From the Bullpen: The shame of a nation
Matthew Hadley
Issue date: 6/9/09 Section: Sports
The Vancouver Canucks, my heart goes out to you.
It must be hard losing out in the second round and seeing the league's best goalie, your own, let in seven goals as the team gets eliminated in game six of round two.
I know for myself, a die-hard Canucks fan whose lack of a summer job made following the Canucks' fall quite easy, it was a painful playoff.
Here's the thing: I am proud of you. Sure, you dropped the ball, but the Chicago Blackhawks are a hell of a team who definitely out-played you. And sure, your stars didn't come out to play much in the second round, but that sort of thing happens, and no one can blame you.
But Canadian hockey fans, where were you?
In 2007, when the Ottawa Senators faced off against the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Finals, all of Canada was rooting for the Sens to bring the Cup home to Canada. Well, everyone who wasn't a Leafs fan.
In 2006, the country rallied behind the Edmonton Oilers as they battled, and lost to, the Carolina Hurricanes.
In 2004, Calgary Flames' flags hung out of far more car windows while Canadians cheered from the edge of their seats, before the team finally lost in game seven of the finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
So why is it that, while the Canucks were the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs after the first round, no one cared? But then, when they lost, everyone felt the right to place the blame.
We all have favourite teams, but we all have nationality too.
Canadian hockey fans put so much pressure on our teams to bring home a Cup to the place where it "rightfully belongs". So, why then do we wait until the finals to rally around a team?
I figured that, this year of all years, the country would gather to cheer on our Canadian teams.
Think about it: how fantastic would it be if the Stanley Cup Champions were the city where the next winter Olympics are to take place; to have that team hold the title as we root for our country to bring home another gold in hockey?
It would have been beautiful, and filled our nation with a great deal of pride.
Instead, we are seeing our Cup fought for by American teams, to see the Cup call home for another year some place south of its true home.
Maybe next year, all six Canadian teams will make the playoffs and we will have a better shot at grabbing the Cup, but that's highly unlikely.
So next year, let's just root for Canada.
It must be hard losing out in the second round and seeing the league's best goalie, your own, let in seven goals as the team gets eliminated in game six of round two.
I know for myself, a die-hard Canucks fan whose lack of a summer job made following the Canucks' fall quite easy, it was a painful playoff.
Here's the thing: I am proud of you. Sure, you dropped the ball, but the Chicago Blackhawks are a hell of a team who definitely out-played you. And sure, your stars didn't come out to play much in the second round, but that sort of thing happens, and no one can blame you.
But Canadian hockey fans, where were you?
In 2007, when the Ottawa Senators faced off against the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Finals, all of Canada was rooting for the Sens to bring the Cup home to Canada. Well, everyone who wasn't a Leafs fan.
In 2006, the country rallied behind the Edmonton Oilers as they battled, and lost to, the Carolina Hurricanes.
In 2004, Calgary Flames' flags hung out of far more car windows while Canadians cheered from the edge of their seats, before the team finally lost in game seven of the finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
So why is it that, while the Canucks were the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs after the first round, no one cared? But then, when they lost, everyone felt the right to place the blame.
We all have favourite teams, but we all have nationality too.
Canadian hockey fans put so much pressure on our teams to bring home a Cup to the place where it "rightfully belongs". So, why then do we wait until the finals to rally around a team?
I figured that, this year of all years, the country would gather to cheer on our Canadian teams.
Think about it: how fantastic would it be if the Stanley Cup Champions were the city where the next winter Olympics are to take place; to have that team hold the title as we root for our country to bring home another gold in hockey?
It would have been beautiful, and filled our nation with a great deal of pride.
Instead, we are seeing our Cup fought for by American teams, to see the Cup call home for another year some place south of its true home.
Maybe next year, all six Canadian teams will make the playoffs and we will have a better shot at grabbing the Cup, but that's highly unlikely.
So next year, let's just root for Canada.
Be the first to comment on this story