So I am a huge Hockey fan. HUGE. For years. Many years. At first it was a little tough, The Bruins were a lame team, I was just a fan of the sport. The concept of hockey. It was weird being a fan of the game but having no one to root for.
Then a few years back, once the lock out was over, The Bruins were a team to love. Some really solid player coming together. No individual superstar to take the team forward. Just a group of solid, gritty guys, with giant brass balls that wanted to play some great hockey. A group with so much heart that it really made you want to cheer for them.
Last night was a great moment for me. I've waited for this for most of my life. I'm not a sports guy. I don't really like the competitive nature of them. Not to say I'm not competitive, I just don't like the whole "No I in team" thing. I prefer competing against myself. I'm the only person I want to compete against. I want to rock climb, and skateboard, and snowboard, and parkour and just try to outdo myself no matter how anyone else does it. To me sports are about breaking my elbow trying a trick, and as soon as it heals nailing the ass out of that trick.
Hockey is the exception though. Hockey is something I am so passionate about, even though it is competing against other people.
I really did not want Vancouver to win. It wasn't even about wanting the Bruins to win, though I did. It was just so important to me that it not be Vancouver. They throw dirty hits and take dives. They intimidate teams. That can absolutely win you games, but when all is said and done, it shouldn't be rewarded with the Stanley Cup. That would tarnish the legacy of the greatest award in sports.
Also, the fans are classless. I get that there aren't any REAL fans of hockey that are classy fans, but there is still a line. When Thomas won the Conn Smythe he had to scream into a mic to go louder than the booos of the Vancouver fans. I don't care if you lost, NOBODY deserved that trophy like he did. I come from a city known for its sports riots, but we don't hurt people. A couple people get scraped or bruised because it is a riot, but WE DON'T HOSPITALIZE 150 PEOPLE. That is lunacy!
That whole last paragraph is maybe biased. I come form the city with the best sports riots and also the city that gives standing ovations for players that leave us for rival teams, players that cost us a world series, players from other teams that changed the game and are retiring. We recognize greatest in all forms and applaud it (unless it's Damon in a Yankees jersey).
I'm just so glad that after 39 years Lord Stanley's cup is finally coming home. Recchi, it was a pleasure!
Then a few years back, once the lock out was over, The Bruins were a team to love. Some really solid player coming together. No individual superstar to take the team forward. Just a group of solid, gritty guys, with giant brass balls that wanted to play some great hockey. A group with so much heart that it really made you want to cheer for them.
Last night was a great moment for me. I've waited for this for most of my life. I'm not a sports guy. I don't really like the competitive nature of them. Not to say I'm not competitive, I just don't like the whole "No I in team" thing. I prefer competing against myself. I'm the only person I want to compete against. I want to rock climb, and skateboard, and snowboard, and parkour and just try to outdo myself no matter how anyone else does it. To me sports are about breaking my elbow trying a trick, and as soon as it heals nailing the ass out of that trick.
Hockey is the exception though. Hockey is something I am so passionate about, even though it is competing against other people.
I really did not want Vancouver to win. It wasn't even about wanting the Bruins to win, though I did. It was just so important to me that it not be Vancouver. They throw dirty hits and take dives. They intimidate teams. That can absolutely win you games, but when all is said and done, it shouldn't be rewarded with the Stanley Cup. That would tarnish the legacy of the greatest award in sports.
Also, the fans are classless. I get that there aren't any REAL fans of hockey that are classy fans, but there is still a line. When Thomas won the Conn Smythe he had to scream into a mic to go louder than the booos of the Vancouver fans. I don't care if you lost, NOBODY deserved that trophy like he did. I come from a city known for its sports riots, but we don't hurt people. A couple people get scraped or bruised because it is a riot, but WE DON'T HOSPITALIZE 150 PEOPLE. That is lunacy!
That whole last paragraph is maybe biased. I come form the city with the best sports riots and also the city that gives standing ovations for players that leave us for rival teams, players that cost us a world series, players from other teams that changed the game and are retiring. We recognize greatest in all forms and applaud it (unless it's Damon in a Yankees jersey).
I'm just so glad that after 39 years Lord Stanley's cup is finally coming home. Recchi, it was a pleasure!