Only a true hockey fan...
Alan Bass
Issue date: 10/30/08 Section: Sports
If there is one thing that I hate, it is when someone claims that he is a true hockey fan, but really is not.
A person who cheers only when his team scores is not a true hockey fan. A Penguins fan who only respects a goal that Crosby scores is not a hockey fan-he's a Penguins fan.
A Capitals fan who says that any hit against Ovechkin is a dirty hit is not a hockey fan-he's a Capitals fan.
And so, in spite of all this, I decided to make a list of how you know whether or not you are a true hockey fan, or just a bandwagon fan who wants a championship in his city.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the Flyers win the Stanley Cup. But I also respect any team that does, and will cheer them on during that victory lap with the Holy Grail.
Only a true hockey fan will pay ridiculous amounts of money, equal to a week's pay, simply to take his son or daughter to their first game.
Only a true hockey fan will cheer at a beautiful goal scored, even if it is scored against his home team.
Only a true hockey fan will accept the fact that his team lost to a better team.
Only a true hockey fan will look at the replay of his own team, and say, "Oh yeah, he did deserve that penalty."
Only a true hockey fan will accept the fact that Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby can tear the crap out of their team regularly.
Only a true hockey fan will sit down after a loss, and not make excuses, such as "the refs threw that game," or "Crosby was diving."
Only a true hockey fan realizes that no matter how many regular-season points you have, if you are beaten in a seven-game playoff series, you are not the best team in the league.
Only a true hockey fan will give props to a team that beat them in the playoffs, because only the best team wins the Stanley Cup. I'm looking at you, Pittsburgh fans.
Only a true hockey fan realizes that any hockey game is worth watching-whether NHL, International, Junior, Minor league, or bantam league.
A person who cheers only when his team scores is not a true hockey fan. A Penguins fan who only respects a goal that Crosby scores is not a hockey fan-he's a Penguins fan.
A Capitals fan who says that any hit against Ovechkin is a dirty hit is not a hockey fan-he's a Capitals fan.
And so, in spite of all this, I decided to make a list of how you know whether or not you are a true hockey fan, or just a bandwagon fan who wants a championship in his city.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see the Flyers win the Stanley Cup. But I also respect any team that does, and will cheer them on during that victory lap with the Holy Grail.
Only a true hockey fan will pay ridiculous amounts of money, equal to a week's pay, simply to take his son or daughter to their first game.
Only a true hockey fan will cheer at a beautiful goal scored, even if it is scored against his home team.
Only a true hockey fan will accept the fact that his team lost to a better team.
Only a true hockey fan will look at the replay of his own team, and say, "Oh yeah, he did deserve that penalty."
Only a true hockey fan will accept the fact that Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby can tear the crap out of their team regularly.
Only a true hockey fan will sit down after a loss, and not make excuses, such as "the refs threw that game," or "Crosby was diving."
Only a true hockey fan realizes that no matter how many regular-season points you have, if you are beaten in a seven-game playoff series, you are not the best team in the league.
Only a true hockey fan will give props to a team that beat them in the playoffs, because only the best team wins the Stanley Cup. I'm looking at you, Pittsburgh fans.
Only a true hockey fan realizes that any hockey game is worth watching-whether NHL, International, Junior, Minor league, or bantam league.