mellon Arena;
home of the Ancho Chile Pork BBQ Burrito, which Bylsma consumes before
most Penguins home games.
It's a superstition with results: Qdoba franchise owner Chad Brooks
believes Bylsma is 20-1 when eating his lucky burrito.
He's expected in for a bite on Tuesday before Game 6 of the Stanley
Cup Finals, with the Penguins needing a win over the Detroit Red Wings
to stave off elimination.
"If we win tonight, we're going to find some way, whether it's by
ambulance or helicopter, to get a burrito up to Detroit [for Game 7]
on Friday," said Brooks.
In a short time, a quiet coach's ritual has become a Steel City
sensation.
Bylsma replaced Michel Therrien as Penguins head coach on Feb. 15. "As
soon as he became coach, he started coming on game day," said Brooks.
The Penguins found startling success with their rookie NHL coach,
going 18-3-4 the rest of the season. One day, Bylsma mentioned to the
manager of the Grant Street store that he had never lost when he's had
his game-day burrito: The Ancho Chile Pork BBQ Burrito, made with a
mix of hot and mild salsa plus cheese.
"I always said I don't have superstitions. I just like to do the same
thing every day," Bylsma said last week to WTAE Channel 4 in
Pittsburgh. "When you get into a routine, you feel comfortable and it
gets you in the right spot for a game. When you do something and you
get a win, you usually duplicate it again."
It was in the playoffs when his ritual became big news. The Penguins
were playing the Washington Capitals in the Eastern Conference
semifinals, and the NHL scheduled back-to-back games in the two cities
on a Friday and Saturday. Bylsma came into the Pittsburgh Qdoba on
that Friday and purchased two burritos -- eating one at the store and
"packing the other one on ice to take to D.C.," according to Brooks.
The coach ate the burrito in the nation's capital, and the Penguins
won on both Friday and Saturday nights. "At that point I said, 'Oh
crap, this is for real.' He's not playing around. This is something he
really believes in." Brooks recalled.
That led to a Facebook group being created in honor of the Bylsma
Burrito, which has well over 1,200 followers. One radio station got
wind of the group, then two more; soon, Bylsma was being greeted by
television cameras when he entered his local Qdoba for lunch on a game
day.
"After the news specials, the BBQ burrito has gotten kind of popular,"
said Jake Nelson, who works at the Qdoba near Mellon.
The eatery held a rally before Game 4 of the Final last week, decking
the store out in Penguins gear and handing out mini-burritos inspired
by the coach's choice.
With Bylsma coming back to coach next season win or lose, Brooks said
he's petitioning corporate to have some sort of signage in his
restaurant indicating what the official Bylsma Burrito contains. The
relationship could go further than that: While Carissa McCabe of Qdoba
corporate relations said the chain eatery doesn't traffic in celebrity
spokespeople, she indicated that local sponsorships for franchises are
a possibility.
Could Dan Bylsma become the face of burritos in Pittsburgh?
It's something Brooks would like to explore. For now, he's just hoping
the ritual holds for another home game ... and, perhaps, to get the
chance to celebrate the Bylsma Burrito at a victory parade should the
Penguins rally for the Cup.
Related: Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals,
Stanley Cup Playoffs, Hockey Fans, When Hockey and Hollywood Collide
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157 CommentsPost a Comment 1 - 25 of 157 First«
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1. Posted by Don M Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:07 am EDT
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If there is a game 7, we need to close all Qdoba's in metro Detroit.
2. Posted by knucklehead Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:11 am EDT
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Pbbbbbbwooooh! poot!
3. Posted by NYR34 Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:12 am EDT
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Wow, it's gotta be lucky if THAT is your choice of pre-game meal!
4. Posted by Wyshynski Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:13 am EDT
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@ NYR34 --
I didn't want to write that in the piece, but yeah: a burrito with
cheese is probably second to 10-alarm chili and a glass of Mexican
water on my "stuff I wouldn't want in my stomach before a big game"
list.
5. Posted by Undead Franzen Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:15 am EDT
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Next can you post a story about the luck generated by Babcock's hair?
6. Posted by JonnyP Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:15 am EDT
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Could this also be the reason that nobody wants to be near Bylsma
during games?
7. Posted by Chris Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:16 am EDT
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My burrito ritual involves something really good to read and 20
minutes alone in the bathroom.
