“To weep is to make less the depth of grief.” ~William Shakespeare, King Henry the Sixth
For those who follow sports talk radio (seriously, who doesn’t?) there was a lot of chatter today about the Canucks recent milestone: finishing 1st overall in the Western Conference. This is NOT to be confused with Western Conference Champions. THAT is an honour reserved for the team that wins the first 3/4 of the NHL playoffs and will represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup finals.
If I have lost you already — apologees.
I spend the better part of my days lifting retarded heavy things and my lifeblood the past few years has become the benign chitter of sports radio. I find both the pedantic callers and the equally robust bloviations from the radio hosts to be pleasantly time-consuming.
The fact is that the prognosticators had this team pegged to win it all right from the get-go. The plan was in place. Then the plan was executed with Aryan precision. And now we sit and argue mustard seeds all day. Gone are the by-gone days of crying over unmoved mountains. In fact, one might wonder about a possible spring-flood. After-all, there is a vast reservoir of tears yet to spilled over this team. A vast reservoir that has accumulated over 40 years of pain, dissapointment and defeat.
One can’t help but think of a sweet spring rain that might follow a victory of this aforementioned Stanley Cup finals. The by-product of one million Canucks fans weeping tears of joy.
Either that or the VPD better get rain slickers to accompany their riot gear.
–Joseph F. Delamar
“Sometimes the silence can be like thunder.” — Bob Dylan
The trouble with being a Canucks fan these days is that we are unable to perform our annual rite of lowering-our-expectations-to-a-audible-groan. Most people I have talked to about the team find it difficult, if not uncomfortable, to discuss the topic at hand. The topic being the Canucks unfamiliar position of leading the NHL in points. Set to win their first Presidents Trophy in team history.
The truth is similar to what happens in Baseball when a pitcher is pitching a no-hitter or perfect game. No one talks to the pitcher. No one looks at the pitcher. No one says a word.
At this point in the season your average Canucks fan might find themselves in a mild odessey. To see the Canucks cemented at the top of the league standings (I guarantee they win the Presedents Trophy) is a little perplexing to say the least. It’s like the stern father who has been beating his child every semester for 40 years for bringing home failing grades. Suddenly the kid arrives home one day. The old man immediately begins taking off his belt. The child hands the man the report card with A+ honours.
Shocked the old man loops his belt back around his waist and retorts in a puff,
“Okay fine, but it don’t mean shit until you get into Harvard.”
So it don’t mean shit if we win the Presidents Trophy. It don’t mean shit if my prognostications are wrong six-ways from Sunday. It don’t mean shit who will be the next Prime Minister.
All that matters is — that which we shall not speak of.
–Joseph F. Delamar
“In Canada your not a hockey player until you’ve lost some teeth.” Andy Bathgae
Just a few thoughts on the game Thursday night against the San Jose Sharks. Might have been the best game of the year. Great goaltending, great physical, end-to-end-most-of-it-in-our-end action. And did I mention goaltending?
It felt like good old fashioned firebrand hockey. like the style we used to play when we were kids, out in the backyard rinks. Out on the Beeke’s driveway. Where goals were scored liberally and every tilt ended with all our gear on the ice (or pavement) from the the obligatory line-brawl. Mrs. Beeke always made us a post-game snack to ease the pain of any bruised knees (egos) that transpired along the way.
It is a testament to the modernization of the game. A game where 8 goals are scored (and one more in the shootout) is rarely praised for it’s beauty. It is a time when technical python-hockey (see: Barry Trotz) is held in higher esteem then, well, goals.
Tonight should prove to be a good match. Calgary is looking for a playoff seed. Vancouver is looking for it’s first Presidents Trophy. There are serious points on the line. This is a serious game. But let us remember, it is only a game.
So let’s see some goals. And toothless grins.
The Canadian way.