Is there anything lamer than claiming a “moral victory” despite having lost a battle?

Apparently not to The News & Observer of Raleigh, whose atrocious front page coverage of the Carolina Hurricanes’ triple overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings Sunday morning put a positive spin on a tough loss.

Sunday’s headline screamed, “TIMELESS!,” which itself failed to capture the preceding night’s event. But it was followed by a sub-headline reading “Canes Lose 3-2 in 3rd OT, Win Moral (emphasis mine) Victory in Area’s 1st Game for Cup.” With that statement, all the labels from the Detroit and national media about this area’s hockey fans (and our local newspaper) being bush league, undeserving, backwoods, and ignorant seem true.

The N&O rendered its own headline ridiculous with the placement of a huge above-the-fold photo of three Red Wings celebrating after their game-winning goal, with several bummed Hurricanes fans watching in disbelief. Editors and designers were obviously fuzzy-minded in the wee hours of the morning. Perhaps the moral victory was that they waited long enough to actually get the story in Sunday’s edition.

But supposedly, according to the N&O story, the moral victory was won because Hurricanes fans scream the loudest at games and “North Carolina can rally around an ice hockey team in style.” A fan was quoted saying; “We’re determined. The ‘Canes want it just as much as Detroit wants it. They’re not giving up.”

So, Hurricanes fans can claim the moral high ground because they try really hard, just like their team does, despite what all those naysayers believe. They’re not giving up and all those other great sports cliches. Barf.

That’s like saying it’s worth throwing millions of dollars at Smart Start because of good intentions, even though it does little for children. Or that anything is a success because great effort went into it. There’s an old quote that says, “Effort is admirable. Achievement is valuable.”

The N&O’s sports page coverage of the Hurricanes journey through the playoffs has generally been good, with fine photography and writing.

But let’s get over the inferiority complex, because the Red Wings and their fans will be happy to let us have the moral win as they skate victory laps with the Stanley Cup.

Chesser is associate editor of Carolina Journal.