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The incredible story of Stanley Cup championship books already becoming “available”

Los Angeles Kings v New Jersey Devils - Game Five

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 09: Colin Fraser #24 of the Los Angeles Kings looks up for the puck against Martin Brodeur #30 of the New Jersey Devils during Game Five of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Prudential Center on June 9, 2012 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

Getty Images

When a sports championship is close to being determined, two amusing potential stories develop: 1) an Internet site features premature championship gear and 2) many of us wonder what happened to the T-shirts for the team that didn’t win a title. Chris Peters unearthed an amusing example that sort of blends those two fun go-to stories together, as an Amazon search reveals that the “books” on 2012 Stanley Cup finals victories have already been “written.”

Peters’ findings prompted me to search “The Incredible Story of the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions,” which produced these two results (screen captured in the likely scenario that they’re taken down):

rangersandkings

James

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Now, I was just about to wonder aloud if the 10 limos parked outside Staples Center weren’t the only things guilty of jinxing the Los Angeles Kings, yet Peters generated another search that exonerates Amazon/book publishers from at least that charge.

devilsandcoyotestoo

(click to enlarge)

Triumph Books is the publisher for at least the would-be Rangers book and the could-be Kings yarn. While the Rangers’ version features The New York Post as “the corporate author,” its Amazon page doesn’t provide any more info. The Kings’ page doesn’t include a clear “author” yet, but there is this blurb.

This commemorative book on the 2012 Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings provides a visual look at the team’s road to championship glory. Through unique words and images, this celebratory book takes readers from the season’s first games and on through the 2011–2012 NHL season and exciting playoff run. Including color photographs and profiles of the Kings’ star players and the head coach, this keepsake book is an essential part of any fan’s collection.

Naturally, I had to find out a little more about Triumph Books (here is their Web site). Their NHL section is robust (Theo Fleury’s momentous memoirs are available, for one) and their About Us section tells it all.

Triumph Books’ dedicated sales and editorial staffs also allow the company to publish instant titles books written, designed, printed, and shelved in stores often within a week of an event with the accuracy, timeliness, and style that few publishers can match.

Considering the fact that there were hypothetical books for the Phoenix Coyotes and New York Rangers along with the two finalists, Triumph can probably wash their hands of any ridiculous “jinxing” accusations. (We’ll try to find out if this amusing incident is more of a “blunder” by Amazon than anything else.)

In the grand scheme of things, it’s a harmless, fun and weird little window into the world of sports book publishing.

Come to think of it, I must admit that it would be kind of cool if Triumph started printing books for beloved non-champions, too. Can I put in a request for the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix Suns team that almost won a championship first, then? (Can’t get enough “Thunder Dan.”)