Knockin' on Stanley's Door
Tonight was Game 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Now, I've never been a big sports fan of any sort ... to watch a game, to play a game ... to have anything to do with a game. I'm the furthest thing from being a competitive person, period. My relationship with sports was always:
X (me) -------------------------------------------------> X (sports) as far away from each other as possible. I remember those painful times in elementary school when the best became the Captain of the teams and the rest of us would line up, wishing just to be picked. Pick me, pick me, pickme, pickme, pickme ... and I was always the last to be picked. Hmm ... doesn't that mean that I was never really 'picked'? but got on a team by default???
Flash forward ... I'm a freshman in college. No more sports-minded than in Grade One. The difference is that I'm going to a USAmerican university, and what is the one thing that USAmerican high school are KNOWN for??? Football. So, picture me - a little on the chubby side, with my golden beanie, in the middle of a culture shock of my own, and it is impressed on us that we MUST go to the home-football games. So I show up ... except I don't know the first thing about football!! Not even how to cheer for the 'right' team. I think in my entire college career of 4.5 years, I went to a total of maybe 8 football games. I enjoyed them ... and in fact have gone to a pro CFL game once or twice since then ... even watched the Grey Cup playoffs, but have never really got into it ... however, on the plus side, at least I now know how to cheer for the 'right' team!!!
Flash forward again ... I'm student teaching at the last experience, in Rothsay MN. And wouldn't you know it, their home basketball team gets into the state championship. I barely begin there, and get 'hauled' off to the join the staff as they show up to support their kids. Again, I have no idea of the rules or the point of the game, other than to get the ball through the hoop. However, what I found was that I quite enjoyed watching the game. Odd.
No more me+sport until last year teaching in Manitoba. Dianna was able to get, on occasion, hockey tickets to see the Winnipeg Jets ... so, we'd go and watch and talk through the game from up in the nose-bleed section. However, there was something that I sorta enjoyed about it. I had sorta followed a little of the game my first year teaching, as I had a group of Grade 9 boys that were hockey fanatics, and they 'taught' me about the conferences. This was before the regrouping that we now have, and that's where that stopped. Anyway, last year in Wpg, I did go to about 4 games, and did enjoy them. I even got to see 'The Great One' play - Wayne Gretzky when he was on the Edmonton Oilers, I think.
Which brings us to this year. During taking my Alpha Course at Westside, I got a little miffed when people would leave early or things were cut short because of the game. I have never seen a church go so nutty over the game!! We even shortened our retreat one night for the game ... and this game went to 12:30 pm with 3-4 overtimes. And one time ... (it must have been one of those 'if you can't beat them, join them' things), the church had a big game bash one Sunday afternoon - full screen TV, food, prizes, prayer for the Flames to win, a fun afternoon for the whole family, community and whoever shows up. The best thing about this was that our church is held in an old curling rink, so the 'sactuary' is where all this happened!!!! It must have been a blast ... imagine cheering a hockey game right where you celebrate!! And to pray for their win was not the first time it happened from the 'pulpit' area!!
What happened this year, is that the Calgary Flames was the underdog. For 15 years they have not made it near the playoffs. They once won the Stanley Cup when they had Theron Fleury on their team (where he is now is anyone's guess), and then sank into oblivion. In fact, no Canadian team has gotten into the finals (even the conference finals, I think) since 10 years ago. And our Flames have come from no where ... were no one's guess to break into this ... and as they began their ascent, much to everyone's surprise, they were good. And they were good, not because of one member (though their Captain, Jerome Iginla, and their goalie, Mika Keprasoff, are impressive), but they are good for the right reasons. They play as a team; they sacrifice as a team. They are strong and good and work hard ... as a team. And as they began their rise, what is even more impressive, is how this city rallied together to support them.
They made it into the final 8, and had to go against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks thought they had it in the bag ... and in overtime, they lost after something like 4 wins to 3. Then the Flames were pitted against a No. 1 team - the San Jose Sharks. And the Sharks thought it would be a walk in the park. Much to their surprise, we won that series - the Western Conference - too. The final game was amazing ... a goal in the last SECOND. And, after playing hard and playing well, lo-and-behold, the Flames found themselves in the finals!!! Against the Tampa Bay Lightening. Another team that no one thought would make it this far. So, here are two teams that NO ONE would have guessed would be here, and they are. And their are well-matched. Tonight, Calgary won their second game of the series ... now leading 2 games to 1 of the Lightening. The scores: First game went to Calgary (4:0), Second game went to the Lightening (4:1), and the Third game went to Calgary (3:0). The stats say that Calgary will take it in 6 games. Time will tell.
