On Sunday February 1st, 2009, hockey fans gathered at GM Place in Vancouver. The occasion: The Vancouver Canucks Super Skills Competition. Now, I am certain there are Calgary Flames fans out there thinking, “Hmmm, Canucks Super Skills...the ‘Nucks just lost their eighth game in a row (ninth consecutive home loss) last night...would that be super skilled at losing??”
I attended the event with my pal Helen. Now, I will be honest in saying, both Helen and I flirted with the idea of blowing off the gig because it was a cold, rainy afternoon. We could have easily watched it on the Internet and side stepped the driving, parking, walking, clutching umbrellas, etc. But we bucked up and made the effort.
Upon entering GM Place we first checked out the team store, and it was business as usual; crowded, with fans scooping up all kinds of merchandise. All of this losing with possible darker days coming, yet everyone spends, spends spends to line their drawers, shelves and racks with Canuck colors. Next up, the concessions, and yes fans were lined up ten people deep for unhealthy eats. On to the stands, which were well populated with fans; especially kids.
Mats Sundin plays passer during the accuracy contest
Helen scored seats in the lower bowl, row six, so we had a great view, and I will admit, it didn’t take us too tong to get into the show. We managed to displace our frustrations for two hours and enjoy the competition. Although we did wonder where the heck defenseman, Willie Mitchell was. Plus I caught myself looking at Mats Sundin a few times, thinking, “Can he really feel good about himself right now considering he’s supposed to make the team better yet he’s only managed to score twice since the beginning of January? Or maybe he’s just standing there thinking about poker.”
I put my time in cheering for the boys Sunday afternoon, because hearing our cheers must feel good, and maybe it plays a teensy, tiny part in why they play this game. Anything has to be better than hearing boos like they did during the first period the night before when they lost during overtime to division rivals, the Minnesota Wild.
The fun and games of the skills event is over, and the Canucks have to face another home game on Tuesday night. I’ll do my part and have no expectations, because every other ritual I’ve tried to “help” them hasn’t worked. When they say “no one can do this for us but us” they are soooo right. They just need to act on that. Oh, and play with reckless abandon too. And while we’re at it; they shouldn’t turn on the sports talk radio or open a newspaper sports section, or juggle lines either.
Put down the chicken fingers and turn up the television!!!!!
Is that what Bruce Springsteen commanded me to do during the half time concert at Super Bowl 43 in Tampa Bay on Sunday?
Did he also want me to step back from the guacamole dip, too?
Wow! I didn’t have that dip in stock, but I did put down a salt and pepper chicken wing during his set.
Congratulations to Pittsburgh Steelers fans everywhere, especially the illustrious Jan Snyder: you’ve backed a team with six championships...and counting. This hockey fan is impressed :o)
And to all of you peeps in Phoenix: now that the Cardinals football season is finished, it’s time to get behind their NHL hockey playing neighbors, the Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes have a reasonable shot at making the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since the 2001/02 season...and your invited to enjoy the drive to the playoffs over the next couple of months!!!
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