8. Posted by Hemsky Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:16 am EDT
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I heard burrito's were Marty Brodeurs pregame, game and post-game
snack. Anyone able to confirm?
9. Posted by Max_Powers Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:21 am EDT
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Might be why he looks so serious all the time. Probably trying real
hard not to burrito his lucky game-shorts.
10. Posted by Patrick D. Vision Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:21 am EDT
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He's going to need a really big burrito to have a chance in this
series. Even if they win tonight, which is a huge "if" after the
humiliation and complete meltdown they faced in Detroit. They still
have to go back to where they can't even score a goal a game and steal
one. It's possible, but highly unlikely. I wish I were a Red Wings
fan, but then I'd probably be a lions fan too, so I guess I'll stick
with Pittsburgh.
11. Posted by Shawn Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:24 am EDT
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The Stanley Cup is in the building, Champagne on ice, Back to Back
Champs shirts and hats printed, Detroit is one win away from
it....there will be no game 7 folks.
Lets Go Red Wings!
12. Posted by The KBBL Party Penguin Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:26 am EDT
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@ Wysh:
"a burrito with cheese is probably second to 10-alarm chili and a
glass of Mexican water on my "stuff I wouldn't want in my stomach
before a big game" list. "
Maybe THAT'S what happened to Luongo in last years playoffs before the
start of that overtime game.
Q'doba's not too bad for fastish food. I like the Steak Quesadila's
with the ancho BBQ sauce drizzled inside before they grill it. Tasty,
but oy vey! the Heartburn later.
13. Posted by pet_sock_puppet Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:31 am EDT
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Get an undercover Wings fan and a bottle of stool softener in that
Qdoba franchise, STAT!
14. Posted by Matt S Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:35 am EDT
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Chipotle Burritos are much better
15. Posted by Ron L. Detroit Sports Nut! Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:41 am EDT
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Not much to write about about after 2 days of no hockey eh?
16. Posted by GoPens!!!! Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:43 am EDT
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#11 - There were 19-0 shirts & hats printed for the Pats too. Here's
to hoping the Detroit stuff goes to that third world country too. GO
PENS!!!!
17. Posted by GoPens!!!! Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:43 am EDT
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#11 - There were 19-0 shirts & hats printed for the Pats too. Here's
to hoping the Detroit stuff goes to that third world country too. GO
PENS!!!!
18. Posted by John G Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:46 am EDT
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Pens will win the Cup... didn't Kris Darpers kid took a crap in the
Cup last year? Check the Stanley Cup history of teams where players
that have the Cup and whether hook or crook someone takes a dump in
it ... ie, wiki the NY Rangers back in the 40's... it happened and
they the curse was applied. I think they same thing happens here...
the "Cup Crapper Curse" is just toying with the Red Wings by giving
them a 3-2 lead at this point. :)
19. Posted by Jenny D Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:48 am EDT
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Did Fleury have that kind of burrito before he pooted in the Cup-
winning goal last year?
20. Posted by fletch81 Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:49 am EDT
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A) - I am sorry I just read this. B) If the Pens' hopes lie on "lucky
burritos" they are in FAR more trouble than I originally thought.
Wings in 6; Hossa celebrates in front of the Pens faithful (and likely
gets coins thrown at him "ala Eric Lindros' return to Quebec").
21. Posted by Geoffrey S Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:50 am EDT
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#11: I believe I speak for all Pens fans in encouraging the Wings to
load up the locker room with champagne before the game's over like
they did for Game 5 last year.
22. Posted by Shoxxx Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:51 am EDT
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I'd rather have Datsyuk than a magic franchised Mc-burrito anyday. Go
ahead, have two and give one to Cindy Crosby that way at least he
won't run out of gas. GO WINGS!!!!!
23. Posted by DaBurgh Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:54 am EDT
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You got to give it up to both coaches (Babcock and Bylsma). They are
both class acts in my book. You can only hope that Bylsma will have a
greater effect on maturing Crosby and Malkin and a few others next
year as coach of the team for the whole season.
24. Posted by Jenny D Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:55 am EDT
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*sigh* We're reduced to discussing lucky burritoes and their possible
gastrointestinal results. Puck drop can't come soon enough!
25. Posted by Pens Rock Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:01 pm EDT
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notice how disco dan cant take his eyes off the burrito in the images
above.
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