Courtesy of the awesome and famous Stephen Slesinski and the awesome and infamous Indiana Matt... presenting the ultimate in The Royal Half merchandise... the 2012 TRH Stanley Cup Champion T-Shirt.

Now with 100% less Scott Parse!

These shirts come with a full guarantee that they were not worn in the Los Angeles Kings locker room. But there is no guarantee that Jeff Carter wasn't wearing it during a threesome this past weekend in Vegas. You can get this glorious t-shirt at our Zazzle store (don't ask) and all of our other amazing shirts at The Royal Half Gift Shoppe. Collect and Trade!

I honestly had no idea it would be like this. I figured the Los Angeles Kings would win the Stanley Cup and I'd be blogging non-stop about it until training camp starting in September. Don't get me wrong... this feeling I've had for the past 6 days is unlike anything I've ever experienced in my 25 years of being a fan of the sport of hockey. It's the perfect mixture of total euphoria and complete satisfaction. I've been walking around with my head in the clouds... constantly repeating to myself that the Los Angeles Kings are the Stanley Cup Champions as if in case I don't repeat it over and over it will somehow be taken away. Every time I see a photo on the internet of a player holding the Cup or a highlight from any of the 20 games they played... my eyes start welling up all over again. I have to assume that eventually these memories will fade away but one thing is for certain... the names of the people who matter the most in all of this will be forever etched into the greatest trophy in the world.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ROYAL HALF RECAP OF GAME 6 OF THE STANLEY CUP FINAL!!!

I've been a fan since 1988. My Half Season Ticket Holder Buddy and I got our first Half Season Ticket Package for the 2002-2003 NHL Season. And this whole time... we've been waiting for today. 

Sure... this win is for the players and the management... but in reality this win is for us, the fans, who have stuck with this team through thick and thin for the 44 seasons it's been part of the National Hockey League. Thank you... loyal readers of The Royal Half... for allowing me to feel like I get to share this special occasion with friends all across the world.

And with Darryl Sutter.

STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME #6

LA KINGS
40-27-15
95 pts, 8th in Western Conference, 13th in NHL
vs
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
48-28-6
102 pts, 6th in Eastern Conference, 9th in NHL

Devils Won Season Series 2-0

Kings lead Stanley Cup Final 3-2

5:00pm, Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
NBC

BEST COACH TO COACH BOTH TEAMS BUT COME
NOWHERE CLOSE TO WINNING A STANLEY CUP WITH THE KINGS:

BEST OPPOSITION BLOG:
Down Goes Avery
Running with the Devils
In Lou We Trust

HAVE THE LA KINGS WON THE STANLEY CUP?
NO!

Well I'm back in Los Angeles after flying in from Newark, New Jersey and boy are my arms tired! From wiping away the tears on my face all night long after Game 5.

Ultimate NJ Devils Trollers.

I really hope the LA Kings win the Stanley Cup so we can call
a small, empty parking lot outside the arena "Championship Plaza."

Sweet homemade Stanley Cup without the "Cup" part, bro.

Sweet homemade Ilya Kovalchuk jersey, bro.

If there is anything more American than watching
a solider rappel down the side of hockey arena... then I don't want to know it. 

When she files the divorce papers at least he'll know
the exact moment the downward spiral began.

Now that's the funniest thing I've ever seen!
I mean, seriously... who wears a Charlestown Chiefs jersey to a Stanley Cup Final game?!?

Really scary just how similar Justin Bieber and Bald Britney Spears look.

I was amazed at how many non-New Jersey Devils fans were hanging out pre-game. 

I didn't ask... but I'm pretty sure this guy is related to Anze Kopitar somehow.

Huge John Stevens fan.

So two Devils fans, a Penguins fan and a Jets fan walk into a bar...
and 10 minutes later the Jets fan relocates to Kansas City. 

Ton of Phoenix Coyotes fans in attendance as well.

Tons of fans of people who are jacking off in San Diego.

Patrick O'Neal.

Worst. Hashtag/T-Shirt Combination. Ever.

Obviously the cigar salesman in the Prudential Center lobby
was just preparing for the influx of Devils Game 5 victory purchases.

The Mike Richards/Jeff Carter Memorial Suite.

First of all... I was sitting in Section 119.
Second of all... maybe the LA Kings don't have any Stanley Cups...
but I've never seen a sign like this on the seats of any Kings home playoff games.

Obviously it's not working... because there were easily 5 empty seats around me at the start of the game.

This dude in front of me was not only wearing a hat with the brand-new Miami Marlins logo on it...

But it was also the desktop on his phone.
If that isn't grounds for ejection... I'm not sure what is.

Everywhere I looked at the Prudential Center there was a constant reminder that
the New York Liberty doesn't play in New York State.

I had my beer... I was settled into my seat... and then the puck dropped...

And all I saw was red for the next 60 minutes.

#YOL3GLO
You Only Lose a 3 Game Lead Once.

If there is one thing I learned during my travels to Newark for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals...

It's that Kings fans and Devils fans can be united in their hatred of the New York Rangers.

I'm back in Los Angeles and heading to Game 6... and the best part about being at Staples Center is that no matter who wins tonight... I'll be sobbing uncontrollably.

Mainly because Anze Kopitar is wearing a Rednex Rebellion hat.

GO KINGS GO!
No seriously... go. I need this to be over. My heart can't handle much more. 

STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME #5

LA KINGS
40-27-15
95 pts, 8th in Western Conference, 13th in NHL
vs
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
48-28-6
102 pts, 6th in Eastern Conference, 9th in NHL

Devils Won Season Series 2-0

Kings lead Stanley Cup Final 3-1

5:00pm, Prudential Center
Newark, NJ
NBC

BEST PHOTO OF THE ROYAL HALF IN BOTH TEAMS COLORS:

BEST OPPOSITION BLOG:
Down Goes Avery
Running with the Devils
In Lou We Trust

HAVE THE LA KINGS WON THE STANLEY CUP?
NO!

