If you don't follow hockey, this post will probably bore you to tears. Tonight is Game 3 of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs and as a big St. Louis Blues fan, my excitement knows no bounds! However, this post won't just be about me doing my happy dance, I also want to talk about sportsmanship. So, shit's about to get real.
Look, opposing teams, especially those who are rivals, are known to have some tension. But that tension doesn't need to present itself in the form of jerkbag moves resulting in a concussion and a group of fans who are just terribly and horribly rude. When someone gets hurt, and your first reaction is to make fun of that person, you are a jerk. Plain and simple. When someone gets thrown into the wall and is obviously in need of some medical attention, and you STILL make fun of that person, you're just an asshole. I've always stood by the fact that I think the Chicago Blackhawks are a great team. I think they're incredibly talented, and really can play hockey well. I have a lot of friends who are Blackhawks fans and while we tease each other good-naturedly, I would never think for a second that they would wish harm on the player of the opposing team. After Game 2 of this series, however, I've lost all respect for the Chicago Blackhawks themselves. I think we all know if the skate was on the other foot, Chicago would be up in damn arms about one of their players leaving the ice with a concussion, and calling for our player to be ejected.
I understand hockey is a contact sport, and people are going to get hurt. But to be so vicious and rude about everything is ridiculous. To have t-shirts made demeaning another player is such a dick move, man. I completely understand the spirit and love people have for their teams, the passion is something I love in everybody, regardless of who you root for. If you really are behind a team, and not just a bandwagon fan when that team is doing well, I'm all about you (even if you're a Cubs fan). But, you've got to learn when to be a passionate fan, and when to be a passionate human being. I admit, I love a good hockey fight. (what that says about me, I don't even want to know). But, when that fight results in a player being physically unable to continue (ANY player, on ANY team), than that's where I draw the line. I might say some things in the heat of the moment that could be construed as not the nicest things in the world, but I would never make fun of a player on any team having to be escorted off the rink/field.
Let's all just drink our beer, yell obscenities when things are going well and no one is hurt, and watch the game, dudes. LGB! :)
No comments:
Post a Comment