They call it the C of Red ... go to a home game, and EVERYONE shows up in the team colors ... red. The dome is sold out and nothing but red. Everywhere you travel throughout the city - signs "Go Flames Go", signs in windows, flags from houses, cars with flags on them ... I saw a vehicle with 9 flags on it. Apparently, the stats say that 1 in 4 cars have at least one flag on them!! People wearing Flames jerseys - to anything and everything. Apparently, the Flames have the most and best support from their home city than any other team in the NHL. To be honest, I think that this city is just so thrilled to be back in the playoffs, they are taking this success personally. The other night, after the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs, when we won 4-0, something like 20,000 flooded into the downtown core and celebrated as if we just won the Cup itself. And not a fight. Not a ounce of trouble ... just pure joy and celebration at the win. Tonight, it was 40,000 that flowed into the 'Red Mile', and there was ONE altercation. Isn't that something???
A good friend of mine made an excellent point ... she thinks that we are just plain hungry for something good, something to celebrate rather than something to mourn. Think about it ... first 9-11, then here in Canada - SARS and in AB Mad Cow, coupled with the drought, the high gas prices, and the list goes on and on ... and maybe this is a outpouring of joy because it is something to finally be genuinely HAPPY over. I think there's something to that. (She also said that what is funny is that regardless of where the cup is, it IS being won by Canadians, for all these teams are heavily populated with Cannucks. So, the Cup goes home with Canadians, it's just not back to Canada!!)
Tonight, I drove home after the win. And experienced first hand the celebration of this city after a win. On corners, people in jerseys blowing horns, getting the cars honking to a chorus throughout the city ... a city celebrating. And so for this non-sports gal, it is infectious. I honked too. I had to join in!!
Next game: Monday in Calgary. Then on to Tampa Bay Wed. ... I think it would be awesome and perfect if not only did Calgary win and bring the Cup back 'home', but if that last game were played in Calgary. The world watching again. See, the Canada Olympic Men's Hockey Team won the Gold at the last Olympics ... the Canada Olympic Women's Hockey Team won the Gold a the last Olympics ... and Team Canada won Gold at the last World Cup competition. It is only right that this cup comes home to CANADA now too.
And until then ... GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
X (me) -------------------------------------------------> X (sports) as far away from each other as possible. I remember those painful times in elementary school when the best became the Captain of the teams and the rest of us would line up, wishing just to be picked. Pick me, pick me, pickme, pickme, pickme ... and I was always the last to be picked. Hmm ... doesn't that mean that I was never really 'picked'? but got on a team by default???
Flash forward ... I'm a freshman in college. No more sports-minded than in Grade One. The difference is that I'm going to a USAmerican university, and what is the one thing that USAmerican high school are KNOWN for??? Football. So, picture me - a little on the chubby side, with my golden beanie, in the middle of a culture shock of my own, and it is impressed on us that we MUST go to the home-football games. So I show up ... except I don't know the first thing about football!! Not even how to cheer for the 'right' team. I think in my entire college career of 4.5 years, I went to a total of maybe 8 football games. I enjoyed them ... and in fact have gone to a pro CFL game once or twice since then ... even watched the Grey Cup playoffs, but have never really got into it ... however, on the plus side, at least I now know how to cheer for the 'right' team!!!
Flash forward again ... I'm student teaching at the last experience, in Rothsay MN. And wouldn't you know it, their home basketball team gets into the state championship. I barely begin there, and get 'hauled' off to the join the staff as they show up to support their kids. Again, I have no idea of the rules or the point of the game, other than to get the ball through the hoop. However, what I found was that I quite enjoyed watching the game. Odd.
No more me+sport until last year teaching in Manitoba. Dianna was able to get, on occasion, hockey tickets to see the Winnipeg Jets ... so, we'd go and watch and talk through the game from up in the nose-bleed section. However, there was something that I sorta enjoyed about it. I had sorta followed a little of the game my first year teaching, as I had a group of Grade 9 boys that were hockey fanatics, and they 'taught' me about the conferences. This was before the regrouping that we now have, and that's where that stopped. Anyway, last year in Wpg, I did go to about 4 games, and did enjoy them. I even got to see 'The Great One' play - Wayne Gretzky when he was on the Edmonton Oilers, I think.
