I ran out of time. More importantly, I also thought the post was getting a little long.
If you follow me on Twitter and / or Facebook I'm sure you know by now that NOTHING could sway my love for the Detroit Red Wings.
Oh, I follow the Columbus Blue Jackets pretty closely and have since their inaugural season. If you look closely at the Red Wing poster in my last post you can see a puck from the Jacket's first game on the shelf below the poster. A friend gave that to me. (Thanks Steve.)
I am a fan when the Jackets are playing every other team in the league, and I will admit that it doesn't bother me quite as much as it probably should if the Wings lose to them during the regular season, as long as it is a well played game. (You'll note - I didn't say it doesn't bother me at all.)
When I am in attendance at games between the Wings and Jackets I can very often be heard cheering for both teams. This sometimes confuses fans around me, but I really want those to be the best games I watch all year.
It's hard not to be taken in by the CBJ. I love hockey. They are the hockey team in my new hometown. They are (finally) a growing young team with a lot of fight, a hard nosed coach in Ken Hitchcock, a budding superstar captain in Rick Nash, and an amazing young
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBiXgNcvjmbXjUsgXJrHZe0Kth0hvKX3UUZDmG9z02ofktQYb82pEe8lGOhT843abfhAyZwCwNeXtM9xuerfpIwhcsUxkmF02nDIrASVjl3bXtzdAL9vxruSOE3VvzXnR6wTsQ35YTngI/s200/CBJ+Mason+2009-02-10.jpg)
I always want them to play well.
I have to admit I laughed at the notion, but I was thrilled to see this t-shirt for sale at the local
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw3DJJhV32oUt0oHAlp2C_y6XJzC-4KNjo9eI54MI1P0_ubu7epYYfGMpFsItDDFpyfIZhI5D-Uew2qZ1QCoBQpvnddLVe6yCHdFiE85vqlpVq21pggjFLbU0KWXviQPpnj2vCRarwdXo/s200/CBJ+playoff+t-shirt.jpg)
But I'm not giving up my Red Wings.
The Red Wings overwhelmed the Blue Jackets in their first round playoff series. The Jackets were clearly hitting a wall from fighting their way into the playoffs, and found out rather quickly that there is a steep learning curve when it comes to playoff hockey in the NHL. In my opinion, their veteran leadership that had that experience didn't do a very good job of helping the team stay focused, and the first three games were really no fun to watch at all.
Thankfully, in the 4th game there was finally a spark, a hint of what might come for this Columbus Blue Jackets team. I want my friends, and all CBJ fans to experience that time and time again. A well played spirited game with great plays on both ends of the ice.
I was thankful the Red Wings won that game, but I was very public in voicing my displeasure with the "too many men on the ice call" at the end of the game.
In retrospect, (first WOTD) I don't think I would have been so bothered if the Wings opponent had been just about any other team. As much as I understand that the call was correct, and had to be made I thought my CBJ friends deserved much better.
I hope that next time the Jackets go to the playoffs they draw a different match-up in the first round so that I can cheer with my friends, instead of against them for at least one series anyway.
After that?
LET'S GO RED WINGS!
0 comments:
Post a Comment