photo Dan4th
I went to LA to watch the Celtics win game 4 of the 2008 Finals. I was in Fenway for the World Series in 2004. Bill Belichick went to my college for goodness sakes. But the last time I watched a Bruins game was on Channel 38 when Bobby Orr was still playing. Until about three weeks ago, that is.
A few things led to my shamelessly lumbering aboard the Bruins express train: the Celtics losing to the devil team in Miami; finally figuring out that the Bruin’s team captain is a 6’9″ Slovak who works out with his dad’s national Greco Roman wrestling team back home in the summers; and the realization that baseball has become a five hour waste of my time.
Now that I have been paying attention, I’d also add a couple more things. Beating Montreal in game seven overtime has to be one of the most exciting games in recent history. Coming back to defeat Philadelphia after last year’s humiliation (I did watch the last 30 seconds of that game, which drove me further away from the sport) was sweet indeed. Watching Tyler Seguin, the Bruin’s 19 year-old phenom, score two goals and assist on two more during his first NHL playoff game ever made it look like the had kid superhuman powers–normally amazing defensemen looked like their skates were stuck in mud.
Then we get to the game seven against the Lightning. Flat out raw sports crack. No penalties. Non-stop action. A guys gets his nose broken through a pexiglass visor, causing him to literally run to the locker room to stop the profuse bleeding. And he is back on the on the ice before the period is out. Nathan Horton of the Bruins left the ice early on when he got his bell rung. He came back and scored the only goal of the game. Wow. I have never seen Shaq come back after breaking his nose or sustaining a concussion. Last time I checked he has a sore calf muscle. Same with J.D. Drew.
For me, the real draw is Chara. The guy towers over every other player on the ice. He had to petition the NHL to use a non-standard length stick. In a game during the season he nudged a Montreal player into the boards (by definition that means he elbowed him in the head) which happened to be the start of the glass. Montreal police investigated the hit.
The last thing I’ll say is that when you look at the crowd during a tight hockey game you don’t get the sense they are a bunch of investment bankers and corporate CEOs. No iPhones in sight. These people are going bananas, screaming at the top of their lungs, slapping the glass, and 100% committed to their team. You gotta respect that and climb aboard.
Hey Tom,
Great piece. I’d mentioned to Henry a potential “sports relapse” article. Your words and the subsequent comments they generated reminded of both what I miss about being a sports fan and all that dumb-ass “real fan” shit I can always do without.
Andrew
My wife chloroform’s me on a regular basis completely unrelated to the Bruins, Mark, so that is not a problem. I do like watching the games with my 6 year-old on my chest as he falls asleep at home, however. That’s okay right?
Tom, as long as you don’t send mass hex-ensuring emails the day of the deciding game, detailing the bet you made / are sure you’re going to win (Celtics-Lakers 2010), or how terrible the other team is (Pats-Jets 2010), we’re probably safe.
True enough Henry. Need to keep my mouth shut. Celts and Pats were not helped by my brash commentaries. Here with the Bruins I really don’t know shit. Plain and simple. Just enjoy watching a game that is well played by real men.
Phhhhew. Ok, great. I was beginning to wonder if you were the one who painted the World Series logo behind home plate at Fenway after game 6 of the ALCS in 2003.
That works. Just do not leave your home. That’s all we ask.
As long as they don’t have to go on a power play I think the Bruins will be OK.
Ryan, amusing that a guy whose onetime expansion team is sporting a 41-year streak of Lord Stanley-less futility is taunting an original six team with a 38-year streak, one that featured five finals appearances (albeit losing ones, thus making us the Buffalo Bills of the NHL . . . sigh). And, Tom, please stay out of the Gaaahhhden for this series — (A) To your point, we don’t need any Blackberry-humping VC/investment banker types in the crowd amongst real fans who DIDN’T just pop over to the game after spin class, and (B) so far, they’ve managed to reach the… Read more »
Wow. That’s the best comment I’ve ever read. Bravo!
Kubler-Ross is quite a nice lady and she was really onto something important. You may want to read up Ryan, seriously. You are gonna need some professional help when our 6’9″ Slovak is done with you.
Chara may have a teeny tiny problem keeping up. In the lastmseries, Sedin*
As a lifetime Canucks fan, I can only hope that your next two weeks are filled with misery, shock, sadness, and anger. May you go through the entire Kubler-Ross cycle in four games. I hope your Bruins fling works out as well as your love of the Celtics this year, and may the Bruins’ 38-year futility streak continue for at least one more year, as my beloved squad teaches you exactly how big the performance gap is between the East and West conferences.