Pat Sajak Gets Icy Reception as Stanley Cup Finals Starting Lineup Announcer
Sajak's appearance baffles fans
Rosemary Rossi | June 2, 2018 @ 7:18 PM	Last Updated: June 2, 2018 @ 8:25 PM
NBCS
"Wheel of Fortune" host Pat Sajak got the cold shoulder from hockey fans when he announced the starting lineups for the Washington Capitals and the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals Saturday night.
When hosting in their hometown arena, the Knights have kicked up the showmanship on the pregame festivities this season, with everything from sword fights to performances by Lil John and Imagine Dragons. With Game 3 at Capital One Arena in D.C., the Caps planned to have a little fun by having Sajak — who said he's been a Caps season ticket holder for 13 years — announce the starting lineups, like ring announcer Michael Buffer did before Game 1.
Also Read: Washington Capitals Advance to Stanley Cup Finals for First Time in 20 Years
But hockey enthusiasts were underwhelmed by the choice of Sajak.
"Nothing sys [sic] hockey like Pat Sajak said no one ever WTF?" tweeted one fan.
Nothing sys hockey like Pat Sajak said no one ever WTF? ????
— Lucky Z (@LokitheWolfman) June 3, 2018
Keith Olbermann didn't hold back his opinion either, tweeting: "If anything better defines the historical vacuum that is the Caps, it's that the 'celebrity' lineup announcer is @patsajak droning on pointlessly about his lifelong fandom – 13 years. Wow! 13 WHOLE YEARS? After 20 as a self-professed Kings fan? #IdLikeYouToBuyAPersonalityPat."
If anything better defines the historical vacuum that is the Caps, it's that the "celebrity" lineup announcer is @patsajak droning on pointlessly about his lifelong fandom – 13 years. Wow! 13 WHOLE YEARS? After 20 as a self-professed Kings fan? #IdLikeYouToBuyAPersonalityPat pic.twitter.com/0hUZbiu8ps
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) June 3, 2018
Also Read: Vegas Puts on Spectacular Show to Open Stanley Cup Finals: 11 Things You Didn't See on TV
And the criticism continued to roll in.
VEGAS: Knights, sword fights, flaming arrows, a catapult, flying magic, smoke machines and a giant flashing smoking knights' head descending from the ceiling.
WASHINGTON: Pat Sajak in a pullover with minimal mic feedback.
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 3, 2018
literally everyone right now…pat sajak?!?! pic.twitter.com/b6oK4WYDJF
— Kelly Campbell LFL (@kellyk_campbell) June 3, 2018
#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/64ZHvf9PyJ
Pat Sajak trying to be a hype man is like seeing a school principal trying his hardest to be cool at assembly.
— Holly (@holly_holl) June 3, 2018
I'd like to buy a vowel and ask y is pat sajak on my tv past 7 pm?
— Ian McLaren (@iancmclaren) June 3, 2018
Nothing gets me fired up for hockey more than Pat Sajak. ????????????#StanleyCupPlayoffs
— Adam Ruff (@AdamRuffPhoto) June 3, 2018
The only people that would be fired up by Pat Sajak already went to sleep an hour ago. #Fail
— G Skiba (@MultiraceWagers) June 3, 2018
The Capitals deserve to lose just for that whole Pat Sajak thing
— Stephen Gross (@Stephen_Gross23) June 3, 2018
18 Dramatic Championship Sports Movie Moments: From 'Rocky' to 'Remember the Titans' (Photos)
"The Pride of the Yankees" (1942)
This beautifully dramatized moment of sports history, as wonderfully monologued by Gary Cooper, helped to immortalize the already infamous "Luckiest man" speech by Lou Gehrig.
In the ultimate underdog story, newcomer Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) gets a shot at the world heavyweight title against champ Apollo Creed. Rocky proves he has the goods, going the entire 15 rounds against Creed, but loses in a split decision. Rocky would get a rematch though and win the title in "Rocky II".
"Breaking Away" (1979)
One of the most inspiring underdog stories ever made, the Little 500 bicycle race in Bloomington, Indiana, is a local classic as made famous by this film. In the film's closing race scene, the locals -- dressed in plain white T-shirts with their nickname the "Cutters" -- upset the richer college students with more expensive bikes and uniforms, riding across the finish line in pure glory.
