While some NFL odds action may top it before the end of 2009, I think I found the hit of the year…while there were some doozies in the NHL this year, I don’t think it comes from the ice…

It comes from — the Tony Awards??? Yessir. Check out what happened to poor, poor Brett Michaels:

WOOOO! I am a better person for having seen that. Aren’t you? I’m betting management of the stage production got a little paycut after that one. Can the hit be topped? There was a pretty sweet hit by the security guard at the U.S. Open when that guy rushed Federer — maybe it’ll be topped in the Wimbledon odds? You never know.

Of all the awesome hitters we imagined making waves in our sports predictions this season, who knew they’d all be topped by a giant stage prop?

Well, anyone who bet on sports has to be smiling right now. The Pens and Wings treated us to one of the best Cup Finals in recent memory and the Pens shocked the sportsbook universe with their come-from-behind victory. It was a series of unsung heroes — Maxime Talbot, Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy proved that — but I want to give special props to a man unsung even among the unsung, if that makes sense: Brooks Orpik.

The beefy Pens blueliner was a MAN in Game 7, dishing out nine hits and blocking five shots. Huge! Better yet, he showed amazing discipline throughout the playoffs. He’s a rare player in that he can be physical without getting reckless and taking too many bad penalties. I’m betting management in Pittsburgh is pretty happy it signed him to a six-year deal at the end of 2008.

I hope you enjoyed sports wagering on hockey this season, my friends! Don’t worry — I’m not leaving. There will be plenty to talk about throughout this offseason…

I’ll leave you with the immortalized image of “the save” — one that should become iconic among those who wager online for years to come.

Well, after that nice lead-in, I can’t find the picture. So how about Penguins drunk instead!?