Never touch a Canucks fanB次元官网网址檚 playoff shrine.
Never, under any circumstances, comment on the outcome of a game before the last seconds have ticked from the clock. And whatever you do, never, ever challenge a diehard fan to justify their undying love of the team. Such action will only result in a lifelong grudge against you.
Besides, anyone who has grown up under the rule of a hardcore fan knows thereB次元官网网址檚 no real justification for any of it. Team allegiance, group bonding, the euphoria of watching a goal with just 18 seconds left in a scoreless playoff game or 11 seconds into overtime B次元官网网址� these experiences cannot be properly put into words.
Respect the madness. I do. And I suspect other West Coasters who witnessed their fatherB次元官网网址檚 dreams shatter during Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup finals might as well.
My dad gripped the arms of his chair in front of an B次元官网网址�80s wood-cabinet Zenith TV, stacked high with Canucks flags, calendars, clippings and autographs.
On his back, he wore a jersey, but his foot revealed a more obvious sign of his commitment: a Canucks bottle-opener keychain looped around his baby toe for good luck. At 10, I chronicled in my diary every night the teamB次元官网网址檚 rise to the top alongside my fatherB次元官网网址檚 descent into playoff-induced hysteria. I wanted the team to win so much because, letB次元官网网址檚 face it, every pre-teen girl had at least a little crush on Pavel Bure at the time. But more importantly, DadB次元官网网址檚 happiness was riding on the cup.
Seventeen years later, weB次元官网网址檝e all gone mad again. During VancouverB次元官网网址檚 first game against San Jose, my friend leaned over to me as she asked sheepishly: B次元官网网址淪o, uh, what do you think of this Kesler guy?B次元官网网址�
SheB次元官网网址檚 not the only one with Ryan Kesler on her radar. People are mowing Canucks symbols into their lawns, pub owners are counting their cash from the influx of game night patrons and KeslerB次元官网网址檚 abs are driving the ladies crazy.
If I wasnB次元官网网址檛 surrounded by fans, I probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 invest my time absorbing hockey trivia or decoding Scott OakeB次元官网网址檚 smooth interview moves B次元官网网址� look at their eyes, not their mouths, man! I watch these games to foresee how my future interactions will transpire.
HereB次元官网网址檚 another good rule: never call a fan for a favour 10 minutes after the Canucks have suffered an 8-1 beatdown. Wait until the next day, when the devotee will have had time to prepare a statement on how an at-home cup win will be that much sweeter. ItB次元官网网址檚 true.
Like many, I donB次元官网网址檛 watch hockey during the regular season. IB次元官网网址檝e got better things to do and IB次元官网网址檓 not afraid to admit it.
IB次元官网网址檒l also admit thereB次元官网网址檚 something downright magical that takes place when a room of friends erupts with screams of victory and jumping high fives. Like the gold medal hockey game last year, the quest for Stanley has delivered joy to the people.
With the image in my mind of my father, stunned after the Canucks lost to the Rangers in 1994, I hold onto hope for the future B次元官网网址� for the sake of all offspring of diehards. No one should be subject to the emotional scarring left by another montage of highlights set to Mariah CareyB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淗eroB次元官网网址� that ends with the opposing team parading around the ice with the cup, while Pops empties out the Kleenex.
HereB次元官网网址檚 hoping this series ends with more ungrammatical father-daughter text messages like the one I received after game 1 against the Bruins: B次元官网网址淲oo we win we win!B次元官网网址�
I sure hope so Dad, but hey, thereB次元官网网址檚 always next year.
Natalie North is a reporter with the Saanich B次元官网网址.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