Sorry, guys... can't talk right now. I have to go see about a hockey team.

Go Bombers!

Yup, I'm flying out early Saturday morning and landing in Newark at 4:30pm. If you don't already follow me on Twitter.... now would be a really, really, really, really good time to start. Let me know if you want me to bring you back anything from New Jersey... besides a communicable disease, of course.

STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME #4

LA KINGS
40-27-15
95 pts, 8th in Western Conference, 13th in NHL
vs
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
48-28-6
102 pts, 6th in Eastern Conference, 9th in NHL

Devils Won Season Series 2-0

Kings lead Stanley Cup Final 3-0

5:00pm, Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
NBC SN

BEST PLAYER TO WEAR KINGS COLORS
THAT HAS WON A STANLEY CUP IN ANOTHER TEAMS COLORS:

BEST PLAYER TO WEAR KINGS COLORS 
THAT HAS ALMOST WON A STANLEY CUP IN ANOTHER TEAMS COLORS:

Ha. Matt Greene and Jarret Stoll didn't even make the poster.

BEST OPPOSITION BLOG:
Down Goes Avery
Running with the Devils
In Lou We Trust

HAVE THE LA KINGS WON THE STANLEY CUP?
NO!

Don't worry, guys... I didn't touch it.

Except with my lips.

It was so awesome to be at Staples Center for Game 3 and see the Stanley Cup Final banner flying high in the rafters of Staples Center.

Or as the desktop for the LCD menu screens.

That's more like it.

I guess you could consider something from 19 years ago an "artifact."

It's crazy how many bandwagon fans were at Staples Center Monday night and had no idea where anything was.

"Excuse me, do you know where the gutless, cheap-shot hockey is?
I haven't seen any for 3 games."

If this is your lost child please report to Section 101.

The crowd outside the game was unreal. I can only imagine what it will be like if the Los Angeles Kings win the Stanley Cup tonight.

I feel like LA Live is ready for it.

But with the E3 Expo in town this week... it's a harsh reminder to us hockey fans.

Video game nerds will always outnumber hockey fans.

Sure, seeing the Los Angeles Kings take a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final was pretty cool... but I gotta admit... this was a bit cooler.

Sure, it's digital. But who cares?

Don't worry... I've got the real deal too.

Let's win the Cup at home tonight... what do you say LA Kings? (#STUFF I THOUGHT I'D NEVER SAY, EVER)

GO KINGS GO!!!

What Stanley Cup Final game would be complete without a brand-new episode of All The Kings Men Podcast? Myself, Podmaster General Jesse Cohen and John Hoven from Mayor's Manor. We discuss the Los Angeles Kings Game 3 victory in the Stanley Cup Final and take a look ahead to Game 4. Check the latest All The Kings Men here, subscribe to it on iTunes or listen below.

For those that like to rock... there is a brand-new episode of All The Kings Men Podcast with myself, Podmaster General Jesse Cohen and John Hoven from Mayor's Manor. We discuss the Los Angeles Kings Game 2 victory in the Stanley Cup Final and take a look ahead to Game 3. We also discuss how NBC hates the Los Angeles Kings.

Check the latest All The Kings Men here, subscribe to it on iTunes or listen below.

STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME #3

LA KINGS
40-27-15
95 pts, 8th in Western Conference, 13th in NHL
vs
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
48-28-6
102 pts, 6th in Eastern Conference, 9th in NHL

Devils Won Season Series 2-0

Kings lead Stanley Cup Final 2-0

5:00pm, Staples Center
Los Angeles, CA
NBC SN

BEST PLAYER TO WEAR BOTH COLORS:

BEST OPPOSITION BLOG:
Down Goes Avery
Running with the Devils
In Lou We Trust

HAVE THE LA KINGS WON THE STANLEY CUP?
NO!

I don't know about you guys... but I'm starting to think that playing this deep into the playoffs is really taking a toll... on how the players look.

Scarier than ever.

Scarier than ever.

Even more scarier than ever.

More cross-eyed than ever.

Sexier than ever.

Surprisingly better looking than ever.
Maybe it's because the beard hides the baby fat.

Click Here to Read the Rest of The Royal Half Stanley Cup Final Game 2 Recap/Game 3 Gameday!!!

STANLEY CUP FINAL GAME #2

LA KINGS
40-27-15
95 pts, 8th in Western Conference, 13th in NHL
vs
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
48-28-6
102 pts, 6th in Eastern Conference, 9th in NHL

Devils Won Season Series 2-0

Kings lead Stanley Cup Final 1-0

5:00pm, Prudential Center
Newark, New Jersey
NBC

BEST PLAYER TO WEAR BOTH COLORS:

BEST OPPOSITION BLOG:
Down Goes Avery
Running with the Devils
In Lou We Trust

HAVE THE LA KINGS WON THE STANLEY CUP?
NO!

No time to blog today... it's a beautiful Southern California June day... and there is Los Angeles Kings hockey to watch in a few hours. Never thought I'd say those words... ever.

GO LOS ANGELES KINGS OF JUNE GO!!!

Forget about Slovenia watching their favorite son play in the Stanley Cup Final... NBC decided to give the people of Sicamous, BC an in-depth look at the latest LA Kings Promotional Night... Dramatic Closeup Shot of Colin Fraser Night!!!

I mean, seriously... have you ever seen something so dramatic in your life?!?

Click Here to Read the Rest of The Royal Half Stanley Cup Final Game 1 Recap!!!