Which brings us to this year. During taking my Alpha Course at Westside, I got a little miffed when people would leave early or things were cut short because of the game. I have never seen a church go so nutty over the game!! We even shortened our retreat one night for the game ... and this game went to 12:30 pm with 3-4 overtimes. And one time ... (it must have been one of those 'if you can't beat them, join them' things), the church had a big game bash one Sunday afternoon - full screen TV, food, prizes, prayer for the Flames to win, a fun afternoon for the whole family, community and whoever shows up. The best thing about this was that our church is held in an old curling rink, so the 'sactuary' is where all this happened!!!! It must have been a blast ... imagine cheering a hockey game right where you celebrate!! And to pray for their win was not the first time it happened from the 'pulpit' area!!
What happened this year, is that the Calgary Flames was the underdog. For 15 years they have not made it near the playoffs. They once won the Stanley Cup when they had Theron Fleury on their team (where he is now is anyone's guess), and then sank into oblivion. In fact, no Canadian team has gotten into the finals (even the conference finals, I think) since 10 years ago. And our Flames have come from no where ... were no one's guess to break into this ... and as they began their ascent, much to everyone's surprise, they were good. And they were good, not because of one member (though their Captain, Jerome Iginla, and their goalie, Mika Keprasoff, are impressive), but they are good for the right reasons. They play as a team; they sacrifice as a team. They are strong and good and work hard ... as a team. And as they began their rise, what is even more impressive, is how this city rallied together to support them.
They made it into the final 8, and had to go against the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks thought they had it in the bag ... and in overtime, they lost after something like 4 wins to 3. Then the Flames were pitted against a No. 1 team - the San Jose Sharks. And the Sharks thought it would be a walk in the park. Much to their surprise, we won that series - the Western Conference - too. The final game was amazing ... a goal in the last SECOND. And, after playing hard and playing well, lo-and-behold, the Flames found themselves in the finals!!! Against the Tampa Bay Lightening. Another team that no one thought would make it this far. So, here are two teams that NO ONE would have guessed would be here, and they are. And their are well-matched. Tonight, Calgary won their second game of the series ... now leading 2 games to 1 of the Lightening. The scores: First game went to Calgary (4:0), Second game went to the Lightening (4:1), and the Third game went to Calgary (3:0). The stats say that Calgary will take it in 6 games. Time will tell.
They call it the C of Red ... go to a home game, and EVERYONE shows up in the team colors ... red. The dome is sold out and nothing but red. Everywhere you travel throughout the city - signs "Go Flames Go", signs in windows, flags from houses, cars with flags on them ... I saw a vehicle with 9 flags on it. Apparently, the stats say that 1 in 4 cars have at least one flag on them!! People wearing Flames jerseys - to anything and everything. Apparently, the Flames have the most and best support from their home city than any other team in the NHL. To be honest, I think that this city is just so thrilled to be back in the playoffs, they are taking this success personally. The other night, after the first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs, when we won 4-0, something like 20,000 flooded into the downtown core and celebrated as if we just won the Cup itself. And not a fight. Not a ounce of trouble ... just pure joy and celebration at the win. Tonight, it was 40,000 that flowed into the 'Red Mile', and there was ONE altercation. Isn't that something???
A good friend of mine made an excellent point ... she thinks that we are just plain hungry for something good, something to celebrate rather than something to mourn. Think about it ... first 9-11, then here in Canada - SARS and in AB Mad Cow, coupled with the drought, the high gas prices, and the list goes on and on ... and maybe this is a outpouring of joy because it is something to finally be genuinely HAPPY over. I think there's something to that. (She also said that what is funny is that regardless of where the cup is, it IS being won by Canadians, for all these teams are heavily populated with Cannucks. So, the Cup goes home with Canadians, it's just not back to Canada!!)
Tonight, I drove home after the win. And experienced first hand the celebration of this city after a win. On corners, people in jerseys blowing horns, getting the cars honking to a chorus throughout the city ... a city celebrating. And so for this non-sports gal, it is infectious. I honked too. I had to join in!!
Next game: Monday in Calgary. Then on to Tampa Bay Wed. ... I think it would be awesome and perfect if not only did Calgary win and bring the Cup back 'home', but if that last game were played in Calgary. The world watching again. See, the Canada Olympic Men's Hockey Team won the Gold at the last Olympics ... the Canada Olympic Women's Hockey Team won the Gold a the last Olympics ... and Team Canada won Gold at the last World Cup competition. It is only right that this cup comes home to CANADA now too.
And until then ... GO FLAMES GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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