"Chariots of Fire" (1981)
Two Englishmen push each other to be the best sprinter at the 1924 Olympics. While they won gold on the big screen's racetrack, "Chariots of Fire" would go on to win Oscar gold for best picture.
"The Natural" (1984)
Robert Redford plays middle-age rookie Roy Hobbs in "The Natural." Hobbs leads his team to a championship on his final at-bat when he launches the most famous home run in movie history. Thus proving the unspoken rule in baseball: If you break the lights you win the game.
"Hoosiers" (1986)
Another Indiana classic in what is widely considered one of the greatest sports movies of all time, "Hoosiers" follows a small town high school basketball team as they make it all the way to the state finals. They play a bigger and more athletic team in the finals, but with a last second shot pull off the surprise victory.
Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger lead an outfit of misfit Cleveland Indians from last place to a shot at the league pennant against the powerhouse Yankees. Even though the film is a comedy, the final game plays out in dramatic fashion.
"A League of Their Own" proved that girls can play baseball, and ends in a play at the plate that determines the championship. Geena Davis' Rockford Peaches may lose that final game, but as Tom Hanks taught us, "there is no crying in baseball!"
"Hoop Dreams" (1994)
Steve James' revolutionary documentary follows inner-city Chicago kids William Gates and Arthur Agee throughout their high-school basketball careers. The film culminates in both striving to reach the finals of their city wide championship tournament.
"Remember the Titans" (2001)
Based on the true story of Virginia's first integrated high school football team (led by coach Denzel Washington), the Titans not only change the views of an entire town, but they go undefeated on their way to a thrilling state championship against an all-white team.
The film that spawned the critically acclaimed TV series (which in turn may spawn a film of its own) is memorable in that its featured team doesn't win the championship. The Permian Panthers mount a great comeback, but come up one yard short of the state title.
"Miracle" (2004)
In perhaps one of the greatest upsets in sports history, a team of U.S. college hockey players defeated the Soviet Union, the three-time defending gold medal winner and best team in the world, during the Cold War.
"DodgeBall" (2004)
Okay, okay. This is really a parody of sports movies. But for all its send-ups of underdog sports movie formulas, it also embraces them full-heartedly during the gripping championship showdown between the Average Joes and Globo Gym.
"The Fighter" (2010)
David O. Russell's Oscar-winning picture depicted boxer Mickey Ward's (Mark Wahlberg) climb up the ranks from middling contender to a shot at the title. The final fight shows the grit and heart that it took for Ward to win the belt.
"Senna" (2010)
The best sports documentaries are as riveting as their scripted counterparts, putting viewers right in the action as if they are watching it unfold live. "Senna" is one of the finest examples, using primarily archival footage with no narration and few interviews to show the bitter Formula 1 rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost that led to the 1989 and 1990 championships being decided in controversial fashion at Japan's famed Suzuka Circuit.
"Survive and Advance" (2013)
ESPN's "30 for 30" series included a look at arguably the most famous championship run in college basketball history. In 1983, Jimmy Valvano led the North Carolina State Wolfpack on a streak of nine consecutive overtime or one-point wins, culminating in a last-second basket to win the championship over top-ranked Houston. In this documentary, even though the outcome is known, every game's heart-stopping drama is recreated perfectly.
"Creed" (2015)
The power and hypnotic beauty of this famous running scene from "Creed" as directed by Ryan Coogler is immense. Michael B. Jordan captures the inspiring training run from the original "Rocky" with a modern spirit. You can feel the emotion of the moment so strongly and can't help but root for him.
"Celtics/Lakers: Best of Enemies" (2017)
Another ESPN documentary that puts you right in the moment. Narrated by Lakers fan Ice Cube and Celtics fan Donnie Wahlberg, this five-hour doc covers the most famous championship rivalry in sports, which peaked with Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in the 80s. The tension hits its peak with Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals, in which Bird infamously missed a game-tying three-point shot.
Whether it's the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat, TheWrap recaps the biggest moments in these sports classics
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