Tangled Webs: Lessons from Wall Street to the Hockey Rink

Jan. 25, 2014

Filled with tempered optimism the Spiders hoped to provide some stability to their roller coaster season as they headed back to Breck Arena to battle bitter division rival Fighting Piranhas. A win would bring our Spiders back to .500 and make them a viable “sure thing” contender in the fight for a playoff spot.

Statistically and on-paper, all analysis would lead Warren Buffet, stock jocks everywhere and true hockey fans to be extremely bullish on the Spiders chances. This was as close to a sure thing as any real investor, gambler or prognosticator could hope for. The Spiders had momentum and momentum breeds success. These Spiders are a STRONG BUY recommendation.

Breck Arena had the crazed atmosphere and reckless abandon you would see on the trade floor of the NYSE before the opening bell...It was electric. This was to be the night the Spiders took control of their season.

A hush fell over the crowd for the opening face off, the puck dropped...and the Dow plummeted! It was a Piranha feeding frenzy from the word go as the goal light flashed, and flashed, and flashed, and flashed. The bottom was falling out. Fear and panic filled our fully invested Spider fans as they were in the midst of “Black Thursday”. Playing lackluster and uninspired hockey our “can’t lose” crew looked more like a two-bit broken down penny stock than the blue chip powerhouse we had hoped they would be.

Through 45 minutes of play, the Spiders were down 7-2. Down and out with no “bail out” in sight. The Spiders had crashed!

With about 5 minutes remaining, the Piranha’s took a time out (presumably to discuss where the victory celebration would be), during this minute of solitude, with heads hung low, Spider rookie, (but long time hockey coach) Bob Maietta was overhead saying to his crew; “We are losing the battles for the puck boys. We need to get greedy out there, we need to take control. Let’s go out there and take this one back!”

Greed ensued. Energy increased. The SPDR Index began to climb.

With just over 4 minutes remaining, Matt Adelman netted his second of the game 7 - 3.

Less than a minute later, the Maietta boys played a little tic-tac-toe through the Piranha D and Bobby chipped in a backhander with 3:30 left to play. 7 -4. Momentum is building, the SPDR is rallying...but could it be too late.

“Get greedy boys...”

Just 25 seconds later, Cory Vandenberghe brings the Spiders to within 2 on a helper from Aaron Bedessem. 7 - 5. Tic, tock, tic, tock the time continues to wind down...2 minutes remaining. The stress continues to mount, all the fans are on their feet.

With about a minute and a half left, goalie pulled, the Spiders take a penalty and go short handed...Oh, no...so close.

43 seconds left, the Piranha’s take a penalty...new life. Spiders call time-out, identify their 5 guys and commit to staying hungry, staying greedy and to leaving it all on the ice...or even better, in the back of the net.

26 seconds remaining, Mike Townsend (The new "Wolf of Wall Street") nets his second off a pass from Bob Maietta. 7 – 6.

20 seconds later, the Wolf strikes again redirecting a laser pass from Jim Maietta. With his second consecutive hat trick, #9 tied the game with 6 seconds to spare.

OVERTIME

The Spiders wasted no time. Aaron Bedessem nets the game winner off a great feed from Shawn Tromiczak. The SPDR rallied, retirement plans were saved and our Spider faithful left the arena satisfied and craving more. On this night, the Spiders were too big to fail!

Item of note: The 5 goals scored in 4:57 is a team record that won’t soon be broken. Nice work boys!

As I reflect on the evening, I am forever reminded of one key point. A point that has fueled my existence.

The point is that greed - - for lack of a better word - - is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed, in all its forms - - greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge - - has always marked the upward surge of mankind.

And greed - - you mark my words - - will not only save the Spiders season, but it will lead us deep into the playoffs as well.

Gekko out.